Book Review: The Trumpet of the Swan

One splendid morning, a Trumpeter Swan’s eggs hatched. Like most fathers, the father swan (a cob) wanted to show off his babies. He spotted a boy (Sam Beaver), whom he had met one year ago. As the father introduced the baby trumpeter swans to Sam, each one said hello, except Louis; he tugged onto Sam’s shoe laces instead. At that moment, the cob realized that Louis could not speak.

Not long after, Louis fell in love. However, he could not speak, and his mate Serena kept swimming away from him. Louis’s father spotted that since Louis could not speak he would have trouble finding a wife. The cob stared sadly at the ground, wondering what he could do to help Louis. After a lot of thinking, he knew what to do.

Later that day, the cob went to a music store and stole a trumpet for Louis to use as a communication tool. Meanwhile, Louis was drawing an image of school in the ground as a way to ask Sam if his teacher could teach him to read and write. Understanding what Louis meant, Sam convinced a fourth grade teacher to accept Louis as a student. When Louis came back to Sam, he knew how to read and write.

Sam gifted him a dry erase board and marker to communicate with humans. Back home the cob gave Louis the trumpet. After a while Louis learnt to play. When his dad told him that he had stolen the trumpet, Louis felt bad and wanted to pay back the money for it.

Louis went looking for jobs far and wide. Can Louis earn enough money to pay for the trumpet? What kind of challenges will he face? How will he feel? What will he learn about the real world during his unique journey? 

The author E.B. White touches up on these very sensitive and real moments all throughout the book. I hope you will read this book and enjoy the time Louis spends finding jobs and having adventures.

Writing Girl (WG)

The Trumpet of the Swan

The Firsts: Skiing On Hills

I woke up and my eyes fluttered open. I immediately ran downstairs for breakfast. “C’mon” my dad called to me, “ we’re going on a ski trip!” “Yay” I shouted. Soon we were all ready for the ski trip. At the moment I was very happy, excited, and restless. In the car, I read a book to pass time.

When we reached, I hopped out and hastily ran to the skiing place. I filled out a form and got my ski gear. I quickly clipped the boots to my ski’s and picked up the poles. We slowly walked to the lesson area. When I had trouble sidestepping, I went to a below level to learn. I slowly caught up and soon was doing the same. After a hard time, I finally learned the wedge, and turns. Soon I was ready to go onto the hills with a coach. There we practiced even more. Not long after, I was doing the hills on my own. The solo lift rides up the hills were fascinating. I don't remember the count of times I went up in lift and down with ski, and I felt a sense of freedom and independence that I haven't felt before.

The weather couldn't be better; 34 degree F temperature, fresh snow covered hills, and the bright light of 9 AM morning filled the sky. The brightness of the surroundings reflected on our faces and is caught  in a selfie my dad took with me and my big bro.

They were 3 hills to choose from at my level: Frosty (hardest) Powder Puff (middle) Snowflake (easiest). After falling badly on Powder Puff, I quit to Snowflake. When the skiing place was almost closing, I had a choice to go on Powder Puff. But because of my fall I didn’t. When I took off my boots and put on my shoes they felt very loose. It was because I had just worn very tight boots, and I was in them for over 8 hours!

As soon as we started driving, I looked out and saw a beautiful landscape stretching far and wide. To me this skiing trip was a very good experience being in nature and I realized for the first time how much I enjoy my own company.

Writing Girl (WG)

A selfie my dad took with me and my big bro.

Piano Pleasure

In my opinion, piano is the best musical instrument. First, it uses a little bit of each and every instrument, so if you know how to play the piano, you can learn other instruments faster. Second, you can really feel the music in your heart. That helps you feel relaxed. Third, piano can cheer you up when you are having a terrible day. There is no doubt that when you choose an instrument, piano is the one to take.  

Did you know or not?

• Piano holds the title of “King Of Instruments”.
• The total string tension in a grand piano is close to Thirty Tons!
• The working section of the piano is called the action. It has about 7500 parts!
• During 1869 the US produced 25,000 pianos, in 1909 production peaked at 364,500 pianos, and sadly in recent years the sale has plunged to 30,000-40,000 units per year. Guess why?

Writing Girl (WG)

Movie Review: Jumanji

Jumanji is directed by Joe Johnson from ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’ fame. In this movie Jumanji is a magical board game that contains immense powers.

The main character is Alan who is constantly getting bullied by a group of boys. One day at his father's shoe factory, he hears the sound of drums and goes to investigate. Suddenly the beating gets louder… Alan brushed off some dust and found a locked treasure chest. Using a knife nearby he cut the lock on the treasure chest. Immediately the drumming got louder and Alan saw a board game. Rushing home he set it on the table and called a friend, Sarah Whitton… As they roll the dice and play the game, scary things happen which they must overcome to continue with the game. At one roll of dice, Alan gets sucked into the board game and disappears, Sarah Whitton gets chased down the street by bats…

Alan’s house gets abandoned, and a new family with two children Peter and Judy move into the house with their aunt. They soon hear drumbeats, discover Jumanji, and start playing the game in their attic. Mind you, the game is still on from where Alan and Sarah left off. Judy starts first and rolls the dice, not long after, bugs start invading the attic..Can Judy and Peter survive Jumanji? Will Alan ever come back? Will he find Sarah? Watch the movie to find out.

The movie enables kids to think deep into their imagination, all the while taking you places. I give it 5 stars rating because I enjoyed the way it makes you want more. I didn't want the game to end  and  stayed alert for what will happen at the roll of each dice. If you do not enjoy suspense, watch the movie for its special effects and cinematography.

Writing Girl (WG)

The Cat The Mouse And The Bear

One sunny morning, Razor the cat was chasing Rfree the mouse, through the streets of Yosemite village in California. Rfree managed to run into a restaurant. Razor zapped in just to be stopped by the chef. “You bad cat! You’re scaring my customers!” he said throwing Razor out the door. Razor stood outside the restaurant waiting for Rfree to come out.

Meanwhile Rfree spotted a back door and ran out. Moments later her family came to take her home. When Rfree went to her room she thought of something. If I can befriend an animal that can eat Razor, that would be great. She had  always hated him. She tried to keep her hopes alive and now she had a splendid idea.

Applying her plan, she went into the forest next morning. Running through the trees she spotted a bear going to its cave. Suddenly she thought, if I can make friends with that bear, surely will Razor be dead. After a good nights sleep, Rfree went into the cave but found nobody.

Every morning, for a month Rfree went to the cave but nobody was there. One morning Rfree went back to the cave just in time to see the bear coming in. The bear went in and Rfree got a little nervous and left. Next day, Rfree came back. Once again the bear was in sight. Just as the bear was going in, an ear splitting cry was heard.

Rfree knew this was his chance. He went and saw a cobra biting the bear. Rfree started biting the cobra, and the cobra went for Rfree. Immediately the bear escaped. Just as the cobra was about to kill Rfree, the bear, bit the cobra. While the cobra was recovering, the bear grabbed Rfree and ran to his cave.

“Nooo...” yelped Rfree thinking the bear is going to kill him. Inside his cave the bear took Rfree and said “My name is Ashba. What is your name?” My name is Rfree, he said. “You risked your life for me; what can I do for you?” Ashba told Rfree. “Well, I would love if you could make the cat that harms my family our friend.” “Am I going to town?” exclaimed Ashba. “Yay, I’m so happy!” “I got to go now, See you tomorrow” Rfree told Ashba.

At home Rfree told his parent’s what had happened. “That cat is finally going to be our friend and not eat us.” Jelpe (papa) sighed. Ryofu (brother) said, “I’m so happy!” “No more nightmares” Fhwa  (mom) called.

The next morning Rfree took Ashba to town. Ashba hid under a white blanket pretending to be a ghost. When Rfree caught up with Razor, Rfree ran into an empty alley with Ashba behind him and Razor chasing him. When nobody was looking Ashba ripped the blanket off and snuck on Razor from behind. 

Ashba caught Razor in his mouth. Then Rfree told Razor, “please stop harming our family or Ashba here is going to have to eat you.” “ I won’t harm your family ever again. I am very sorry and I  hope you forgive me. I would love to be your friend.” Razor replied with fright. “We forgive you Razor.” Rfree answered. Just then, people started filing into the alley. “Oops!” jolted Razor, Rfree, and Ashba, and they ran down the street together.

The next day Razor called Rfree’s family and said “come over to my house with that Ashba of yours. I have a feast for all of you.” “Sure” they answered. Rfree called Ashba from his new bedroom at their house and told him what Razor had said. Finally they were all ready in their bests clothes to go to Razor’s house. When they arrived, Razor said “Hello.” to the family. They replied with, “Hello. Are you having a great day?” “Yes” Razor answered. When the family looked around they saw a humongous table set up. 

It contained… Cheese for Rfree, Jelpe, Fhwa, Ryofu. Razor got it from the cheese factory. For Ashba Razor got… horse tails and grass from the meadow, Berries from the bush near his home, Aquatic plants from the lake (Razor had his friend Najda, the turtle swimming around the lake all morning to gather the delicacy for his special guests), Red ants from the forest (Razor’s friend Tiro, the monkey hopped from tree to tree to gather the fanciest ones). You get it. There was all the food anyone could imagine. They had a feast full of fun.

These days whenever Ashba, Rfree, or Razor needs help they go to each other. Using all their creativity and help from their friends, they built a mansion and lived happily ever after (together).

Moral: Standing up to a bully is good, but helping them build friendships is even better.

Razor, Ashba, and Rfree together. (Best friends)  

Writing Girl (WG)