Storybook Favorites

I found all of the stories I read to be very entertaining and they all appealed to a different side of creativity. 

Tragically Ever After was an eye catching title for me. I am drawn to fairy tale stories and wanted to check it out. I thought that the stories were entertaining. I liked how the author used fairy tale illustrations. The first story, “After Sleeping Beauty woke,” surprised me rat first. Even though the title seemed dark I did not expect such a twisted plot in which death was brought to everyone she loved.

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 I enjoyed the layout of The heroes diaries. I liked that the introduction put you in the setting for the series of stories. I thought it was very creative of the writing to start off with dialogue instead of explaining a situation or story.  The sword and the stone is a story that several have heard. It was a different approach by the author to have the story being told and then show what the character thought about it. I am not used to using that format for story telling, but I do think it is a unique approach.

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The title of Tall Tales of Beauty and the Beast automatically struck me because Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories from my childhood. I liked that the story book was narrating the introduction. Since it is a popular story most people know the candle stick, teapot, and clock do most of the narrating for the story line. By having the story book narrate I felt it kept my interest in reading the rest of the stories. I wanted to know what was going to happen. I liked the design of the pages and the images used. especially the one representing the rose that was in the original Beauty in the Beast movie.

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I found this picture to be symbolic because it is something most people can relate to that know the story of beauty and beast 

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I chose Adam and Eve for my first reading. I thought it would be interesting to see how others interpret the story of Adam and Eve. I also thought it would be beneficial for my learning to understand others' beliefs and how the story is told. My second choice was Aesop Winter Unit. I chose this unit because my grandfather used to read me old fables as a child and I thought I would get to relieve some of those memories. My next choice was the Great Plains unit. I thought it would be interesting to learn about stories that have been passed down through generations. The unit Brothers Grimm reminded me of stories I heard as a child. The last unit I have chosen is Robin Hood, which I find to be an entertaining fable.

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Image of Hansel and Grethel - in the Grim

Introduction week 1

Hello! I am starting my senior year here at the University of Oklahoma! I am from Eufaula, OK, which is known for having the largest man made lake. I liked to spend time on the lake with my friends during the summer. Usually on the weekends someone is taking their boat out so we all tag along for whoever's turn it is.

I have a German Shepherd named Bentley. I also have a five year old nephew that is my best friend, his name is Westyn.  He just started kindergarten this year. One of my favorite Westyn quotes is when my grandmother asked him if he played on the playground at recess (on his first day) and his response was “ I ran, jumped, climbed, ya know, I did all that hillbilly stuff.”

We are from a rural area in Eufaula and it is important for me to not forget where I came from even when I am away. Farming has been in my family for several generations and it is something I plan to pass on to my nephew, as well as my own children.

I am an avid sooner football fan.  I’ve been attending games with my parents since I was a child. It was a big deal for me to attend the University of Oklahoma because it was something that I had wanted for such a long time.

When I am not tied down with school work I like to travel home and spend time with my family. Family is very important to me, if you couldn’t tell. I also like to spend my free time at home in the woods or catching fish.

I am very inspired by my father. My dad builds houses for a living. I like to use that phrase instead of a carpenter because my dad does almost all of the work on his own, from frame work to cabinet building. If you can show him a picture he can make it. People say we have the same personality because we don’t stop working until the job is finished. To me, that is the biggest compliment I can receive because I know how hard he works.

I plan to finish out my senior year here at OU and go on to further my education to be an ultrasound tech. 

Personal photo of Bentley and me

personal photo of Westyn and me 

Personal photo from this last summer at the lake. We love America!

personal photo of Westyn and a truck load of watermelons we raised

personal photo of my friends and me cheering on the Sooners

Most recent personal photo of Bentley. He is usually glued to my hip when I go home for a weekend. We struggle with sharing the bed.

Week 1 Storytelling: The king of the playground

There once was a boy named Thomas. Thomas had long shaggy hair, wore the latest version of KDs (Kevin Durant's shoe line), and was athletic. He was the king of the playground being in the fifth grade and a head taller than the other children. He enjoyed picking on other kids by making fun of their insecurities. Then there was Jep, a small kid for being in the second grade.  Jep had glasses and usually wore second hand clothes from the local thrift store. Thomas knew how to manipulate Jep to get him in trouble at school. After recess the children were lined up in the hallway for a bathroom break and to get a drink. Thomas had just got a new pair of KD shoes and Jep was admiring them on the way to the bathroom. “Hey Jep! Do you like my new shoes?” asked Thomas. “I love them, they are my favorite color!” exclaimed Jep. As they were walking into the bathroom Thomas got the bright idea to make Jep a deal. “I would give you these shoes, IF you can manage to go into the girls’ bathroom without getting caught and put toilet all over the floor and sinks,” said Thomas. Jep was so amazed that he did not even think before he answered yes. The two went back to their separate classrooms. Later Thomas heard a scream from down the hall. His teacher ran out into the hallway to see what was wrong and the students followed. Thomas then saw the principal holding Jep’s hand marching to her office and in his other hand was a wad of toilet paper. Thomas let out a smirk and proudly walked back to his seat. The next day at recess Thomas saw Jep on the playground. Thomas yelled, “Hey four eyes, how was the girls’ bathroom?”  All of Thomas’s friends chuckled and Jep walked by with his head hanging low, realizing he had fallen for another one of Thomas’s tricks.  Thomas went on to the monkey bars, which were his favorite thing to play on at the playground. He thought he would show off and do a flip off the last monkey bar. As he went to flip he missed the bar and a thud was heard across the playground.  Unfortunately, the bell to go inside was ringing about the same time that Thomas fell. All his friends abandoned him because they did not want detention for being tardy. Thomas couldn’t move the only thing he felt was pain in his leg. Suddenly Thomas saw a pair of very used spiderman sneakers in his view, which would only belong to Jep. Thomas could hear Jep’s voice telling him he was going to get some help and everything would be okay.  The ambulance was called and they took Thomas to the hospital to check on his leg and his head. A few days went by and no one saw Thomas. Finally Thomas entered the school doors with the help of his crutches. All of his friends greeted him but Thomas couldn’t help but notice that Jep was standing all alone. He pushed his friends aside and pulled out a shoebox from his backpack. “Hey Jep! Could you please come here?” asked Thomas. Jep walked over towards Thomas as he pushed a shoebox toward Jep. A look of excitement crossed Jep’s face as he opened the box to find a pair of Kd’s his size and just like the ones he wanted that belonged to Thomas.

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Image from scene on Max Keebles Big Move showing the bullies he faced,

I used the fable The Old Lion to create this story. I found the fable easy to relate to a real life situation because bullying happens every day with children. The lion is said to be “the king of the Jungle,” just like Thomas was the king of the playground. In the fable the lion was attacked when he was down by other animals showing their hatred toward him. In my story the plot took a turn to show Jep was a better person when his bully was injured and showed his true colors by seeking help for an enemy. 

Bibliography 

Aesop for Children, by (anonymous), illustrated by Milo Winter (1919).

My Favorite Place

One of my favorite places is somewhere that I get to visit often near Eufaula, Oklahoma. I enjoy spending my free time outdoors on forty acres of land. I have spent many Saturdays and Sunday evenings at this pond. My father and I raised watermelons there while I was in high school in the summers, which I was able to profit from what we were able to harvest. The pond served as a valuable water source when we were experiencing dry weather. The land and the pond have been passed down through three generations and it is something I plan to share with my children. I have caught several fish there as well!

personal photo of a sunset at the pond

personal photo taken from a small boat used on the pond to fish

personal photo of my nephew and a perch out of the pond