Reading Week 12 Twenty Jataka Tales (A)

This story tells about how important it is to stand up for what you believe in. Picture by: LPHR Group

For the next upcoming free reading, I have decided to mainly focus on stories I have enjoyed reading the most. Over the past few months, I found myself really able to buckle down and enjoy reading different Jataka Tales. I love working with children and reading the fun stories to them as well. I think by knowing about these tales I will be able to use them in my future. I think this because the tales are able to tell such a great story with good morals in a short amount of time.

I really enjoyed reading the story titles The Master's Test this week. In this story the is a teacher who is asking his pupils to steal for him because he is old and weak. All but one of the kids goes along with his plan. Instead of keeping to himself he brings his feelings up with the teacher and said, "There is always someone watching. Even when I am alone my self is watching." I think this is a great moral to teach to young kids who might be reading this. Learning about yourself and what you want to take out of life is a very important thing to learn. The style of this story captured me too because it feels like it was written many years ago. The author speaks very properly. I am more a laid back writer so speaking like this would be a new challenge I am up for.

Bibliography:
Twenty Jataka Tales by Noor Inayat (Khan) Story The Master's Test. 1939

Biography: And Bingo Was His Name-o

This story takes us back 17 years ago when I was 7 years old, my 7th birthday to be exact. In the previous weeks, I had been dreaming of a pet that I could take care of, pet, and call my own. However, my dad did not think this was a good idea since my baby brother was only 3 years old. Fast-forward to the day of my 7th birthday. We had set the park up with decorations, my grandmother baked me a cake, and all my best friends were there. Wow, I remember this so vividly and it always makes me smile :)

I had just finished opening all my presents and stuffed full of cookie cake when my Aunt said there was one last gift. She and my cousin walked to her car and came back with a box. My heart started pumping I knew it must be a cute puppy or kitten I was so excited! When I opened the box this little baby cat said the cutest meow I have ever heard. My dad said there was no way he was coming home with us but I was already in love with him! Since my dad can not tell me know we took him home with so much joy in my heart.

This is Bingo and I playing with some new toys. This picture was taken by my mom. 

Later this night I was stuck going back and forth on what his proper name should be. I would never let his name stay Cat forever! At first, I thought he should be named Nick. Yes, that seemed fitting. And then I realized this was too proper for my kitten. Then I thought of the name Bingo. It was a perfect match.

And he lived out his life as a very happy kitty cat. Although, my dad always hated the name Bingo :)

This is my dad and BIngo. He eventually loved him. This picture was taken again from my mom.

Story Week 11: The Three Monkeys

𝕺𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖚𝖕𝖔𝖓 𝖆 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊,

there were three monkeys who lived in the faraway woods. Their names were Clumsy, Very-Clumsy, and Graceful.

One day they decided to climb through the secret forest tucked away into the back of the far far away woods. No monkey has ever gone this far before.

Graceful stated to the other two in the group, “We must be very watchful of the branches they could snap at any second. If we are not careful we could fall into the dark deep down below us. I think we need to turn back and stay where we know it is safe for us to play.”

 But Clumsy and Very-Clumsy did not listen to their older sister because they just wanted to play around and goof off.

After they reached the secret forest Clumsy and Very-Clumsy raced to see who could get the farthest in the woods. They did not see the broken limb in time. Clumsy and Very-Clumsy fell into the dark deep down where Graceful could only hear their cries.

“I must help them!” exclaimed Graceful.

Very carefully and willfully Graceful swung from branch to branch down deeper and darker. Once she climbed to the bottom, she could no longer see the sticks in front of her face. “BROTHERS?!” she cried out. “Over here Grace” they cried. “Keep making noise and I will find you I promise” replied Graceful. The two boys started rattling some leaves together to create a sound their sister could follow.

With her arms stretched out and reaching in the pitch-black darkness, she finally found her two brothers Clumsy and Very-Clumsy. Graceful took Clumsy by the arm and climbed back up to the treetops, “stay put” she said to him. Then declined back down into the depths to retrieve Very-Clumsy.

“You saved us Graceful” they bellowed “we will never come back to the secret forest ever again!”

They then traveled back home where they lived happily ever after in the faraway woods.

This is hot I picture Graceful swinging to save her brothers. Picture from: London Bell

Authors note

This story was inspired by The three fishes in the more Jataka tales. In the original story, there were three fish named Thoughtful, Very-Thoughtful, and Thoughtless. One day Thoughtful and Ver-Thoughtful got stuck in a fishing net after they did not listen to Very-Thoughtful. Very-Thoughtful then devised a plan to let the fishermen let go of the other two.

For my story, I decided to keep the moral of the story the same and only change some details. I thought it would be interesting if the three in the story were siblings to give some rivalry and depth.

Bibliography

More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt TheThree Fishes

Reading Notes Babbitt. More Jataka Tales (B)

In my previous post, I talked about how I enjoyed how much detail the Authors are able to provide in such a short story. While reading part B this weel I noticed another aspect that I enjoy about these short stories. It is how they provide just enough backstory right at the beginning. This is able to provide enough information to the reader able the main characters or aspects that are going to take place. In a way, I would consider this to be foreshadowing.

These three monkeys in a tree remind me of the ones in this story. Picture by: Get Coloring Pages

For this week's reading notes I like the story titled, How the Monkey Saved His Troop. I enjoyed this because the first two sentences provide a backstory and this is something I would like to try and do this week for my story. I notice in the stories I write I just throw the readers into the mix and let them catch on to what is going on. This week I would like to try something new that this story provides!

Bibliography: More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt How the Monkey Saved His Troop

Reading Notes Babbitt. More Jataka Tales (A)

One of the main things I love about reading the Jataka Tales is the length and details. They are very short but can provide so many vivid details without having some things lost or overlooked. This is my main task for this week for me. I tend to get myself off-topic and provide so many unneeded characters or details. However, this week I want to only focus on one or two main points with the number of details seen in the tales we have been reading.

For part A I was drawn to the story of The Three Fishes. I like that it starts as a fairytale would which gives me a lot of inspiration to create a story out of this. There are so many things I can do to this story but focusing on the main storyline is my primary objective. Within this story, three fish (whos names are thoughtful, thoughtless, and very thoughtful) are swimming and get into some trouble in the river. Thoughtful and thoughtless did not adhere to the warnings made by very thoughtful and got stuck in a net. Fortunately very thoughtful was able to save them both and they lived happily ever after. After reading this story it would be very easy to spin it into a fairytale with three characters and a lot of important details.

This is the main quote I think of when it comes to fairytales. Picture by: Creative Commons Zero

Bibliography: More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt The Three Fishes

Week 10 Story: On The Hunt

By Maria Dawson

I really like how simple these drawlings are. Picture from: Wallpaper Flare

There once was a pair of two unlikely friends one was a cheetah and the other was a lion. While the two were on the hunt the lion looked at the cheetah and said ‘Shhh I can feel a wildebeest presence nearby it is alone too”. The two get into their sneaking stance as they top the hill in front of them to get a better view of the valley.

However, the valley was dead. Nothing in sight in the Savanah except a few scattered dead trees and patches of grass. “LION WHY YOU ALWAYS LYING TO ME. I knew everyone was right about you, you are just a scam who wants everyone to think you have these “powerful being inside you” well I am done I do not need a partner ANYMORE” exclaimed the cheetah as he sped off like a light into the tall grass behind them.

Just then in the weeds 100 paces north a wildebeest appeared on the horizon. “Hmmm if only the cheetah could learn some patience then maybe we would understand each other better” thought the lion to himself. He then proceeded to walk back to camp with his head down making sure to take the long way home.

Cheetah must have had the same idea. Right up ahead he was pacing back and forth murmuring to himself “why would I say such a harsh thing to him he does not have anyone else”. Lion calls up ahead “it is okay I forgive you cheetah oh and by the way I DID see the wildebeest right when you stormed off”. “I am sorry I was so harsh on you earlier you are my best friend I cannot live without you” stated cheetah. “You are right those words did hurt but I understand you were just hungry; can we please try to communicate better in the future?” questioned the lion. “I will try my best” responded cheetah.

Filled with new energy the two palls head back to the hills again. “There, over the tree line, I see him,” said cheetah. The two go back to their stance the lion crept up to the area the creature was roaming while cheetah hung back to give chase if he ran. And in a split second the wildebeest took off with cheetah and lion on his tail lived one pounced on his feet the other on the back and then the beast was no more. “See we make a great team!” said the lion excitedly.

I really like how simple these drawlings are. Picture from: Free SVG

Authors Note: I was inspired by the story named The Ox Who Won the Forfeit because of the moral of the story. This is the main takeaway from the story is how communication can help everyone as well as valuing each other’s abilities. I am drawn to this story immediately because it reminds me of myself and how stubborn I am. In this story, the Ox does not like to be talked to in a harsh town and being told what to do. Because of his actions his owner loses a bet made. Once his owner understood why he was acting this way he treated the Ox with more respect. 

Bibliography: 

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt The Ox Who Won the Forfeit