Post #11: Artifact #3

This piece was written about a month ago. We started a unit in creative writing class about writing children’s books. I feel every child has read many as they have grown up, and I have to say they never get old. With pictures, and fun words and names, these books can stick with you forever. My friend and I decided to write this next piece. The main character is a turtle because they happen to be my favorite animal. We had fun writing this but never realized trying to come up with the right words for a child to understand is difficult. Revising this was difficult at times but a few grammar mistakes were changed and with some advice from peers in class, some of the sentences were changed to sound better. I would definitely try and write another one of these. I learned how much character development is important in this kind of book. Hope you enjoy it.

The Amazing Race

Page 4- Harry was a sea turtle that lived in the sea. He was an older turtle, one hundred years old to be exact. When Harry was younger he liked to adventure a lot. He learned a lot on his travels and made a lot of friends. His friends respected him because he was so wise.

Page 5- Everyday Harry liked to go visit his friends.

Page 6- So he swam along and swam along until he saw his friend Horsea the seahorse. They said their hi’s, and waved their goodbye’s, and Harry was on his way. 

Page 7- He swam along and swam along until he bumped into his friend Oswald. So he begged his pardons, and headed onward. Harry was on his way.

Page 8/9- Again he swam along and swam along until he met his friend Mobie. Mobie blew hello to his old fellow, then Harry was on his way.

10 - Today Harry went to the beach instead of going home. While making his way onto the beach, he stubbed his flipper on a rock.
“Ow!” Harry yelled.

11- Doodle the lobster and Ditsy the crab came out from under the rock. They noticed a slow, old sea turtle laying close to them in the sand.

“Who are you,” they asked in unison, “and why are you here?”

“I’m Harry,” Harry replied, “Harry the sea turtle.”

12- “A sea turtle?” They said as they laughed at him. “You’re too old to be dragging yourself on our beach!”

Harry chuckled, and said “I’ll be on my merry way then.”

13- So Harry started on his way home. Harry thought about what they said.

“I didn’t think I was that old!” Harry said to himself.

14- That night, Harry thought of a plan. He thought of a plan to prove to himself that he’s more than just an old sea turtle.

“Ah-ha!” Harry thought aloud. “I’ve got it!” Harry was going to race Ditsy and Doodle to the sunken ship in the sea.

Pg 15-  The next day Harry decided to go back and challenge them to the race.

              “I thought we told you to stay off our beach.” Said Doodle.

              “I came back to see if you guys were tough enough to beat me in a race but I    guess not.” Harry replied.

            “A race? Its on!” Ditsy and Doodle said in unison.

Pg 16-  “On your mark, get set, go!” Yelled Harry. Harry took off but Ditsy and Doodle weren’t going to let it slide! So Ditsy and Doodle ran their hearts out till they got to the water before Harry. Harry,  being the wise turtle that he is, knew he had to come up with a plan, and fast.

Pg 17-  So Harry began thinking. A jet pack to fly to the water? No…the water would put it out. He thought about digging a hole through the sand but realized that would take way to long.

Pg 18-  He was very confused, he did not know what to do. He needed something to fly across the water to take advantage of the water current. “A surfboard! But where am I going to get a surfboard?” Harry yelled.

Pg 19-  He looked ahead down the beach and noticed a boy making a sand castle in the sand. He wondered if maybe he had a surfboard he would let Harry borrow.

Pg 20- He finally moved forward in an effort to try and catch up to Ditsy and Doodle and ran into the little boy.

Pg 21-  “Oh I’m sorry!” Harry said.

               “Its okay, my names Earl, but who are you?” Earl replied.

              “My names Harry, mind If borrow your surfboard for a race I’m in?” Harry        asked nicely.

             “Sounds great but don’t forget to bring it back!” Said Earl.

Pg 22- Harry hopped on the surfboard and flew through the sand right into the water! Harry thought it was just what he had needed.

Pg 23- Harry had soared past Ditsy and Doodle with ease. Their angered statements were left behind him.

Pg 24- Harry waited until he could barely see Ditsy and Doodle behind him and swam down to the ship he noticed under the sea. He figured he had some time to go into the sunken ship before they caught up. Something he has always wanted to do since he was a little turtle.

Pg 25- He swam and swam around the ship and went into the captain’s room at last. He saw something shining in the corner and quickly swam at it. It was a buried treasure chest! He yanked on the rusty lock and the top flew open. A bunch of dead fish were in there! A turtle’s favorite snack!

Pg 26- Ditsy and Doodle finally had caught up to Harry and were very upset they      had lost. They noticed that Harry found a big chest of dead fish before them, and were very jealous.

Pg 27- They recognized they were defeated and looked at each other as they both swam away in shame.

Pg 28- Harry then noticed that they started swimming away and was very confused. He didn’t mean to make them upset so he started to swim after them to ask them to come back.

“Would you like to come back and share my treasure with me?” Harry questioned

“You want us to come share your treasure with you after we were mean to you?” Ditsy and Doodle said.

“Why not, no worries friends!” Harry said happily.

Pg 29- They all swam back together happily to the treasure and ate a few dead fish.

Pg 30- They all decided to hop on Earl’s surfboard and start heading back to the beach. They rode and rode until they reached Earl, showed him what they found, and asked him to hop on and come with them for a ride.

Pg 31- As they rode off together happily, Earl yelled out “Why does it smell like dead fish?”

THE END