Life is A Fairy Tale

I've heard over and over again that life is not a fairy tale. Well, I beg to differ. My life is a fairy tale because I am a princess and my Father is the King of Kings. This saying can be found on numerous t- shirts and other items at Christian bookstores. Now I didn't make that line up but it still holds true in my life. I am a Christian and my faith plays a big part in my life. Just like in the fairy tale of Cinderella I am a princess and I will live happily ever after both in this world and after I die.

Skinny Bones

When I was in 7th grade I decided to write and illustrate my own version of Bony-Legs and here it is (with some editing)!!


Skinny Bones was a horrible bad witch. She had bony legs that could run very fast. Her teeth were very sharp and she liked to eat little children. She lived deep in the woods in a log cabin that stood on frog feet.
On the edge of the same woods, a girl named Charleyne lived with her mom. One morning Charleyne's mom sent her out to borrow 5 eggs. Charleyne's mother sent her a hot dog, a hot dog bun, and some peanut butter.
She walked far into the woods. She was suprised when she came to a cabin that stood on frog feet. She decided to go in. She opened the yellow gate. "Poor thing," said Charleyne "You need some grease." She scraped her peanut butter on the hinges. It opened silently.
She walked farther. A skinny black dog stood in her way. It barked loudly. "Poor dog!" said Charleyne. "You look hungry." She gave the dog her hot dog. He ate it up. A black cat stood in her way meowing sadly and loudly.
"Poor Kitty," said Charleyne. "I suppose your hungry too." She gave the cat her hot dog bun. Old Skinny Bones stuck her head out the window.
"My mother would like to borrow 5 eggs," said Charleyne.
"Sure, come right in" said Skinny Bones softly. She smiled unpleasantly. "Now," she said, "get in the tub!"
"Why?" asked Charleyne. "I'm fresh!"
"I'm going to cook you for my supper!" said Skinny Bones. Then she went to gather logs for the fire. She locked the door behind her. Charleyne cried. "Don't cry!" said a voice. Charleyne looked around. She saw the cat.
"Fill the tub," said the cat "but don't get in."
Charleyne was puzzled but she did as she was told. Skinny Bones called through the door.
"Are you washing?"
"Yes, I am" said Charleyne.
"Perfect!" said Skinny Bones.
When she left the cat gave Charleyne a mirror. "When you're in trouble throw this," she said. Charleyne took the mirror and climbed out the window. She began to run. Charleyne met up with the dog. He too gave her something only this time it was a box of ice cream. Now she was really puzzled.
" What am I supposed to do with a box of ice cream?" asked Charleyne. She took it anyway. Now she came to the gate that she put peanut butter on. She opened it silently and ran. Skinny Bones knocked on the door.
"Are you washing?" she asked.
"Yes I am," said the cat.
"What?! You must be a prune by now!" She flung open the door.
"A cat? You tricked me! Why?"
"You never fed me," said the cat "but Charleyne did."
"Whatever," she said. She went outside and asked the dog why he did not bark at Charleyne.
"You never gave me food!" said the dog. "Ooh!" screamed Skinny Bones. She went to the gate next and asked why it did not lock Charleyne in.
"Oh, let me guess, I never took care of you but Charleyne did?"
"Yep!" replied the gate. Skinny Bones ran in circles, flapped her arms, and picked her nose. Then she ran after Charleyne. Charleyne saw the witch and ran even faster. Then she got a cramp. She had to stop. Just then she remebered the mirror. She threw it behind her. The mirror became a great silver lake. Skinny Bones ran home and got her sink and floated across the lake. Then she started off again. Charleyne saw the witch coming. She took the box of ice cream and threw it behind her. It became a dangerous blizzard. Skinny Bones could not go through it so she gave up. She ran home with her arms flapping, pulling her hair, and picking her nose. Charleyne went home safely and never returned to the cabin with frog feet again.

Good Old Bony Legs

I was in elementary school when I first discovered the story of Bony-Legs. I immediately fell in love with the book, and little did I know that this story was based on a variation of Little Red Riding Hood called The False Grandmother, written by Italo Calvino. We studied this in class this week and after reading Calvino's version I recognized the similarities it shared with Bony-Legs. I always liked this book because it was very clever. In the beginning of the story we see Sasha, who is the main character, and the pure generosity that she has. She approaches a squeaky gate which she uses her butter to oil. She also comes across a poor hungry dog and without hesitation feeds it. Not only does she meet a dog, but she also meets is a cat, which she feeds as well. It's interesting because the innocent gifts and kindness she showed in the beginning come back to reward her and they ultimately help her escape from evil Bony-Legs. This book is really well written and the pictures are very descriptive. It been a favorite of mine for years and reading it never gets old!

Sydney White/ Snow White

So this is my first blog I have written. My name is Michelle McKinley and I am an education major. I love kids and one day I hope to become a teacher, so naturally I am really excited for this class. Tonight I watched the newly released Amanda Bynes movie, Sydney White. As you may have guessed, this movie is a parody of the classic story Snow White. Both the movie and the classic version of Snow White have a lot in common, although Sydney White isn't as kid-friendly as the Disney version. I have seen the movie twice and after watching the movie the second time I noticed a lot more of the clever references to Snow White that are subtly made. For instance, Sydney, whose last name happens to be White, is the heroin and she lives with seven guys (each of those guys has some characteristic of one of the seven dwarfs). Now, after a little debating between me and my friends we came up with who is Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Sleepy, Happy, and Bashful. I'll leave it to you to decide who is who in the movie. Next, Sydney's rival in the movie is Rachel Witchburn whose ex happens to be Tyler Prince. He just so happens to be perfect in every way and the first time I saw the movie in theatres everyone in the audience (mainly girls) oohed and awed every time he came on screen. Those are just some of the references we found and there are more but you'll have to watch it to find out! Thanks for reading and if you haven't seen the movie go check it out! It's corny but Amanda Bynes makes the movie funny in her own way!

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Outside Reading List

Book 1: Bony-Legs

Author: Joanna Cole

Picture Book? Yes

Posting date and/or number? 1/25/08

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Book 2: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Author: JK Rowling

Picture Book: No

Posting date and/ or number? 2/2/08

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Book 3: Amelia Bedelia
Author: Peggy Parish
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date and/or Number: 2/10/08
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Book 4: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Author: C.S. Lewis
Picture Book: No
Posting Date and/or Number: 2/13/08
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Book 5: The Carrot Seed
Author: Ruth Krauss
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date and/or Number: 3/2/08
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Book 6: Cuddly Dudley
Author: Jez Alborough
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date and/or Number: 3/9/08
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Book 7: The Story of Easter
Author: Patricia A. Pingry
Picture Book: Yes
Posting Date and/or Number: 3/23/08
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Book 8: A Wrinkle In Time
Author: Madeline L'Engle
Picture Book: No
Posting Date and/or Number: 3/30/08
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Book 9: Number the Stars
Author: Lois Lowry
Picture Book: No
Posting Date and/or Number: 4/13/08
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Book 10: Matilda
Author: Roald Dahl
Picture Book: No
Posting Date and/or Number: 4/20/08