Great job, first graders!

Dear First Grade Readers,
Thanks for a wonderful author study on Doreen Cronin. I enjoyed reading her books, TALKING TO HER ON THIS BLOG, and working with you as you wrote your own creative stories - all inspired from Doreen's stories and characters. Most of all, I loved opening your eyes to new writing and reading opportunities.
Don't forget to visit Doreen's website over the summer months. Remember, you'll find creative writing ideas and a chance to show your parents what we've learned in our enrichment group.
Have a terrific summer!
Love,
Mrs. Barringer

Diary of a Wallet - by Ellie

Hi, my name is Michael. I am a wallet, and I am blue like the color of water. I am very tired from carrying money and pennies every day. This year, I was bought by Jeffrey, a manager of a superstore. I am meeting my best friend, Lena, at the Academy of Groceries. She is a pink wallet. She is going there with her owner, too. I did the biggest job today. I am carrying $205,000! On the way to the store, Jeffrey saw a better glittery wallet. He bought it and threw me out. I smelled a very gross sandwich in the dump. It smelled like tuna fish and meat. Then I saw a crystal blue wallet! She was so beautiful. I heard her talking about the color blue. She said, “Ohhh, blue is such a great color. I am SO popular. Yeah, blue is so pretty. I am like famous! Can you believe the color blue? Isn’t it great?!” I said, “Do you want to be my wallet girlfriend?” But then, the wind blew me away! The air sounded like waving water. Then a robin flew to me. I got on the robin, and he flew me to HAWAII! It was raining there. I tried to eat a sandwich that had hot sauce, meat juice, hot peppers, salt, and macaroni and cheese. I got RED and GROSS! I loved being red, though, because I was the only red wallet in Hawaii. I loved standing out. I was picked up by a new owner named Sam. She found me at the beach. She loved me, even though I was old. She took me to the mall, and I got a cool new bling and a new strap. I looked AWESOME!

Diary of a Smelly Girl - by Raabiah

One day I saw a girl who got sprayed by a skunk! She said, “How will I get off the smell?” Then she smelled a coffee shop. She bought some coffee and poured it on herself. Then she said, “I still smell like a skunk!” Then she smelled a cotton candy shop. She bought some cotton candy and put it all over her. Then she said, “The smell is STILL on me!” Then she went back home to her room. She took a bath because the coffee and the cotton candy smell got worse. Then her mother came in and said, “Why are you covered with coffee and cotton candy?” “Because I got sprayed by a skunk!” Her mom poured tomato juice on her, and finally she was rid of the smell.

Diary of a Candy Bar - by Hannah

Hi, I’m a candy bar! I go on the candy bar bus with my candy bar friends. I’m in candy bar school right now. We are learning candy bar math. After candy bar math, it is candy bar lunchtime. That is when we smell dirty socks. I always see feet walking toward us. Boy, it is like a junk room or gym! I can taste people’s hands. I even hear screaming. People are touching me with their dirty hands. Help, how do I get out of here?! Finally, we use our candy bar cell phones and call the candy bar policeman. The candy bar policeman comes and arrests all of the kids. He always gives us a detective badge for a good job on spying. Sometimes he forgets one person, so we use dental floss and tie him up. We throw him in the stinky man pile with the other stinky people. Now we go out for recess. I play on the candy bar monkey bars, but these are different because they are shaped like MONKEYS! The middle part is like a water slide! It is so slippery! My teacher’s name is Chocolate. It is a weird name. My friends’ names are Claire, Lily, Sami, and Campbell. Pretty names, right? Now it is time for candy bar music! We do not like people. We even have to sing….LA LA LA DON DON DON. Weird, right? Now we’re FREEDOM! I go home and eat dinner. After that, I brush my teeth and go to sleep. Time for breakfast! I eat scrambled eggs. Now it’s the same day as all the other days!

Diary of a Candy Bar - by Hamza

I woke up one morning and went outside. Then, someone picked me up. I had to go to the hospital because someone bit me. One day someone dropped me and almost stepped on me. I ran to my friend’s house. We jumped on the trampoline. I got sliced into pieces. My friend was wearing a life jacket. We went for a picnic. We melted. My friend’s mom called us in for a shower. We went in, but we turned into water. It’s so boring being a candy bar…

After that, we ate, and we accidentally ate our friend! We went to sleep. After I woke up, I melted because the sun was out.

A Sequel - by Ruby

The next morning, he got a note…
“Dear Farmer Brown,
The pond is quite boring. We’d like a diving board.
Sincerely,
The Ducks”

Click, clack, quack. Click, clack, quack. Clickety, clack, quack. “NO!,” said the farmer.

The next day, the farmer got a note…
“Dear Farmer,
No duck eggs, and we are not going to clean the pond.”

Farmer Brown was very mad. He was so mad, he didn’t feed the animals for one day. The next day, he had to give the ducks a diving board.

Then we drove to a big pond. All the ducks dove in the pond.

Diary of a Candy Bar - by Andrew

I’m a candy bar. I get to go on a lot of adventures. I peek out of my bag so I can get air a lot. I could taste bad. I’m an unusual candy bar. I like my bag because I stay warm. OW! I got bitten! It really hurts! I’m bleeding a little bit! I hate being a candy bar. I have a bit of my body because they ate a lot of me. Now I’m safe again in someone’s stomach. I am warm. Watch out! Another candy bar is coming! The candy bars joked it out and lived happily ever after.

Quack, Quack, Quack - The Sequel to Giggle Giggle Quack by Sara

Bob picked up the phone. “Oh, you nasty rotten thing! Leave the farm now!” said Farmer Brown. “Oh,” said Bob. But Farmer Brown had already hung up.

The animals decided to bounce on the trampoline they won at a talent show (Dooby Dooby Moo). Then something caught the cow’s eye. There was a fly buzzing around! “Hi,” said the fly, “my name is Fly.” Then the pig saw something slithering beside her. Everyone stared at it. Fly turned around. “Oh, that’s Worm,” she said. Then the sheep spotted something in the doorway. A spider! “Oh yeah, that’s our friend Spider,” exclaimed Worm. “We are all best buds!” mentioned Fly.

The farm animals became friends with the bugs. They had many adventures together.

Diary of a Pencil - by Gabriel

(Day One)
I was in the supply store when I met some friends. They were nice. They were smiling at me. They also said nice things about my friends and me. I asked them to be my friend. They said, “Yes.” So we all agreed to jump on three. On three, we landed in someone’s hands! They all blamed me! I felt really sad, ☹ I also felt scared! I got used to being with that big person. He took me home to his house. The part I hate is when he breaks me. He broke me ten times in one day! So I escaped him. My friends and I hid in the corner. A dog saw me. He was chasing me all around the house! I jumped out of the window, but I forgot my friends! It was a good thing I saw a nearby tree because I was going to swing on one of the vines to save my buddies! I flew in through the window, got my pals, and went to the store and got back in the box.

Diary of an Ice Skate by Lily

Hi, my name is Crystal! I live in the pro shop. I am a white ice skate. I see people that want to buy me. One person already tried me on, but they had stinky socks. I did not like the smell, so I called my friend. Wait, I do not have a cell phone! I cannot call anybody! I touched stinky socks! It was gross. I also tasted a stinky sock, and it tasted bad. Now I want to get a drink. I went to buy a drink. Wait, I do not have money to buy a drink! I hear people talking about buying me. I do not want people to buy me. I like to be in the pro shop. I finally was bought by a professional skater named Ola. She’s going to the junior Olympics. Ola went on the ice. She did an axel. I liked the air! Now her teacher told her to do a scratch spin. Then she had to do a one-foot spin. Then she had to do a two-foot spin. Then she had to do a sit spin. Then her teacher told her to do a waltz jump. The waltz jump was easy for Ola. Now it was time for Ola’s competition. She did all the moves her teacher taught her, and she won first place! Now she is in the Olympics. Ola is so happy! I got to stand on the first place step and see the shining trophy. I am so lucky…I left the pro shop for the OLYMPICS!

Diary of a Light Bulb by Nikki

Hi, my name is Light Bulb! Everybody wants to buy me at the light bulb store. A man named Sam picked me up, but I burned his hand! He threw me away into the garbage can, and I went all the way to the dump truck. I was so scared. When I got to the dump, there was not ONE piece of garbage there. I was surprised. Finally, someone saw me. He picked me up and saw my price tag, and he said, “You shouldn’t be here. You should be in the light bulb store. How did you get here?” I said, “I don’t know.” He said, “Well, did someone throw you away?” “Yes,” I said, “someone tried to turn me on, but by accident I burned him. That’s what happened!” The man drove me to the light bulb store, and he bought me himself! Now I live with him! I light up his house when it’s dark!

Diary of a Girl by Claire

Hi, my name is Isabella. I have two sisters named Alex and Hannah. They have very stinky socks because a skunk sprayed their socks. Alex and Hannah went to the store to buy skunk costumes so they could scare away the skunk so they don’t have any more problems. They found a skunk costume. They didn’t know that there was a pile of mud and hot dogs behind them. The skunk sprayed, and they fainted and fell into the mud. Alex tasted a hot dog that had mud and fur on it. I told mom, and she got a skunk for a pet. She put it in their beds, and when they got in bed and sat on the skunk, they smelled tuna fish! They ran to the table and ate the food that was really a raisin pie. They threw up a skunk with mud, fur, and hot dogs. My mom was so scared; she had to move to Alaska! Then I decided to take mom’s job. My sisters were gone now. They are grown up. Now I have a house to myself!

MOOOOOOOO! A Sequel to Dooby Dooby Moo by Michael

Dooby Dooby Moo ends with the animals getting the trampoline from the judges.
The cows, pigs, and duck won the contest. They got the trampoline. They played with it all day long, and the farmer was mad because the animals weren't doing what they were supposed to do. The cows weren't milking, the pigs weren't sleeping in the mud, and the duck wasn't practicing his swimming. In the morning, Duck got the newspaper. It said...
"Contest for running, swimming, and bike riding!
Where? Country Fair
When? Sunday."
It was Sunday. The cows, pigs, and duck went to the country fair. The cows ran, the pigs road bikes, and Duck swam. The cows, pigs, and duck won! They got one million dollars.

Thank you!

Thank you for going on this blog with the Todd Hall kids! from Ben

Dooby Dooby Moo

This book is about animals that enter a talent show. The 1st prize is a trampoline, 2nd prize is a box of chalk, 3rd prize is a veggie chop-o-matic. The farmer took them to the fair and when the farmer was out of sight the animals signed in for the talent show. The cows sang, then the sheep sang, the pigs fell asleep, and the duck sang. The juges claped, and they won 1st prize. Then they went back to the car and the farmer drove back to the farm.

From, Michael D.

Book Review of Diary of Fly by Samir

Flies aren't the fastest thing, because they don't have such a big brain.

Book Review by Samir

Bounce

I did not like this book because it needed more details. The book was only about bouncing and nothing else. The author could make this book a little more sincere, and put more words into it. She could make this book a little harder. I would give this book 1 1/2 stars.

Candy Island by Ben

There once was an island called Candy Island. On that island, there was a chocolate bar. The chocolate bar was crying because no one wanted to eat him. He was a hairy chocolate bar. Then there was a boy that went to the island. He was magically transported there during a dream. Then he saw the chocolate bar on the island. It was in the middle of the island. The boy said,
“I remember you from Proesel Park. I was trying to tie my shoe when you came crying. No one likes me, but I like you.”
“Can you help me get home?” said the boy.
“Sure, drink all this milk, and you will be there in no time.”
Then the boy thanked the bar, drank the milk, and walked home.
The End

Updates!

I've finally dug in and typed up the many book reviews that had not yet been posted. The kids are doing great critical reading. Next up, we're working on creative stories that are either tied to Doreen's existing books, or using the prompts she provided us on her website! The Diary of a Candy Bar prompt has proven to be extremely popular.
Finally, we will try to answer some of your questions and give suggestions for stories we'd like to read next. The school year seems to be coming to an end extremely fast. We've got about a month left to get some blogging in. I can't wait to read and write more!
Ms.T

Book Review of Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type

This book is about farm animals that want electric blankets. The farmer did not give them to the animals, so the cows did not give the farmer milk, and the hens did not give the farmer eggs. I give this book five stars.
by Michael

Book Review of Duck for President

A duck that's tired of Farmer Brown bossing him around starts a vote to be the farmer, and then he's covered from head to toe in stars. Then he collects votes to be the governor, and Ms. Governor gets 299,999 votes, and Duck gets 300,000. Then a horse finds two more votes on the back of a plate! Then the duck tries to be the President.
Here's an idea for a book: Duck goes back in time! And here's my comment: I think it's really funny. I think this book is five stars.
by Josh

Book Review of Diary of a Worm

I like when the worm says "Good morning!" to all of the ants. I like the part where the worm goes to the dentist. I also like the part where he wants a dog. Since I like origami, you should make a book where all of the illustrations are made with origami. I have an origami book. I give this book four stars.
by Gabriel

Book Review of Duck for President

Duck for President is funny. Duck is going to be in charge of the barn, and then he is not. He was in charge of more than before! In one part, he thinks running a state is no fun at all! Duck gets to be President! Duck ends up back as a duck at the end.
by Gabriel

Book Review of Duck for President

The duck became president in this book, but he got tired. He got 300,000 votes, and one was stuck to the pig's bottom. This book did not make sense. People cannot understand ducks, only ducks can. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars.
by Ben

Book Review of Diary of a Fly

This book was so, so, so, so funny because the fly has flying lessons, like we would have swimming lessons. The flies sit on pins instead of chairs. The fly was on a frisbee and someone threw it to a dog. I think you should put some facts in the book about flies. I give this book five stars.
by Ben

Book Review of Thump, Quack, Moo

The animals did not build a maze of corn until the farmer gave them their favorite tools, like a hammer, paint, and nails. I think the illustrator should make the pictures look more like Eric Carle's. I give it five stars.
by Ben

Book Review of Duck for President

This story is about a duck who was going to be President. He won against the governor by a nose. Ms. Governor got 299,999 votes and duck got 300,000. When duck was officially in charge, he was covered with tiny bits of grass and espresso beans. My favorite part of the book is when Ms. Governor got mad because duck won. I liked Duck for President. Five stars.
by Andrew

Book Review of Diary of a Worm

This is a story about the diary of a worm. He eats a lot of garbage. I think that when he forgets his lunch should be almost the ending.
by Hamza

Book Review of Diary of a Spider

I like Diary of a Spider because it's funny. I like the part when daddy longlegs makes fun of a fly, and Spider says he will give him a piece of his mind, but instead he gave him a piece of his lunch. I would give it four stars.
by Hamza

Book Review of Giggle, Giggle, Quack

Farmer Brown goes on a vacation and leaves his brother in charge. But things get crazy when duck writes fake notes! For example, Bob gives the animals hot pizza, like it said in the note! I thought it was really funny! I hope Doreen will write a sequel. I would give it five stars!
by Sara

I have a question...

Hello again!  I was just sitting here thinking that since you are all readers and  all writers...I'd like to know what you would change about any of the books.  Would you change the endings?  Give the animals names?  Change any of the plots?  Give them new titles?

I'd love to know what you think.

Best,

Doreen 

Greetings from Brooklyn!

Hi, everyone!  Thanks for all your great questions...and the book reviews!  

Here are some of the answers to your questions:

I wrote my first story when I was about 6 years old.  My first grade teacher, Mrs. Cooper, really inspired me.  She told me I was a good writer and gave me extra assignments so I would write even more.    The first book I had published was Click Clack Moo.  I wrote it in 1995, but it wasn't published until 2000.  It was hard to wait...but it was worth it!

I am 43 years old.  

My favorite food is....coffee!!  Does that count?  Actually, its a toss up between pizza and grilled cheese.  I also love avocados!

My favorite sport is baseball.  I used to go to a lot of NY Mets games, but I don't get much of a chance these days.  I am going to try to get to one this summer so can see the new stadium.  I also love bowling!

Right now I am working on two new picture books and a chapter book.  The chapter book has been the most difficult book for me to write because its a whole new format.  Its been really challenging, but I'm happy with the results.  Right now an illustrator is working on some sketches for the book.  I think it will be ready next September. 

Your posts are fantastic.  I can see that you are all working hard!!  Thanks for including me on your project and please let me know if you have any more questions!

Keep Reading!

Doreen 

Book Review by Ellie

They didn't want Farmer Brown to be President, so Duck ran against him - and he won! Duck didn't know it was so hard being President. He made speeches. He had to work so hard. One time he said, "My head hurts!" in a duck voice. It was too much, so he decided to go back to the farm. I'm giving this book five stars!

Book Review by Claire

I like the book Giggle Giggle Quack. The book is about Farmer Brown, who goes on vacation and writes notes to his brother Bob. One of the notes says, "Thursday night is movie night. It's the cows' turn to pick." My favorite part is when they are watching the movie and the phone rings, and it was Farmer Brown on the phone. I give this book five stars!