Sample Chapters

Concept Images Young Japanese girl, traditional Japanese house, koi pond, Japanese lanterns, origami samples, family eating at low table with hashi, white kitten, cherry blossoms, train with Mount Fuji, girl hiccupping

Why Do I Hiccup?

(JAPAN)

An Interactive Story

By Catherine Strickland

 

A hiccup is a sudden “catch” in your breath instead of normal breathing. A hiccup happens when a breathing muscle jumps when you don’t expect it and causes a funny sound. Hiccups can be embarrassing, but they do you no harm.

Hiccups can be fun — at first. They are like little surprises.

*HIC!*

But, after a while,

*HIC,*

they can be annoying…

*HIC.*

And eventually, they go away – until next time!

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Yukiko lived with her parents and grandparents in a traditional wooden minka (folk house) with a curved roof in Japan, East Asia. It was near a tea plantation, where her papa was the overseer, within sight of the graceful sleeping volcano, Mount Fuji.

One spring morning, Yukiko woke up with a big smile on her face. Today was her friend Asuka’s birthday. They were both turning seven this year and, in November, they would get to wear wide, grown-up obi sashes with their beautiful kimonos like all other seven-year-old girls at the Shichi-Go-San  festival. However, her friend’s birthday party was this afternoon, and she could hardly wait! It was a lovely day for the party at their favorite park near Tokyo. And the cherry trees were in blossom!

But, just after quickly eating a big breakfast of miso soup, a bowl of noodles, and a sweet, rolled omelet, Yukiko got the hiccups!

*HIC*…*HIC*…*HIC*

Yukiko wanted to feed the orange-spotted koi fish in their little pond in the garden. “Mama, may I go out and feed the …*HIC*?” asked Yukiko. Happily, her mother knew she was trying to say “koi” and said yes. Mama, who was soon expecting a baby girl, was artfully preparing their bento lunch boxes with sushi rice rolls, fish, and vegetables. “Before you go, try tasting this lemon wedge,” suggested Mama. Yukiko knew it would be sour, but she bit down on it to release the juice. It made her mouth pucker and gave her the shivers. “Did that stop your hiccups, Yukiko?” asked Mama.

“I don’t know,” said Yukiko, “Maybe…”

*HIC*

Yukiko combed her straight, black hair cut short with a fringe of bangs. After sliding the front door open, she slipped into her outdoor sandals and stepped outside onto the covered porch. Paper lanterns swayed in the breeze. Yukiko saw that her kitten wanted to go out, too. She had named him Kumo because he was white and fluffy like a cloud. “Kumo! Let’s go out to the …

*HIC*.”

Kumo twitched his ears. He was confused.

Yukiko couldn’t finish a sentence without hiccupping. She tried to ignore the hiccups, but they just would not stop.

Later that morning, Yukiko and her mother took a train to the beautiful park for Asuka’s outdoor party. With a polite little bow to the birthday girl, each child invited presented a carefully wrapped gift to their friend. They enjoyed folding paper boats, butterflies, and birds for a fun origami activity.

When the birthday cake was brought out with seven lighted candles, everyone began singing. Many families in Japan sing the English version of the traditional birthday song. But all Yukiko could sing for Asuka was, “Happy Birthday to …*HIC*, Happy Birthday to…*HIC*, Happy Birthday dear…*HIC*, Happy Birthday to …*HIC*.” She covered her mouth shyly, but Asuka giggled kindly at her friend’s attempt to sing and gave her a hug.

Yukiko’s friend, Riku, wanted to help. He hid behind an azalea bush and then popped out and shouted, “Bu!!!” Yukiko jumped! “Did that scare your hiccups away, Yukiko?” Riku asked.

“I don’t know yet,” Yukiko began. “Let’s wait and see…”

*HIC*

Later, another friend, Sakura, came over holding a small cup of hot tea for her. “I’ve heard that if you take a sip of tea and bend over and swallow while your head is upside down, it will stop your hiccups!” she offered.

“Arigatou (Thanks),” said Yukiko, “I’ll try it.”  Yukiko took a sip, bowed down, and swallowed before rising back up.

“Did that stop your hiccups, Yukiko?” asked Sakura.

“Perhaps,” Yukiko said. “I hope so…”

*HIC*

Then, Asuka herself came over. “Have you tried taking a deep breath, holding it, and blowing it out slowly? That may stop your hiccups!” said Asuka.

“Arigatou (Thanks),” said Yukiko. “I’ll try it.” Yukiko took a deep breath, held it, and then blew out slowly.

“Did that help, Yukiko?” asked Asuka.

“Oh, I wish! Maybe this time…” Yukiko said. Everyone paused and waited, but…

*HIC*

That evening, her family gathered for dinner and sat on cushions on the floor around a low table. Instead of using forks, they ate with hashi, two sticks held in one hand, and skillfully worked them to pinch bites of food and bring them to their mouths. When they finished, Yukiko’s father and grandparents wanted to hear all about the party.

“Mama packed our lunch, and we ate while riding on the…*HIC*,” Yukiko began. “The park was beautiful with cherry tree…*HIC*. We made folded origami…*HIC*…and Asuka opened many pretty…*HIC*.” Yukiko sighed with frustration, but her family smiled sympathetically at her struggle to speak with the hiccups.

Suddenly, her papa stood up and came over to her. “I know! You need a Papa Hug!” he said. Papa picked her up, lifted her high, twirled her around, and then squeezed her tight in his arms with a little jiggle at the end. Yukiko squealed with delight!

“Did that end those annoying hiccups?” Papa asked. Her family listened expectantly…

*HIC*

“I guess not,” sighed Yukiko. “But please hug me again, Papa!” she begged. And he did!

Yukiko’s papa and her ojiichan (grandfather) went to another room to look over plans for the tea plantation. Her mama and her obaachan (grandmother) opened a cedar-lined box to sort through Yukiko’s old baby clothes to get ready for the coming baby. They showed Yukiko how to sew on a loose button with a needle and thread. Yukiko did not hiccup while she was concentrating on sewing.

But, lying on her futon sleeping mat that night, Yukiko still had a few hiccups. Her tummy was tired from hiccupping so much. Kumo curled up at her feet. Yukiko’s grandmother came over to tuck her in, kneeling down beside her on the floor and then sitting back on her heels. She gently brushed away a few cherry blossom petals that were still sprinkled like pale pink confetti in Yukiko’s silky black hair. Yukiko called her grandmother Baaba (Granny). “Let’s thank God for this happy day and count your blessings,” said Baaba.

Yukiko closed her almond-shaped eyes. “Dear God,” she began, “Thank you for this *HIC* happy day. Thank you for Papa, Mama, *HIC* Jiiji and Baaba…” Yukiko rubbed her eyes and yawned and tried to continue, “Thank you for the fun party, my friends Asuka …, Riku………., Sakura.…..……, and my kitten Kumo…………..…” Yukiko’s eyes were closed, but she hadn’t said “Amen” to end her prayer yet.

Baaba pulled the soft, stuffed cover up to Yukiko’s chin and bent over to kiss her on the cheek. Softly she said, “Night, night, Yukiko. Did that stop your hiccups?” Then, Baaba shuffled quietly to the door and listened.

< No more hiccups! >

 

Concept Images Young American boy with freckles, model Indy car, bike riding, playing baseball, cockapoo, cinnamon rolls, hotdogs and hamburgers, family in car, fireworks, boy yawning

Why did Yukiko hiccup? (see Conclusion)

Why Do I Yawn?

(USA)

An Interactive Story

By Catherine Strickland

 

Yawning is something you do without thinking about it. Everyone yawns, especially when they are tired or bored. When you yawn your mouth opens really wide, you take a deep breath, and then quickly let it out. We understand more about when we yawn than why we yawn. But we do know yawns are part of a helpful opening of the lungs to bring in more oxygen.

Some people close their eyes tightly while they are yawning:

**YAWN**

Some people yawn quietly:

*YAWN*

Some people make a sound when they yawn:

*Y-A-AH-A-WN!*

And some people try to keep their mouths closed while they yawn, but that’s hard to do! It is polite to cover your mouth when you yawn around other people.

Caution! Reading this story may make you

*YAWN*!

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Alex was an active little boy who lived in the big city of Indianapolis. It is the capital city of the state of Indiana, USA, in North America. From the time he woke up until the time he went to bed, Alex was busy. Family and church events and school activities gave him plenty to keep him on the go. He enjoyed playing outdoors with his friends. He especially liked riding his bike and playing baseball in his local little league. Each time he was at bat he tried to hit the ball “out of the park” and run all the bases. He had a lot of energy to spend and a lot of curiosity to satisfy. Even during his quieter interests like reading, drawing, or practicing playing the piano, he gave them his full attention.

Cookie, the family’s black and white cockapoo dog, was active, too. But one snowy winter afternoon she curled up near the fireplace where Dad had started a nice, warming fire. When Cookie had made herself cozy, she suddenly opened her mouth really wide — so wide she showed all her teeth — and made a little moaning sound before quickly closing it again, like this…

*YAWN.*

Alex was sitting on the floor nearby, putting together a model Indy race car. He smiled and reached out to scratch behind Cookie’s ears. “Are you tired, Cookie?” he asked. Cookie blinked and closed her eyes. And just then, Alex yawned!

*YAWN*

His dad, who was nearby working on a new praise and worship song with his guitar, happened to see him. He reached down to ruffle his son’s curly, reddish-brown hair. “Are you getting tired, Alex?” he asked. “No, Dad. I guess seeing Cookie yawn made me yawn, too!” Dad nodded. Then, a moment or two later, Dad yawned!

*YAWN*

“Oh, no!” he said, “Yawning must be catching!” They both smiled and did a fist bump.

In the spring, the sun noticeably started going down later and coming up earlier. One Saturday in April, Alex woke up without an alarm clock or anyone else waking him — the sun was already shining brightly through his window. He blinked a little, sat up in bed, and stretched his arms as far as they would reach. Then, he yawned.

*YAWN*

“That’s funny,” he thought. “I’m not tired — I just woke up. I wonder why I yawned?” A warm, delicious smell was drifting up from the kitchen. After quickly making his bed and putting on a t-shirt and jeans, he bounded downstairs for breakfast. Mom had made some of her yummy cinnamon rolls! His older sister, Anna, slid one roll each on two plates — one for Alex and one for herself. Dad and Mom were already sitting at the breakfast table sipping some coffee. Little brother Asher was having a smoothie. Alex and Anna hugged their mom as they came to the table. “Thanks for the cinnamon rolls, Mom!”

“You’re welcome,” said Mom. “Next time, you can help make them and learn how. Alex, you can use some of the ‘cinnamon’ on your nose!”

Alex rolled his eyes. He was used to being teased about the freckles on his face.

Alex was curious. “Mom, Dad, why do I yawn sometimes when I first wake up? It can’t be because I’m sleepy…”

“Well,” said Mom, “yawning can help your body feel alert. That’s why your dad and I have a cup of coffee in the morning.”

“Hmm. Okay,” said Alex. At that moment, Asher rubbed his eyes and made his own big

*YAWN.*

“Wake up, sleepyhead!” they all said with a smile. Little Asher made the cutest yawns.

During summer break, the family looked forward to a road trip in the family car. The United States of America is a big country! This time, they planned an all-day trip to visit their grandparents, Lolli and Pop, in the southern state of South Carolina on the ocean coast. They started very early in the morning. The family had done this before and knew how to entertain themselves along the way by listening to music, singing songs, enjoying the scenery, playing games, taking snack breaks, or just talking. Of course, they would stop to eat lunch and stretch their legs, too. Dad and Mom took turns driving.

This route south took them through the Great Smoky Mountains. They rode alongside rushing rivers on highways that twisted around the steep mountainsides and darted through dark tunnels cut through the mountains. They wound their way thousands of feet up, up, up and then down, down, down.

 

At one point, little Asher put his hands over his ears. “Mom, my ears hurt!” he said.

Mom turned to look at him. “I’m sorry, buddy,” she said. “My ears feel stuffed up, too. It’s because we’re changing from being low to being so high up in these mountains, and the air pressure is different. Let’s all swallow hard and try to yawn!” The children gave each other funny looks but gave it a try. They swallowed and opened their mouths wide, and sure enough, each one made a big

*YAWN.*

It felt like their ears popped open! And it sure helped.

When they still had a couple of hours to go, it got quiet in the car. Asher had fallen asleep. The scenery was not as interesting, and they had played all their games. They had crossed four state lines! No one felt like singing or even talking. “Are we there, yet?” asked Anna with a sigh.

“It won’t be too long now,” said Dad.

Alex was just plain bored…

*YAWN*

At last, they reached Lolli and Pop’s house at the beach, and everyone was happy to stop and get out of the car. After exchanging the best hugs, they went inside. Pop had cooked hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill and Lolli had potato chips, veggie sticks, and lemonade on the table in no time. They thanked God for their safe journey and the good food. Then they ate hungrily but saved room for a slice of Lolli’s apple pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

It was the Fourth of July when Americans celebrate Independence Day! There was to be a fireworks show over the ocean when it got dark enough. They took off their shoes and ran down on the beach to walk in the wet, squishy sand and find a good viewing spot.

Finally, they heard the first whine and boom, and a burst of sparkling color flashed against the night sky! The grownups opened folding chairs, and the children spread beach towels to sit on. As each blazing color popped and each brilliant outline twinkled, they clapped and whistled and said, “Ooh!” and “Ahh!” Each display was better than the one before.

But, in the middle of all the noise and excitement, Mom looked down at her usually alert little boy only to see him sprawled out face down on his towel. Alex’s eyelids felt heavy, and he was still. “Are you getting sleepy, Alex?” Mom asked.

“Yes, Mom. I could fall asleep right here, right now,” he said with a big, tired

*YAWN.*

Why did Alex yawn? (see Conclusion)

Concept Images Young German girl with blonde hair, German town with church with onion-domed bell tower, buildings with murals and flower window boxes, peppered duck, feather duster, bike riding by a river, schultüte, Oktoberfest, girl sneezing

Why Do I Sneeze?

(GERMANY)

An Interactive Story

By Catherine Strickland

 

You sneeze when your body needs to clear your nose so you can breathe better. In a quick and powerful whoosh, your body sends a burst of air rushing out through your nose and mouth, carrying away anything that doesn’t belong there.

Some people make a loud sound when they sneeze:

*AH-CHOO!!!*

Some people make a silly sound:

*Ah- Ahh – ChaHOOieee!*

Some people make hardly any sound at all, and their sneeze seems to disappear inside their heads:

*sszzthff*

Some people sneeze several times in a row:

*Ah-Choo!*   *Ah-Choo!*   *Ah-Choo!*

How do you sneeze? Practice your best sneezes during the story! (But please remember to catch your sneeze in a tissue!)

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Zenzi lived in Europe, in the southern part of Germany, near the majestic mountains of the Bavarian Alps. Her “picture postcard” village had a lot of historic charm with a maypole, flowerboxes, folktale murals, and onion-domed church belltowers. Her father was German and her mother was American, so she could speak both German and English.

Zenzi liked to help her mother cook tasty food in their kitchen. They were trying out a new recipe for roasted duck. As Zenzi twisted the pepper grinder to help season the duck, she accidentally inhaled some of the fine, powdery spice. The pepper tickled her nose and made her sneeze!

*Ah-Choo!*

“God bless you!” said her mama.

“Gesundheit (Good health)!” said her older brother, Johann. He was sitting at the nearby table playing with small plastic building blocks.

“Are you catching a cold?” asked Mama.

“Nein (No), I don’t think so,” said Zenzi.

Mama gently felt Zenzi’s face to see if it was too warm, but it was cool to her touch.

“Does your throat feel sore, or do you have the sniffles?” asked Mama.

“Nein (No), Mama. I feel just fine,” answered Zenzi.

They finished seasoning the duck and put it in the oven to roast. While it was cooking, Zenzi played hüpfspiel (hopscotch) by herself for a while in the courtyard paved with flat stones outside their apartment. Then she came back in and strung some colorful beads on a string to make a necklace. Afterward, just as she was finishing a jigsaw puzzle, the duck dinner was ready at last!

The next day was Saturday, and they wanted to quickly do some housecleaning before going to the famous Oktoberfest in Munich!

Papa opened the windows to freshen the air inside and to put water in the cheerful flowerboxes. Johann’s chore was to empty all the trashcans and take the garbage outside to the big trash bin. Before Mama could sweep and vacuum, Zenzi needed to dust. She liked using a fluffy feather duster to swish around objects on tables and shelves. This time, she reached way behind some books to dust an area that she sometimes missed because it was so hard to reach. A small cloud of dust flew into the air and tickled her nose!

*Ah-Choo!*

Zenzi quickly caught her sneeze by covering her nose and mouth in the crook of her arm. “Gesundheit! (Good health!)” said Papa.

“God bless you!” said Mama. “Are you coming down with something?” asked Mama.

“Nein (No), I don’t think so,” answered Zenzi.

“Do you feel tired? Does your head hurt?” asked Papa.

“Nein (No), I feel fine,” answered Zenzi. She happily finished her dusting. Then she took the feather duster outside to shake it out before putting it away. They all felt good when the house was clean before going out to enjoy the day.

To go to the fall festival, Zenzi and her mother wore traditional dirndls (dresses with lacing and full gathered skirts with aprons). Zenzi’s blue and white diamond-check blouse matched her blue eyes. Mama braided her blonde hair. Her father and brother, Johann, wore traditional lederhosen (short leather pants with suspenders) and felt hats with a feather in the hatband. Opa (Grandpapa) and Oma (Grandmama) would join them by train.

People came from all over the world to the festival grounds. Pennants and banners fluttered in the breeze. Bands played lively “oompah” music while people sat at long tables in big open dining halls and sang along. The family ate sausages, schnitzel, and noodles, and washed them down with drinks served in big glass stein mugs. Then the children had fun riding the Ferris wheel, flying planes, and small roller coasters. Opa and Oma rode in bumper cars with them! They came home tired and happy.

The next day was a fine, cool Sunday. The familiar church bells echoed through the village and welcomed them to worship there.

After lunch, the family decided to go bike riding on a trail along the river canal near their apartment. After going a long way, they took a rest where some pretty flowers were growing near the riverbank. Bees were busily buzzing from flower to flower. Zenzi walked up close to the flowers to see if they had a pleasant scent. Suddenly, the bright sun peeked out from behind a cloud and made her blink. Then, just as she took a sniff, a little bit of pollen from a flower tickled her nose! This time, Zenzi tried to stifle her sneeze by pressing her finger against her upper lip, just under her nose, but she just had to let it go!

*Ah-Choo!*

“God bless you!” said Mama.

“Gesundheit! (Good health!)” said Papa. “Are you catching a cold?”

“Nein (No), I don’t think so,” answered Zenzi.

“Is your nose stuffy or runny?” asked Mama as she pulled out a tissue from her jacket pocket and had Zenzi blow her nose. But Zenzi’s nose was dry.

“Danke (thank you), anyway,” said Zenzi. “I feel okay, really.”

They all shared a big, soft, chewy brezel (dough baked in the form of a pretzel knot) for a snack and drank water from the bottles they had brought along. After watching the graceful swans with their cygnets and the ducks with their ducklings for a while, they started riding back. Of course, Johann beat Zenzi and Mama back home!

The next day was Monday, a school day. Zenzi was a little slow to get moving after her mama woke her. Her body ached a little, and she even coughed a few times while she got dressed. Joining Johann downstairs at breakfast, she wasn’t interested in eating her favorite toast with the chocolate hazelnut spread on top. Her throat was a little sore. Just then, Zenzi sneezed.

*Ah-Choo!*

“Gesundheit! (Good health!)” said Johann.

“God bless you!” said Mama. “Are you ill?” asked Mama.

“Ja (Yes), I think so,” said Zenzi with a glum face. She did not want to be sick, and she did not want to miss going to school. She had been enjoying first grade from the very first day, when she was given a schultüte (large paper horn full of school supplies and treats).

At that moment, the mother of Zenzi’s friend, Emma, called. Their family lived just a few apartments away. She told them that Emma would not be going to school that day because she had a cold. Zenzi had wondered why she had not seen her playmate in the courtyard over the weekend. Mama felt Zenzi’s face. This time it felt too warm! And her nose was starting to run. “Well, it looks like you won’t be going to school today, either, Zenzi,” said Mama.

*Ah-Choo!*

But, this time, it was Johann who sneezed, and an odd smile spread across his face.

Why did Zenzi sneeze? (see Conclusion)

Concept Images Young Argentinian boy with dark hair and eyes, wearing black broad-brimmed hat, neck scarf, full pants, and boots, sheep, sheepdog, soccer, quinceañera party with piñata and mariachi band, boy blinking

Why Do I Blink?

(ARGENTINA)

An Interactive Story

By Catherine Strickland

 

Our eyes blink — quickly close and open —  all by themselves, thousands of times a day! We don’t even notice that our eyelids flicker on their own without our telling them to do it. Sometimes they blink tightly to cover and protect our eyes.

*BLINK*

Of course, you can close your eyes on purpose — perhaps to shield them from the bright sun, to keep soap out of your eyes when you take a bath, or when you put your head on the pillow to fall asleep. But when your eyelids flutter along gently like butterfly wings,

*BLINK*   *BLINK*   *BLINK*

they have a job to do. Working like a car’s windshield wipers, they wipe away dust, but they also help keep our eyes wet and shiny.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

There was always a gleam of joy in Mateo’s deep brown eyes framed by long, black eyelashes.

He and his papi, mami, sister Isabella, and brother Felipe were ovejeros (shepherds). They lived on an estancia (ranch) where they helped to take care of sheep in the Pampas (wide, grassy flatlands) of Argentina in South America. They raised sheep for their warm wool to make clothes and for food.

 

Mateo was the youngest and was always on the move, like a frolicking lamb — you might see only a blur as he skipped by. But he felt like a grownup in the black felt sombrero (broad-brimmed hat) he kept on his head with a string tied under his chin and the roomy trousers he tucked into his boots, just like his papi.

Tango, the family’s aging sheepdog, stayed by his side and tried to keep him out of trouble, like she had done for the sheep! Mateo and Felipe were walking among the tall grasses eating crumbly pastries filled with seasoned meat and vegetables called empanadas, and, when Tango got a chance, she jumped up and licked Mateo in the face! It made Mateo

*BLINK.*

Felipe quickly wiped Mateo’s face with part of his lenço (neck scarf).

 

“Gracias (Thank you),” said Mateo. But he didn’t really enjoy having his face cleaned this way!

Since Argentina is in the southern part of the earth, the four seasons are opposite from countries in the northern part of the earth. In September, it was spring — time to shear the sheep to remove the heavy wool they had been growing during the winter. Mateo’s father was using clippers to cut away the thick fleece, quickly but gently, from each sheep. He didn’t see Mateo come up from behind to jump onto one of the piles of curly sheep hair. Mateo ran right through a cloud of loose, dusty wool Papi had just tossed aside. That made Mateo

*BLINK.*

“¡Ay! (Oh, dear!), niño (little one), let me check your eyes,” said Papi. He kneeled down in front of Mateo and looked closely, but Mateo’s eyes were clear of any dust. “Are you okay, Mateo?” asked Papi.

“No hay problema (No problem),” said Mateo. Then he gleefully plopped onto a big, soft pile of wool!

One hot summer day in January, Mateo and Felipe were kicking a pelota de fútbol (soccer ball) around. They were enjoying practicing special skills just like their favorite fútbol (soccer) players. But one of Felipe’s kicks accidentally sent the ball up toward Mateo’s head. Mateo threw up his arms to protect his face and squeezed his eyes shut, in a tight

*BLINK.*

“Perdón (Sorry), Mateo,” said Felipe. “Are you okay?”

“No hay problema (No problem),” said Mateo with a smile. “Let’s play!”

Later, in March, when it was getting cooler, the family planned a special birthday party for Mateo’ older sister, Isabella. She was turning 15, so she would be celebrating her quinceañera! All their family and friends, even from the big city of Buenos Aires, were invited. Isabella wore a beautiful fancy dress and a sparkling tiara set in her long, dark, wavy hair, making her feel like a princess. The family first went to church where Isabella participated in a service of thanksgiving, blessing, and dedication to God.

That evening at the party, a mariachi band played festive music under strings of lights, and everyone danced. While men tended the asado (grilling meat), Mateo joined the children trying to break open a colorful hanging papier-mâché piñata, shaped like a llama. Taking turns, each child was blindfolded and given a stick to give the piñata a whack to release its candy! Through metal straws, guests sipped hot herbal maté tea from small gourds. Mami had made a specially decorated cake.

People gathered around to be ready to wish Isabella ¡Feliz cumpleaños! (Happy Birthday!). At midnight, when it was time for Isabella to blow out the lighted candles on her cake, Mateo stood right across the table from her to get a good look. Isabella took a deep breath and blew hard to put out all 15 candles. People cheered “¡Olé! (Well done!)” But the burst of her breath and candle smoke in his face made Mateo cough and

*BLINK.*

“¡Ay! (Uh-oh!), Mateo,” said Isabella. “Are you okay?”

“No hay problema (No problem),” said Mateo. “What did you wish?” he whispered.

Mateo was too young to be out helping with the sheep. When his mother had time, she would play a game of hide-and-seek with him in the house. Mateo wanted to hide first. Mami started counting, “Ten, nine, eight…three, two, one! Ready or not, here I come!” Mami looked here and there, up and down, around and under. The last place to look was in a dark closet. She opened the door, and there was Mateo! After being in the dark for a while, the light made him

*BLINK.*

Mateo giggled with delight. “You found me!”

“I sure did! But it took me a while,” said Mami with her hands on her hips. “You’re too good at hiding!”

One evening, Papi and Mateo were outside playing a game of fetch with Tango. They took turns tossing a ball to see Tango dash after it and bring it back to them.

“Watch this!” Papi said with a wink. “I’m going to play a joke on Tango.” This time, he only pretended to toss the ball again and kept it in his hand instead. Tango dashed across the field and tried to find the ball. She went back and forth and around and around looking for the ball that wasn’t there. Papi smiled and winked again at Mateo as he showed him the ball still hidden in his hand.

“How did you do that, Papi?” Mateo asked.

“What?” asked Papi.

“Before you fooled Tango, you blinked just one of your eyes at me,” said Mateo.

“Oh, that’s a wink,” said Papi. “A blink with just one eye is kind of sign that means we are sharing a little secret.” Mateo tried to wink, but, over and over, both eyes blinked each time.

“Here, let’s try this,” said Papi. “Put your right hand over your right eye and then try to close and open just the left one, like this.” Mateo watched what his papi did. Then he covered his right eye and thought about how to close just his left eye. He fluttered a little at first, but then he was able to close just his left eye! “¡Bravo! (Good job!), niño (little one),” said Papi.

Just then, Mami called out from the ranch house, “Mateo! It’s time for your bath!”

Mateo hid behind his papi. “Don’t tell her where I am, Papi!” said Mateo with a

*WINK.*

Concept Images Young Nigerian girl with braids, African Grey parrot, grandparents in traditional clothing, gumbo meal, school setting, puppets, girls playing rhythm, clapping game, girl laughing

Why did Mateo blink? (see Conclusion)

Why Do I Laugh?

(NIGERIA)

An Interactive Story

By Catherine Strickland

 

Laughter is the happiest sound in the world! From a baby’s first squeal to the oldest grandpa’s chuckle, a laugh is a joyful gift from God.

When we see, hear, or even think of something really funny, our faces brighten into broad smiles. Then our bellies shake! We can’t control our bubbling urge to let go and

*LAUGH*

with a tee-hee, a giggle, a ha-ha, or even an all-out cackle!

Each person’s laugh is unique. What does your laugh sound like?

*LAUGH*

Laughing makes us feel good, even if we laugh so hard that our eyes tear up! And laughter shared with others is even more fun.

 

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Precious lived in Nigeria, in the Yorùbá region of that West African country. Her daddy and mummy had prayed for many years to have a child and were overjoyed when she was born. “She is precious!” said her Aunty Esther the first time she saw her. “What will you name her?”

Her daddy and mummy looked at each other and blurted out “Precious!” at the same time. And, so, she was! They all

*LAUGHED*

with joy! As she grew, Precious continued to bring joy to those around her. Her pearly smile shone in her adorable, dark-skinned face. And when she laughed, that happy light scattered with a sound like tinkling wind chimes to brighten the whole room.

Precious did not have any brothers or sisters, but she had plenty of cousins in her family compound (group of homes) and many friends at school. And when she turned six and was old enough to help care for a pet, her daddy and mummy gave her an African Grey parrot with bright-red tail feathers. Precious named him Gabriel because she thought he was beautiful like an angel with wings — but his loud squawking sounded like a trumpet the angel Gabriel might blow to wake everyone up!

Precious learned how to feed him, give him water, and keep his large cage clean. She also learned to carefully reach in and let him wrap the sharp talons on his feet around her finger in order to bring him out of the cage for a while. Gabriel would bob his head up and down and dance side to side on his perch. This delighted Precious and made her

*LAUGH.*

To her surprise, Gabriel then made a sound exactly like hers. It sounded like he also wanted to

*LAUGH!*

From then on, Precious patiently taught him some other things to “say,” starting with “Pretty bird!” and “Hello, handsome!”

One day, her grandparents came by to visit. They both wore traditional clothing made from colorful, patterned cloth. Bàbá àgbà (Grandfather) wore a long, embroidered tunic, trousers, and a brimless hat called a kufi. Ìyá àgbà (Grandmother) wore a stylish blouse, a wraparound skirt, a necklace with large beads, and an elegant gele (headwrap). Ìyá àgbà hoped their visit would cheer up Bàbá àgbà, who had not been feeling well and was leaning on a walking stick.

Precious ran into their arms for a good hug and tugged them over to see her parrot. She whispered to her grandfather, “Say ‘Pretty bird!’ to him, Bàbá àgbà.”

Bàbá àgbà was reluctant. “What? Talk to the bird? Oh, well.” He felt silly but turned to Gabriel and said, “ ‘Pretty bird!’ ”

Gabriel repeated back, “Pretty bird!” Then Gabriel also said, “Hello, handsome!” That made Bàbá àgbà – and Gabriel –

*LAUGH* and *LAUGH!*

Precious’s daddy tended trees which produce cacao beans for chocolate. Precious’s mummy was a high school science teacher. Together they enjoyed raising vegetables in their home garden. Daddy and Mummy harvested some fresh okra, and Mummy and Ìyá àgbà enjoyed preparing a delicious meal together. After all joined hands around the table to give thanks in prayer, they relished eating okro (okra) gumbo soup with fish, jollof (seasoned rice), and plantain (a kind of banana). Their family conversation included plenty of hearty

*LAUGHS.*

Before her grandparents left, Bàbá àgbà  “talked” and laughed with Gabriel again, and Precious noticed that her grandfather was not using his stick as he walked out the door. Laughter is good medicine! (Proverbs 17:22)

Precious needed a little “laughter medicine” herself the next day at school. Wearing her school uniform, she felt nervous because she had to take a difficult exam. When she was delighted to discover that the correct answers came easily to mind, her happy relief made her let go with a jolly

*LAUGH.*

After all the testing was over, the students enjoyed watching an educational TV show with puppets. Although the children were learning new things, the entertaining program had them all laughing together in no time. It was fun to hear all their different laughs:

*Tee-Hee*   *Giggle*  *LAUGH*   *Ha-Ha-Ha*   *Chuckle*

At Easter holiday time, a cousin whom Precious did not get to see often came with her family to visit from the big city of Lagos. To be honest, this cousin, Ayomi, was not always fun to be around.

Sure enough, not long after Ayomi arrived, she started tickling Precious to make her

*LAUGH.*

The problem was that Ayomi would not stop when Precious asked her to. After a while, even though Precious couldn’t help laughing, she was no longer having fun.

Ayomi had an odd encounter with Gabriel. When Ayomi came near, Gabriel said, “Pretty bird!”

Ayomi said, “I’m not a bird! I’m a girl!”

Then Gabriel said, “Hello, handsome!”

Ayomi was getting angry and said, “I’m not handsome! I’m beautiful!”

This silly “conversation” made Precious

                    *LAUGH.*                                  But, she covered her mouth and stopped, remembering it was unkind to laugh at someone, making fun of them when they are having difficulty.

The girls did find friendly ways to play with each other during Ayomi’s three-day stay. They enjoyed taking turns braiding each other’s hair in neat rows close to the scalp, adding in beads and cowrie shells. They played rhythm clapping games in the shade of mango trees. And Ayomi actually made friends with, and spent some time alone with, Gabriel – once she realized the bird was not really talking to her!

After joining Precious’s family in attending a joyful Easter Sunday sunrise worship service with singing, clapping, and dancing, Ayomi and her family said their good-byes and left to go home.

Precious checked on Gabriel’s food and water. She said, “Pretty bird!” to Gabriel.

To her surprise, Gabriel said, “Meow” – just like a cat!

Precious shook her head but had to

*LAUGH*.

It seemed that mischievous Ayomi had played a joke on Precious — and had the last

*LAUGH!*

Why did Precious laugh? (see Conclusion)

Conclusion

• Hiccups – Yukiko ate a big meal too quickly
• Yawns – Alex saw Cookie yawn, tried to wake up, helped to pop his ears in the mountains, got bored, and was very tired
• Sneezes – Zenzi accidentally sniffed pepper, dust, and pollen, and then came down with a head cold
• Blinks – Mateo protected his eyes from Tango’s licks, the soccer ball, dusty wool, smoke, and bright light
• Laughs – Precious reacted to her amusing parrot, fun family conversation, relief from worry, a humorous show, being tickled, seeing someone else in a ridiculous situation, and a silly surprise

 

Our bodies are amazingly designed! Children all over the world have so much in common – families, friends, fun games, tasty food, traditions, pets, and beautiful places in which to live, love, and be loved. May you continue to grow and learn in wonderful ways as God watches over you!

Glossary

 

Anxious (ANG(k)shuhs)
Feeling nervous or uneasy about something (in this story).

Arigatou (ah‑ree‑GAH‑toh)
A Japanese word that means “thank you.”

Asado (ah‑SAH‑doh)
Meat cooked on a grill, often for family celebrations in Argentina.

Ay (EYE)
An expression of surprise meaning “uh‑oh!” or “oh, dear!” in Spanish.

Azalea (uh‑ZAY‑lee‑uh)
A flowering bush with bright pink, red, or white blossoms.

Bàbá Àgbà (BAH‑bah AHG‑bah)
A loving Yoruba African name for a grandfather.

Baseball (BAYS‑bahl)
An American sport where players hit a ball with a bat and run around bases.

Bento (BEN‑toh)
A Japanese lunch packed neatly with rice, vegetables, and other foods.

Bravo (BRAH‑voh)
A word meaning “well done!” or “good job!”

Brezel (BRET‑sel)
A soft German bread baked into a twisted knot and sprinkled with salt (pretzel).

Bu (BOO)
A sound someone might shout to surprise another person (Japanese spelling).

Cackle (KA‑kuhl)
A loud, silly kind of laugh.

Catching (KA-ching)
An action or disease that spreads from one person to another; contagious.

Chuckle (CHUH‑kuhl)
A quiet, gentle laugh.

Cinnamon Roll (SIN‑uh‑min rohl)
A sweet pastry made with cinnamon and sugar baked in a flat spiral.

Cockapoo (KOK‑uh‑poo)
A dog that is a mix of a cocker spaniel and a poodle.

Compound (KOM‑pound)
A group of homes where extended family members live close together.

Cowrie Shells (KOW‑ree shels)
Small, shiny shells often used for decoration or jewelry.

Cygnet (SIG‑net)
A baby swan.

Danke (DAHN‑kuh)
A German word that means “thank you.”

Dirndl (DEERN‑duhl)
A traditional dress worn by women and girls in parts of Germany.

Empanada (em-puh‑NAH‑duh)
A pastry filled with meat and vegetables.

Estancia (eh‑STAHN‑see‑ah)
A ranch or farm in Argentina.

Feliz cumpleaños (feh‑LEES koom‑play‑AH-nyohs)
“Happy Birthday” in Spanish.

Fleece (FLEES)
Soft, thick wool from sheep.

Freckles (FREK‑uhlz)
Small brown spots on the skin.

Fist Bump (FIST‑bump)
A friendly tapping of fists.

Fútbol (FOO-T‑bohl)
The Spanish word for soccer.

Futon (FOO‑tahn)
A Japanese‑style sleeping mat placed on the floor.

Gele (GAY‑LAY)
An elaborate decorative headwrap worn by women in Nigeria.

Gesundheit (geh‑ZOONT‑hite)
A German word said after someone sneezes, wishing “good health.”

Gumbo (GUM‑boh)
A thick soup or stew, often made with vegetables and fish.

Hashi (HAH‑shee)
Lit. Japanese for “bamboo fingers.” Two sticks to eat with. Chopsticks.

Hüpfspiel (HUEPF‑shpeel)
A German word for hopscotch.

Independence Day (in‑duh‑PEN‑dents day)
A holiday celebrating a country’s freedom. In the United States, it is July 4.

Indy (IN‑dee)
Very fast open-cockpit cars used in professional racing.

Ìyá Àgbà (EE‑yah AHG‑bah)
A loving Yoruba African name for a grandmother.

Ja (YAH)
A German word that means “yes.”

Jollof (JOL‑uhf)
A seasoned rice dish popular in Nigeria.

Kimono (kee‑MOH‑noh)
A traditional Japanese robe with long, wide sleeves.

Koi (KOY)
Colorful carp fish often kept in ponds.

Kufi (KOO‑fee)
African brimless hat for men.

Kumo (KOO‑moh)
The Japanese word for “cloud.”

Little League (LIT‑uhl leeg)
A baseball training program for children.

Mango Trees (MANG‑goh)
Tropical trees that grow sweet mango fruit.

Mariachi (mah‑ree‑AH‑chee)
A musical group that plays traditional Hispanic music with guitars and horns.

Maté (MAH‑tay)
A warm herbal drink shared with friends and family in S. America.

Maypole (MAY‑pohl)
A pole showing community pride.

Minka (MEENG-kuh)
A traditional style of Japanese house often with a curved roofline.

Mischievous (MIS‑chuh-vuhs)
Playful, intending to create trouble.

Miso (MEE‑soh)
A Japanese soup made from fermented soybeans.

Nein (NINE)
A German word that means “no.”

Niño (NEE-nyoh)
A Spanish word meaning “child” or “little boy.”

No hay problema (noh eye proh‑BLEH‑mah)
A Spanish phrase that means “no problem.”

Obaachan (oh‑BAH‑chahn), Baaba
A Japanese word for grandmother.

Obi (OH‑bee)
A wide sash worn around a kimono.

Ojiichan (oh‑JEE‑chahn), Jiiji
A Japanese word for grandfather.

Oktoberfest (ahk‑TOH‑buhr‑fehst)
A famous fall festival in Germany held in September and October.

Okro (OH‑kroh)
Another word for okra, a green pod vegetable.

Olé (oh‑LAY)
A Spanish word meaning “well done!”

Oma (OH‑mah)
The German word for grandmother.

Opa (OH‑pah)
The German word for grandfather.

Origami (oh‑rih‑GAH‑mee)
The Japanese art of folding paper into shapes.

Ovejéro (oh‑beh‑HEHR‑oh)
A shepherd who cares for sheep.

Pampas (PAHM‑pahs)
Wide grassy lands in Argentina.

Papier‑mâché (PAH‑pee‑ay mah‑SHAY or PAY-per-muh-SHAY)
A material made from paper and paste to make hollow shapes.

Pelota de fútbol (peh‑LOH‑tah deh FOO-T‑bohl)
Spanish for soccer ball.

Perdón (pehr‑DOHN)
A Spanish word meaning “sorry.”

Piñata (pee-NYAH‑tah)
A decorated paper container filled with treats, broken open at celebrations.

Plantain (PLAN‑tuhn)
A banana‑like fruit often cooked and eaten with meals.

Quinceañera (keen‑seh‑ah-NYEH‑ruh)
A celebration of a girl’s fifteenth birthday.

Schnitzel (SHNIHT‑sel)
Thin meat that is breaded and cooked.

Schultüte (SHOOL‑too‑tuh)
A large paper cone filled with school supplies and treats, given to German children on their first day of school.

Shichi‑Go‑San (SHEE‑chee‑GOH‑sahn)
A Japanese celebration for children ages three, five, or seven.

Sleepyhead (SLEE-pee‑hed)
A playful name for someone who is very sleepy.

Smoothie (SMOO‑thee)
A thick drink made from blended fruit.

Sombrero (sohm‑BREH‑roh)
A wide‑brimmed hat.

Stein (STINE)
A large glass or ceramic mug, often used for drinks in Germany.

Sushi (SOO‑shee)
A Japanese dish made with vinegared rice and seafood, vegetables, or meat.

Tablet (TAB‑luht)
A small computer you can hold in your hands.

Talons (TAL‑uhnz)
Sharp, curved claws on a bird’s feet.

Tiara (tee‑AHR‑uh)
A small, jeweled crown worn on the head.

Tunic (TOO‑nik)
A long shirt or robe.

USA (YOO‑ESS‑AY)
Short for United States of America, a country in North America.

Veggie Sticks (VEH-jee stiks)
Cut vegetables such as carrots, celery, or broccoli eaten as a snack.

Yorùbá (yor‑OO‑bah)
A people, language, and culture from Nigeria in West Africa.

 

Back Cover:

Why Do I…?

Children everywhere wonder about their amazing bodies!

“Join in” with children around the world to discover:

Hiccups (Japan) – What finally helps Yukiko’s hiccups go away?

Yawns (USA) – Will active Alex take time out to yawn?

Sneezes (Germany) – Do Zenzi’s sneezes always mean she is getting sick?

Blinks (Argentina) – What will Mateo learn about the difference between blinks and winks?

Laughs (Nigeria) – How will Precious share God’s gift of laughter with others? With you?

Back Cover Concept Images International children from the stories grouped around a globe.

Come along on a journey of curiosity, faith, and interactive fun!