Grab Some Sticks Audio Stories

Story number 23 is here! Collaborating once again with the talented and inspiring Nicole Kraiem who brings us her second story, “The Bubble King” @ngkraiem Written by Nicole Kraiem Illustrated by Georgiana Grigoras Edited by Joseph Kraiem Nicole Kraiem: ‘The character illustration is based on my youngest son, who's nickname is Bear. I had written this story when I was pregnant with him six years ago. My husband, who is in the military, had been humming a tune he heard earlier, which sparked the rhythm of the book, while my daughter was playing with bubbles. Since I was currently pregnant with a boy, I decided to make the character a boy also. The original name of the character was Jasper but after creating the character of “I Dream” off of my daughter's likeness, my son asked if I could make a character that looks like him too, sparking the changes with the name and likeness you see today in the book. What I've learned from spending time with children, especially my own is that representation truly matters. Every child wants to see someone like them featured in books.  In respect to what I am currently working on now, I am at the end process of solidifying the illustrations for my first book series, “The Adventures of Gillie The Incredible.” It follows a rambunctious little boy who always gets into mischief as he tries to learn and navigate what it means to be a little human in the world and yes, almost everything the character does has been based off of something one of my four have done at that age, including making a "master cheese sandwich," which the character does. There is a moral, or rather a learning point in every Gillie book, which I hope will teach children, in the same way that social play does. Along with the Gillie series, I am in the process of starting the storyboard for my children's story, “Selma's Song” which follows a young girl, as she tries to go through the grieving process, after losing her grandmother. Lastly, I am two-thirds through writing my first adult novel, which follows a couple as they navigate life and mental health issues as an interracial couple and military family” Sounds wonderful Nicole! We can’t wait for your future publications and we hope you enjoy this beautiful story with the boy with the curly auburn hair ☺️ #representationtrulymatters To buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Bubble-King-N-G-Kraiem/dp/1639015876/ref=sr_1_2?crid=11NOKMXUSOFSC&dchild=1&keywords=the+bubble+king+n.g+kraiem&qid=1630506743&sprefix=the+bubble+king%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-2&fbclid=IwAR2dO3Y41uta5yVC3Uo-SokHl0snRyqWWmKIiS24bJJwLSiOPGW3c2BFR3s Thank you once again Nicole! ❤️🖤🤎❤️🖤🤎 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 22 is here! Continuing on with the last instalment from, “The Adventures of Henry the Field Mouse”. Henry meets a new furry friend on the riverbank who challenges him to a race! Written by Jo Coker. Illustrated by Barbara Richards. Edited and published by Sue Dockstader. I have really enjoyed reading from this series of stories and I hope you’ve enjoyed listening to them 🐭 ☺️   Jo and Sue are continuing to offer to the podcast listeners a 15% discount from their Etsy shop! Use the code: HENRY15 or simply go straight to the following link to receive 15% off: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HenryFieldMouse?coupon=HENRY15   To follow the continuing mother/daughter/granddaughter publishing adventures: www.adventuresofhenryfieldmouse.com @henryfieldmouse You can also head over to https://www.adventuresofhenryfieldmouse.com/storytime for more chapters read by the author, as previously broadcast on Cotswolds Radio, and look for the colouring pages to download for your little adventurers to create their own Henry field mouse! We hope you enjoy this next adventure 😊 🇭🇰 🇬🇧 🐁 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

I’m back everyone with story number 21! Continuing on with the tales from, “The Adventures of Henry the Field Mouse” I will be reading the excerpt where Henry and his hedgehog friend Bertie stroll around at night and Henry sees something peculiar in the water… Written by Jo Coker. Illustrated by Barbara Richards. Edited and published by Sue Dockstader. Octogenarian author Jo enjoyed another new adventure recently when she was interviewed by her local radio station for their book club show on @Cotswoldsradio- proving again, you are never too old to try something new! And as if that wasn’t enough excitement, Jo’s granddaughter (who the books were originally written for) flew in from Germany to join her Grandma as she shared her stories with little adventurers at the Northleach Heritage Craft Fair last week.   Jo and Sue would like to offer our podcast listeners a 15% discount from their Etsy shop! Use the code: HENRY15 or simply go straight to the following link to receive 15% off: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HenryFieldMouse?coupon=HENRY15   To follow the continuing mother/daughter/granddaughter publishing adventures: www.adventuresofhenryfieldmouse.com @henryfieldmouse We hope you enjoy this next adventure 😊 🇭🇰 🇬🇧 🐁 🦔 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 20 is here! (We have reached 20 stories!😱) Our next story tells the tale of an inquisitive field mouse called Henry who has a prickly encounter with Bertie the hedgehog, who is snoring in a compost heap! This story is part of a series written by a grandma wanting to keep in touch with her grandchildren before the days of email and video chat. (You can see the letters she wrote them when you swipe left ⬅️☺️) It’s called: “The Adventures of Henry the Field Mouse” written by Jo Coker. Illustrated by Barbara Richards. Edited and published by Sue Dockstader.   Jo Coker: “When my grandchildren moved to Hong Kong, I wanted them to stay interested in the English countryside, so I started writing stories for them about an imaginary mouse living under my garden shed! Little did I know my daughter would keep my flimsy airmail pages and publish them into a beautifully illustrated book 20 years later- so now little adventurers everywhere can read about the antics of Henry the Field Mouse! Henry meets lots of different animals on his escapades, so I hope that my simple tales of adventure in an English back garden will encourage little ones to pull on their wellies and go outside to explore the countryside. My original stories stretched to two books once the pictures were added, then after being persuaded a trilogy would be nice, I wrote another set of stories at age 85. Working with my daughter (who now lives in the US) to get the third book published was a wonderful way to keep busy and connected during this past awful year of lockdown and isolation.”      To buy the books: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HenryFieldMouse or take trip to the beautiful Cotswolds town of Northleach and pick up a copy at the Post Office or the Black Cat Café.   To follow the continuing mother/daughter/granddaughter publishing adventures: www.adventuresofhenryfieldmouse.com @henryfieldmouse Thank you Sue for getting in touch and I love how we have that HK connection! 🇭🇰 🇬🇧 🐁 🦔 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

In the U.K. it was an incredibly joyous feeling when the country came together for the Euros. For me, what was even better was experiencing it all from my hometown of Wembley. The home of football. Nothing beats the feeling of unity. Our England football team did us proud. There are some players that are inspirational both on and off the pitch and I have nothing but admiration for them. So it comes with great sadness that after a penalty shoot out in the final game, our three lions were subject to abuse. Abuse not about their football skills but about the colour of their skin. If we had won, the comments on social media would have been celebratory and joyous but it wasn’t. The true feelings of some hateful individuals came out and I won’t call them England fans because they’re not. True England fans felt incredibly let down by the aftermath of this hate and this shameful behaviour needs to stop. Here’s a poem written by Adaeze Obasuyi @rooted_branch that sums up the feelings of last week. Rashford, Sancho and Saka. We stand by you. You did us proud ❤️🙌🏾❤️ This poem is more suited to older children/adult audience.

Story number 18 is here! We are continuing our series of stories from you! The #youngwriter and this week, we have a young girl named Sasha (8 years old) who wrote a story called: “Dog Adopted” 🐶 Sasha: “My name is Sasha, I'm 8 years old and I live in Pinner with my mum, dad and Sister. I enjoy running, reading, and riding my bike! I like dogs and decided to write a story about one!” Thank you Sasha! I’m sure everyone will love your story ☺️ I love the cover art too! @eternalkitchenltd Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 17 is here ❤️ Sometimes in life, an event occurs that makes you pause and think. To stop. To stop with the swiftness of life and to simply appreciate the everyday joys. To not sweat over the small stuff and to really make you appreciate how short life really is. With this is mind, I felt like it was fate that led me to Chelsey Gomez’s story. Her story is called: “Stickers On Her Bald Head” @ohyouresotough @ohyouresotough_designs Chelsey Gomez: “I have lost my hair twice to chemotherapy and cancer. My daughter was very young while I was battling cancer. I introduced the concept of my soon to be bald head to my daughter with a promise. I promised she could put stickers all over my head after my hair fell out! I hope this story helps other parents talk to their children about cancer and hair loss in a fun way. No scary terms like radiation or chemotherapy - just a gentle and silly story that kids can relate to.” Thank you @ohyouresotough for your bravery and I hope this story helps not just children but adults also. Check out her awesome illustrations too 😍 The book is available to purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B095Q848XS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Subscribe to her YouTube channel 🥰 https://youtube.com/c/ohyouresotough0 Check out her Etsy shop for cancer support gift items: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Ohyouresotough Chelsey had also written a guided journal for adult cancer patients: https://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Hole-Patients-Humorous-Survivors/dp/B08SGZ7S1P/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&qid=1624320469&refinements=p_27%3AChelsey+Gomez&s=books&sr=1-2&text=Chelsey+Gomez https://linktr.ee/Ohyouresotough Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you x

Story number 16 is here! We are continuing our series of stories from you! The #youngwriter and this week, we have a young girl named Flossie (six years old) who wrote a story called: “The Magic Mermaid” Flossie: “My name’s Flossie, I’m 6-years-old and I live in Huddersfield. I love listening to your podcast and I was excited to hear you might like to read one of my stories.  I enjoy going on day-outs with my family, box-modelling and crafts and riding my bike. I love being busy and go to Gymnastics, Swimming and Drama Clubs, and I’m a Rainbow too.     I love reading so I decided to write this story so I could read it to my little sister Frankie. I am going to keep a copy of it in my memory box to look back at when I’m older. I like going to the seaside and I always look out for mermaids. Once I thought I saw a mermaid waving at me (although it might have been an octopus) so I decided to write this story about what might happen if someone actually met one. I think magic is really cool and I imagine that mermaids have some kind of magical powers so I used this idea in my story too.” Mermaids are certainly a popular theme! Thank you Flossie! I’m sure everyone will love your story 😃 🌊🧜‍♀️ @mumawaywithme Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 15 is here and it’s a bit different to the norm because we have our first guest #youngwriter and podcaster! ❤️💜❤️💜 📖✍️ ❤️💜❤️💜 Introducing the super talented - Eesha (11 years old) 😃 "Hi everyone, it’s Eesha. I am so glad to be on today’s episode of: “Grab Some Sticks”. I wrote the story because I love mythical creatures and I thought that I should write a story about it and how dreams really do come true. Also, please send some pictures of some of your favourite scenes that happen throughout the story” 😃 Thank you Eesha! The beautiful cover art was drawn by her cousin Aarya (six years old) @shrubberiescakehouse 🙂 If you want to have a go writing your own story - send me a message ☺️📖 ✍️ Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

Story number 14 is here! 😃 Our next tale, tells the story of the relationship between a father and his son. This is book is not just for fathers and sons, but for anyone parenting little ones when they get scared at night. It is a great reminder to tell your little ones you will be there to support them. It’s also my first male author on the podcast! It’s called: “I’ll Be Right There” written by Jonathan Marshall @illberighttherebook @jonjmarshall215 Illustrator: Julia Orthey @jswieson Jonathan Marshall: As a father of two boys, one of the greatest joys I have is reading to and with them at night. We have read tons of stories and one thing we did not see in them was...Us. I didn't see many books with fathers, let alone fathers of colour. I did see many stories with little girls of colour and I did not see many stories with black boys. My boys and I always made up stories together, and I figured, why not share some of these stories? Why not share experiences from a fathers standpoint? Why not show my children that they can be represented in the books they read. I knew I was not the only dad/ parent feeling this way...and here we are. Jonathan Marshall is a poet and writer. He has spent the last decade and a half working with youth from various backgrounds. He works full-time as an Academic Outreach Manager at Eastern University, where he studied Early Childhood Education. To buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Right-There-Jonathan-Marshall/dp/1699292450 Also at @barnesandnoble Facebook -I'll Be Right There Book I hope you all like it 😃 x Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 13 is here! My next story is one, that builds on the imagination and ambitions of young children and shows them that they can be anything they put their mind to! It’s called: “I Dream” written by Nicole Kraiem @ngkraiem Illustrator: Georgiana Grigoras Editor: Joseph Kraiem Nicole Kraiem: ‘I Dream’ is a story that combines poetry, positive imagery, rhythmic language, and reaffirming manifestations. Its purpose is to build on the imagination and ambition of young children. Join our wonderful character as she inspires your children to realise that they can be anything they put their minds to. Dream big, everyone! Your Dreams are only the beginning. It’s available to buy on both Amazon America and UK with a search of “I Dream”N.G.Kraiem. Also: https://www.ngkraiembooks.com in the store. For US customers, it’s also available to buy from Target’s online site: https://www.target.com/p/i-dream-by-n-g-kraiem-paperback/-/A-82818521#lnk=sametab Also Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/I-Dream-Paperback-9781098367947/635882987 I hope everyone who listens to this - dreams big! Thank you Nicole ☺️ I hope you all enjoy it ❤️ 💭 ❤️ Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 12 is here! 😃 My next story is about a young, intelligent and creative girl called Chika. She is of Nigerian origin but born in the U.K. The story is part of series of books about her life experiences, interactions with family, nature, friends and belief systems. Chika writes beautiful poems at night before she goes to sleep, expressing her feelings and the lessons she has learnt from the day. It’s called: ‘Fast Chika' written by Adaeze Obasuyi @rooted_branch Illustrated by: Mide Akindeko @midedeko & Nendunu Shanding @sk_jenx I have combined elements of ‘Fine Chika’ for this podcast episode. Chika speedily wins different games and gets frustrated when her brother finally wins because he was slower than her. This book helps children to appreciate fun over competition. It is a childlike way to teach equality in diversity. It has a Jollof Rice recipe at the end (I still need to try this!) and footnotes with meanings to the African words mentioned. Adaeze Obasuyi: The inspiration behind ‘Fast Chika’ was seeing how different my kids were and sometimes how my older daughter boast about how fast she is. Sometimes she would say: "I was first" or "I finished first," "I got here first". The funny thing is, adults go through similar things as we try to navigate through life. So my hope is that this story will help parents teach their children equality is diversity. Everyone is different. I particulatly hoped that someone with a disability will also find this story empowering. The description of Chika is also meant to emphasise on a different kind of beauty. Her eyes are: "brown" and her hair is: "coily”. Some Black people of African origin do not even know that their hair texture is coily. You hear descriptions like: "weaker curls". I just wanted to add a different narrative to the stories we read. Thank you Adaeze. I’m sure our listeners will enjoy hearing all about Chika and the lesson she learns along the way ☺️ It is available for free and to buy on Amazon Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fast-Chika-Adaeze-Obasuyi-ebook/dp/B091SMKJ1T/ref=pd_aw_sim_1/260-4295245-7345855?pd_rd_w=CtFoN&pf_rd_p=4e3c856b-026b-4f5b-ae67-d6848fb451ab&pf_rd_r=FV0VS5W7JJJE6MP9JZYG&pd_rd_r=0fe8e17f-d9e4-4b8d-ba35-3a4a706e434a&pd_rd_wg=P54tz&pd_rd_i=B091SMKJ1T&psc=1 Adaeze has also written some lovely weather poems: https://linktr.ee/Rootedbranch I hope you all enjoy it ☺️ 🇳🇬 💨 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Episode number eleven is here! 😃 The next podcast episode is something that we can all relate to. Every person from across the globe has had their lives affected by Covid-19. Kat Arksey (@two_moons_bookclub) has written this heart warming poem, from a child’s perspective. To reflect on this last year, the lockdowns and hope for the future that things will get better soon. It’s called: ‘Clap For Kids’ by Kat Arksey @two_moons_bookclub Kat Arksey: I wrote this short children’s book ‘Clap for Kids’ to recognise all that our children have been through. It’s a hopeful poem that acknowledges our struggles and gives praise and recognition to children and their experiences in these difficult times.  I hope it helps some children process their experiences, heal and move forward. Especially after the tough time they’ve had.  £1 of every sale will be donated to the BLURT FOUNDATION PEER PROJECT. A ground-breaking peer-led project focused on improving the mental health of young people aged 4-24, equipping them with essential tools to ultimately achieve happier, healthier and fulfilled lives. www.blurtitout.org Clap for Kids is available on Amazon. Clap for Kids: Thank you to all the super hero kids of Covid-19. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B091R1ZFGG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_FS0DRENE3SK5A7EATVQC Kat Arksey has self-published two children’s books, When Harry Stayed Home and Clap for Kids. She wrote both books during the Covid-19 lockdown to help her children understand the situation. Kat has appeared on BBC Radio Humberside to talk about her children’s books. She lives in Hull, UK, and has worked with children and families for over 10 years. @two_moons_bookclub Thank you Kat for this heartwarming poem about resilience and strength ❤️ I hope you all enjoy it ☺️ 🦸‍♂️ 🌈🦸 👏🏾 👏🏻👏🏿👏🏽👏🏼👏 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

A bonus poem for you celebrating the festival of Eid! 🌙☺️ The wonderful Aiza drew the beautiful cover picture 😊 Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating 😃🌙 ❤️ Written by me @grabsomesticks Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

Story number ten is here! 😃 Over the last few weeks, we have been on a few different adventures. The journey continues with our next story, however this time it looks at and teaches children how to emotionally cope with relocation. It’s about a young boy called Axel who lives in the USA. Although he loves new adventures, he struggles with leaving his friends, family and everything he knows behind. He has to adapt quickly to a different culture and make the best out a new situation, far away from home. While this book features a military child, the message of resilience and hope are universal themes that will hopefully help all children to overcome obstacles more easily. It’s called: I Move A Lot And That’s Okay! Axel’s Story. Written by @amazinglyshermaine I’m reading an abridged version for the podcast and some of the themes in the story may be more suitable for older children. Shermaine Perry-Knights: I wrote the book that I wish I had as a military child moving a lot. Moving is the path to unlocking new adventures and noteworthy experiences for military families. I learned so much along my travels and I wanted to share it. This book teaches hope and resilience during those tough times. Relocation is a whirlwind of an activity for a child. There are extreme highs and lows of emotional, mental, social and physical change. Many struggle to leave everything and everyone behind and to start over in a new place. We must honour them during the whole journey and in literature. How do you hope teachers use your book? This is a timely resource for social and emotional learning. Use it to discuss: 1. Grief over missing family and friends. 2. Anxiety over moving homes and changing schools. 3. Loneliness and loss of routine. 4. ...and increase empathy. My hope is that this book becomes a conversation tool with your kids before moving. Validating their experiences, feelings and thoughts. Thank you Shermaine for sharing this wonderful journey of you and your family 🌎 🥰 It is available for free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/I-Move-Lot-Thats-Okay-ebook/dp/B08L88C75Y/    https://www.amazon.com/Move-Lot-Thats-Okay-Axels/dp/1953518117/ Here is an article highlighting how this book is a resource for K-5 instruction:  https://www.kellysclassroomonline.com/2020/11/i-move-a-lot.html  Military Families Magazine featured I Move A Lot and That's Okay. Here's a link to the article.  I hope this story sparks some lovely conversations with the children ❤️ Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x