Alistair Grittle was a sensible boy.
Every day he made a list of the things he had to do.
Then he made a list of things he did not have to do.
He was always on time for school. The school clock was set by Alistair’s watch.
He hung up his jacket every night and put his shoes in plastic bags.
Alistair took especially good care of library books. He washed his hands before he read them so that he would not smudge the pages. And he always returned them to the library on time.
One day, when Alistair was returning his books to the library, something unusual happened.
He was picked up by a space ship and whisked off into space.
Two creatures who called themselves Goots were flying the space ship. They were from a planet known as Gootula. They were very friendly.
The Goots liked Alistair very much and wanted to take him home with them.
Alistair thanked the Goots very much. But he did not want to go to Gootula. “My library books are due back today,” he said. “The librarian will be expecting me.”
The Goots pretended not to hear Alistair and continued on their way.
After a very short time, they landed on a planet they thought was Gootula. Then they realized that it was not Gootula. It was Trollabob.
“We must have made a wrong turn,” said the Goots.
There was nothing for Alistair to do but read his library books again. Getting lost in an exciting adventure story was just what he needed.
But when he went to look for a place to wash his hands, he opened the wrong door. The next thing Alistair knew he was in outer space.
“Now I will never get my books back to the library,” he said.
The Goots soon noticed that Alistair was missing, and they turned their ship around.
When they found Alistair, he was showing the Trollabobbles his library card.
The Trollabobbles wanted to take Alistair to Trollabob, but he explained that he had just been there.
So the Trollabobbles gave Alistair back to the Goots.
The Goots continued to search for Gootula, but they could not find it anywhere.
Alistair looked at his watch. It was getting late. He was going to have to pay a library fine.
Alistair could not look for Gootula any longer. He insisted that the Goots take him home. This time the Goots agreed. They had never seen Alistair quite so upset.
The Goots told Alistair they were very sorry. Goots were not known to be good at directions.
Alistair did not think the Goots would be able to find Earth. So he decided to fly the space ship.
It was not very long before Alistair spotted Earth in the viewer. He was glad he had taken a shortcut.
Then Alistair let the Goots take over while he gathered up his books.
He was very much relieved when they finally landed on earth.
Although it was late, he was quite certain there would still be time to get to the library…
…now that he was home.
Every day he made a list of the things he had to do.
Then he made a list of things he did not have to do.
He was always on time for school. The school clock was set by Alistair’s watch.
He hung up his jacket every night and put his shoes in plastic bags.
Alistair took especially good care of library books. He washed his hands before he read them so that he would not smudge the pages. And he always returned them to the library on time.
One day, when Alistair was returning his books to the library, something unusual happened.
He was picked up by a space ship and whisked off into space.
Two creatures who called themselves Goots were flying the space ship. They were from a planet known as Gootula. They were very friendly.
The Goots liked Alistair very much and wanted to take him home with them.
Alistair thanked the Goots very much. But he did not want to go to Gootula. “My library books are due back today,” he said. “The librarian will be expecting me.”
The Goots pretended not to hear Alistair and continued on their way.
After a very short time, they landed on a planet they thought was Gootula. Then they realized that it was not Gootula. It was Trollabob.
“We must have made a wrong turn,” said the Goots.
There was nothing for Alistair to do but read his library books again. Getting lost in an exciting adventure story was just what he needed.
But when he went to look for a place to wash his hands, he opened the wrong door. The next thing Alistair knew he was in outer space.
“Now I will never get my books back to the library,” he said.
The Goots soon noticed that Alistair was missing, and they turned their ship around.
When they found Alistair, he was showing the Trollabobbles his library card.
The Trollabobbles wanted to take Alistair to Trollabob, but he explained that he had just been there.
So the Trollabobbles gave Alistair back to the Goots.
The Goots continued to search for Gootula, but they could not find it anywhere.
Alistair looked at his watch. It was getting late. He was going to have to pay a library fine.
Alistair could not look for Gootula any longer. He insisted that the Goots take him home. This time the Goots agreed. They had never seen Alistair quite so upset.
The Goots told Alistair they were very sorry. Goots were not known to be good at directions.
Alistair did not think the Goots would be able to find Earth. So he decided to fly the space ship.
It was not very long before Alistair spotted Earth in the viewer. He was glad he had taken a shortcut.
Then Alistair let the Goots take over while he gathered up his books.
He was very much relieved when they finally landed on earth.
Although it was late, he was quite certain there would still be time to get to the library…
…now that he was home.
by Ogden Nash
Winter is the king of showmen,
Turning tree stumps into snow men
And houses into birthday cakes
And spreading sugar over the lakes.
Smooth and clean and frost white
The world looks good enough to bite.
That’s the season to be young,
Catching snowflakes on your tongue.
Snow is snowy when it’s snowing
I’m sorry it’s slushy when it’s going.
SNOW
by Karla Kuskin
We’ll play in the snow
And stray in the snow
And stay in the snow
In a snow-white park.
We’ll clown in the snow
And frown in the snow
Fall down in the snow
Till it’s after dark.
We’ll cook snow pies
In a big snow pan.
We’ll make snow eyes
In a round snow man.
We’ll sing snow songs
And chant snow chants
And roll in the snow
In our fat snow pants.
And when it’s time to go home to eat
We’ll have snow toes
On our frosted feet.