Folktale Week ‘25 (an annual online creative challenge) The aim is to create an artwork per day based on the a list of daily prompts (night, rain, echo, book, charm, storm, dawn) each inspired by folklore and myth. I’ve written and illustrated my own story.
On that night mum said no.
No to cookies.
No to tv.
Leo’s face went hot.
His fists went tight.
His heart went boom-boom-boom!
He stomped the door off into the woods
yelling “NOOOOOO!!!”
His shout echoed through the woods.
“Shh!” said the bat high above a tree. “We’re trying to rest!”
“Why are you upside down?” asked Leo.
“A new view helps the heart calm down. You should try too, maybe you’ll feel better!” said the bat.
Leo, bended upside down. “That’s silly!” he said.
Feeling stormy, he continued to walk…
Rain got harder, Leo hid under a tree.
Suddenly a frog splashed out of a puddle.
“Are you mad?” asked the frog.
“Yes,” said Leo. “Very much!”
“Perfect!” said the frog. “Stomp in a puddle; Mad makes the best splashes!!”
The frog jumped—SPLAT!
Leo shook his head “NO”.
Still feeling like a thundercloud...
Soon a reindeer came by with her baby.
Even prettier than Leo has seen in the books…
“You look grumpy!” said the reindeer.
“Mum said NO! “ said Leo.
“I HATE NO!”
“When I’m angry or frightened, said the reindeer, I stop and listen; the rain, the birds, even my own breath. And my heart slows down...”
Leo tried sitting still too. But no, that didn’t help.
He was still feeling stormy.
Leo stood up and saw a big brown bear right next to him!
He froze — but charmed by the bear’s kind eyes.
“You smell like anger!” said the bear.
“I’m mad.” said Leo.
“I also get mad sometimes. Then I roar at mushrooms!”
Leo grinned at him but he was still
still
still…
feeling mad.
Leo got tired and storm clouds were gathering.
The path lead him home —
past the bear,
past the reindeers,
past the frog,
past the bats.
Mum was there
waiting for him to return.
They hugged
and the storm was gone.
The imagined book cover challenge ‘25
Mary Poppins book challenge: Four Brown Bears, each wearing a peaked cap and coats with brass buttons were trundling trolleys of food.
Mary Poppins book challenge: On this night the Red Cow stood up suddenly and began to dance. She danced wildly and beautifully and in perfect time, though she had no music to go by.
Mary Poppins book challenge: Admiral Boom’s house was built exactly like a ship, it had ship’s funnels instead of chimneys and on the roof was a gilt weathercock shaped like a telescope.
Mary Poppins book challenge: Mr. Wigg began to laugh again loudly, and as he laughed he went bouncing and bobbing about in the air, with the newspaper rattling in his hand and his spectacles half on and half off.
Mary Poppins book challenge: Mary Poppins took the sparkling gingerbread stars from her basket and glued them to the sky, where they twinkled furiously, sending out rays of golden light.
Mary Poppins book challenge: The merry-go-round was just slowing down and as they approached it they leapt upon it, Mart Poppins on a black horse and Bert, the Match Man on a grey horse.
Mary Poppins book challenge: Mary Poppins was in the air now, floating away over the cherry trees and the roofs of the houses, holding tightly to the umbrella with one hand and to the carpet bag with the other.
