KIKI AND THE CUCKOO Competition and Jealousy Children's Picture Book (Life Skills Childrens eBooks Fully Illustrated Version 19)

“Suddenly the small door opened and someone was pulling Kiki gently out of the box. A woman said, ‘How did a bird get caught in our cuckoo clock?’ A girl stood beside her. ‘It’s a meadowlark,’ the woman said, holding Kiki in her gloved hand.
‘Let me see,’ whispered the girl. ‘Oh,’ she sighed, ‘are they all as pretty?”
‘No,’ thought Kiki.”

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Fully Illustrated Version

Picture Book for reading with the younger child - ages 3-6

This version of KIKI AND THE CUCKOO includes all the luminous illustrations just waiting to enchant children of any age, and especially the read-to set.

If the text-only version is better for your needs, then please click on KIKI AND THE CUCKOO in the Text-Only Version for the serious young reader - ages 6-9.

Happy reading in either Version.

KIKI AND THE CUCKOO will help young readers explore the positive and negative aspects of competition. It also presents the biology and behavior of the Meadowlark.

COPING WITH COMPETITION AND ANGER

A lesson in peaceful co-existence unfolds on the Kansas prairie.

When Kiki sees the green and brown Kansas meadow laid out below him like a welcome mat, he knows just what to do-claim the meadow as his own, sing a beautiful meadowlark song, and attract a lovely meadowlark wife.

What could go wrong with such a simple plan for happiness?

Kiki quickly finds out, for no sooner has he rid his field of the troublesome Pekeat than another voice intrudes upon his territory: "Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!" And this challenger won't go away!

"I'm ruined!" wails Kiki. "That bird sings in MY meadow!"

So begins Kiki's rivalry with the mechanical inhabitant of a clock-a rivalry that threatens Kiki's fondest dreams.

Kiki scolds the cuckoo. Kiki battles the cuckoo. Kiki even impersonates the cuckoo!

The story of how Kiki finally reclaims his meadow will delight children and at the same time teach a valuable lesson about competition and about the importance of choosing our contests with care.

Author Elizabeth Happy knows the meadowlarks. Every spring, she looks out the window of her Kansas home and sees the yellow flash of their returning and hears them staking claims to the meadows around her house. Her witty story of one meadowlark's ordeal is gloriously enriched by illustrator Andra Chase's vibrant watercolors, detailing the grasses, the wildflowers, and the creeping, crawling, and feathered creatures of the Kansas prairie.

A SURPRISE and added bonus is the "Enrichment Information" which includes lots of facts about the life and habits of Meadowlarks including dangers, hiding, traveling, schooling, bathing, nestlings and fledglings, singing and calling, raising a family, nesting, a summer home, a typical year, and...best of all...learning to sing. This is fascinating detail that did not make it into the story itself, but is very rich in colorful descriptions of bird life on the Kansas prairie...and the interesting correlation with human behavior.

A second big plus is the "Letter to Parents and Educators" which includes many relevant questions and comments to facilitate conversation with the young reader about the message of the story...coping with competition! So even though on the surface, this is just an engaging story for children, it is also truly helpful in a real way.

MAKING THE CASE FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION

If you are tired of bullying, teasing, youth violence, gangs, vandalism, drug abuse, sexual misconduct…

If you are tired of the crisis with our older youth…

If you want to help make a difference one tiny step at a time…

Then this is the eBook for your children ages 3-9.

Read WITH your children and grandchildren, discuss the concept and message…

and know that you are part of the movement sweeping America to bring back our important values by restoring character education in our homes and schools.

(signed) The Thoughtful Parent
JOAN'S eBOOKS LLC