Hi, my name is Wilson and that’s me when I was a puppy.

I stayed with my mum and brother and sister until I was two months old, then I went to live with my dad, or ‘The Doggett’ as he is known. He is really big and has lots of muscles. I love him a lot. We have fun together; especially when we go for drives in the car. We both hang out the window and as we jet along I can feel my ears beating on top of my head in the wind.

One day we were in the car in our favorite spot; hanging out the window, when I noticed The Doggett’s usual relaxed mood changing. That daft look he gets on his face when his tongue and jowls flap in the slipstream, quietly dissolved. His neck muscles tightened, his mouth closed and he moved his head forward in an icy stare. I followed his line of vision to the car in front of us. Quite frankly, I couldn’t believe what I saw. In the car in front, sitting on that little deck under the back window was a cat.

While we drove along, the cat had no idea we were watching because it had its eyes closed and continued to lick its paws in a blissful, unconcerned, dream state. It wasn’t until we pulled up at the lights that the cat opened its eyes and saw us. Its eyes were big and round as it stared at us and likewise, but now drooling; we stared back at the cat. It’s ears flattened onto the back of its head and it opened its mouth mid-lick to expose the scariest set of teeth I have ever seen. It drew its mouth back in a wicked snarl and hissed and spat at us like a wounded cobra. I don’t mind admitting, I was scared! But The Doggett never flinched. He drew himself up to his full height, well as far as he could, given that he was leaning out of a half raised car window beside me, and gave all his attention to the cat. The Doggett had the meanest look I have ever seen. Although I did start to wonder what harm the cat could do us, after all, it was in a different car with all the windows up. Nevertheless, my dad The Doggett was wonderful. He eyeballed that cat and never blinked.

The cat raised its level of hissing and included a menacing growl. It almost choked in an attempt to sustain the growling and the now frenzied hissing. Then it stood, drew itself up onto its toes, arched its back, and went berserk. It was a blur as it flew around inside the car, growling and screeching and choking until it landed on the head of its driving person and from what I gather must have dug those claw things in pretty hard. The car in front swerved slightly and I could see the commotion as the driving person tried to unhook the claw things from her head. But the cat was relentless; it stuck to the driver like super glue.

Eventually the car in front pulled over and we drove on past. The Doggett was wonderful, he held his position and continued to glare unblinkingly in the direction of the cat until we finally turned into our street.

Later that night alone in my bed, I pondered my relationship with our own cat, Edward. He doesn’t have anything to do with us, The Doggett and me. When I really think about it, I’m happy to let him lick himself in that catty, dream state as much as he wants. I really don’t need to bother him at all. Come to think of it, The Doggett doesn’t bother him either.

Love Wilson.

Welcome To Jindleberry Woodland – Home of The Quillarills | Alexis Tapp

The Quillarills are another of my favourite characters in the JackoWhisp series of story and picture books for children. The Quillarills live in Jindleberry Woodland inside the Billy-Bubble trees.

If you look closely, you will see Jindleberry Woodland at the top of the map, just above Bangerring Mountain.

If you look at the close up map below you will see the Billy-Bubble trees with the little windows and stairs. One even has a little canopy to keep you dry when it rains. It is always good to be able to put your key in the front door of your house and not get wet in the rain, don’t you think?

This book isn’t published yet, but it is about Jimba Jackobean’s sister, Jessica. She plays a musical instrument, and do you know I haven’t thought of a name for it yet. I think it looks something like a violin though.

If you think of a good name for the instrument you could tell me by leaving me a message in the comments box below this story.

Jessica makes friends with the Quillarills and they invite her into their homes in the Billy-Bubble trees.

This is a lovely story in which Jessica solves a huge problem for the Quillarills and makes lots of new friends.  It’s always nice to make new friends, don’t you think?

Look out for this book  when it’s published, won’t you? Like all of my story books for children, it’s just for fun.

Here’s To Your Wonderful Adventures In The Land Of JackoWhisp,
Alexis Tapp

PS

Have you downloaded your FREE colourful Jimba Jackobean poster yet?
Order Jackowhisp Books & CDs online.

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Short Stories For Kids #2 – The Land Of JackoWhisp

Jimba Jackobean, the noisy Jack-o-Whisper I told you about in Short Stories For Kids #1 lives in a faraway land called JackoWhisp.

Here’s a map of JackoWhisp:

Jack-o-Whisp Series | Childrens Story Books by Alexis Tapp

All the characters in my stories and the adventures they have, take place in the Land of JackoWhisp.

Look carefully at the map and use your imagination to guess:

1. Who might live under Bangerring Mountain?
2. What things might your family do if you all spent the day having a picnic at Peppermint Point?
3. How do you think Peppermint Point got its name?
4. What is unusual about the houses in Snuggle Snitter Green?
5. Which house do you like most in the Village? Why?

If you have a printer it might help to print out the map and make it as big as you can before you answer the questions.

Make sure you never miss a story by subscribing to www.AlexisTapp.com

Share your answers for other kids to see by typing them in the comments box below…

To Your Wonderful Adventures In The Delightful Land Of JackoWhisp,
Alexis Tapp

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Who is Jimba Jackobean?

Jimba Jackobean is the main character in the first book of the Jack-o-Whisp series, ‘Jimba Jackobean and the Bouncer-Bangerrings’. Jack-o-Whispers are quiet, peaceful folk who live in Jack-o-Whisp Village, close to Bangerring Mountain.

Jimba is different from other Jack-o-Whisper because he is NOISY! He can’t help being noisy, it’s just the way he is. He isn’t naughty or anything, in fact he tries to be very helpful, like when he tried to help Mr Jitter-Jump at the town meeting. You can read all about what happened at that very important meeting in the book ‘Jimba Jackobean and the Bouncer-Bangerrings.’

Jimba lives with his parents and sister, Jessica. He goes to Jack-o-Whisp school and is in the fourth grade. If you haven’t downloaded yours yet, there’s a free colourful poster for you of Jimba on his way to school at www.AlexisTapp.com

Mrs Jickelby is Jimba’s teacher, and you will meet her in this first book, and in the second book, ‘Jimba Jackobean and the Octodillioes’, Mrs Jickelby takes Jimba and the fourth grade students in a bus on a field trip to the beach.

Jessica, Jimba’s sister, thinks he is the noisiest Jack-o-Whisper ever, and she is probably right . You will read about her in one of my stories called ‘Jessica Jackobean and the Quillarills’. Jessica plays a musical instrument and one day when Jimba is being his usual noisy self, she gets so annoyed that she goes off to Jindleberry Woodland, to find some  peace and quiet to practice. It is here she meets the Quillarills, who live inside the Billy-Bubble trees and compose music…

Look out for your next edition of “Short Stories For Kids.”

Make sure you never miss a story by subscribing to the Jack-o-Whisp updates at www.AlexisTapp.com

Here’s Your Wonderful Adventures in The Land Of Jackowhisp,
Alexis Tapp

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