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Ponder the Robot
As I have most often written to commission, the copyright in my work usually belongs to the publishers. I can provide samples on request. Below is the text of an original picture book for preschoolers, Ponder the Robot. Rhyming stories are hard to sell to publishers (because of the difficulties they create for foreign-language editions) so I've used Ponder here instead, as a writing sample. NB: The text is designed for illustration, which would make it clear who is speaking. Poor Ponder the Robot just couldn't decide! "Would I have more fun On the swings or the slide? Oh, what shall I make? And which tools shall I use?" The other young robots all knew how to choose! They sniggered at Ponder and said he was slow. "But which is the RIGHT way And how can I KNOW?!" His teacher frowned. "Robots are built to be sure!" Poor Ponder blushed blue, and then rushed out the door! The teacher stomped after and called as he fled But Ponder ran faster And hid in the shed. He sat in the dark And cried one oily tear But no-one could see him, so no-one came near. Then out in the playground he heard his friends shout. He had to decide To stay put, or come out! There must be an answer... He knew what it was. "Some choices don't matter, but here's one that does!" So Ponder clanked sheepishly out into view, His friends ran to hug him And teacher did, too. She whirred: "It's hard, sometimes To make up your mind – Decisions are easier if people are kind!" Then Ponder felt better. His tears were all dried, And now he felt ready For things to decide! So when it was story time, He picked the book... And his friends let him choose for as long as it took. |
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"We wished we had more projects to give you, because you just did them so well!" Sue Parish, former Head of Editorial, Egmont Publishing |
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