Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul: 101 Stories of Courage, Hope and Laughter Read online

  What People Are Saying About

  Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul . . .

  “Kids are lucky to have a Chicken Soup book just for them. As a son of a preacher I was expected to know the right choices to make. I could have used examples of how other kids were dealing with the pressure of growing up.”

  Sinbad

  actor, comedian

  “Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul is filled with stories that restore your faith in humanity and open your eyes to the meaningful moments in life.”

  Larisa Oleynik

  star, The Secret World of Alex Mack

  “A great book for kids! Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul covers many tough subjects so well that every kid who reads it will be able to relate to some of the stories, and hopefully learn from the rest so that their souls—not just their bodies—will grow up big and strong.”

  Lori Beth Denberg

  actress, star on Nickelodeon’s All That

  “The Chicken Soup for the Soul series has provided stories that enlighten, encourage and inspire. I believe wholeheartedly that Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul will continue to reach out and provide our youth with an important motivational tool that will no doubt stimulate positive thinking.”

  Malcolm-Jamal Warner

  actor, Malcolm and Eddie

  “As soon as I read the book, I wanted to rush home and give it to my kids to read. The messages are so inspiring and encouraging that I’m looking forward to a second helping of Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul.”

  Adrienne Lopez

  vice president, talent development and casting, Nickelodeon

  “Reading Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul with a child will help build and strengthen the love you share. And, since the love of children is the ultimate ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul,’ you may even want to read it again!”

  Ann Pleshette Murphy

  editor-in-chief, PARENTS Magazine

  “Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul shows our children that life is an amazing journey filled with accomplishment, failure, happiness and tears, but that within us all lies the ability to beat life’s challenges and to strive to achieve our dreams.”

  Roxanne Spillett

  president, Boys & Girls Clubs of America

  “As a child, I was a member of a book club. My favorite stories were those that inspired me to dream. Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul is just such a book—these stories will inspire young readers not only to dream, but also to give their hearts, minds and souls to the creation of new possibilities.”

  Larry Jones

  president, Feed the Children

  “The most delicious thing about Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul is kids talking to kids, sharing and relating both their joys and sorrows. Their stories will help other kids know that they are not alone in their feelings and experiences.”

  Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson

  founders, Childhelp

  “When confronted with difficult issues, it is comforting for children to know that others have been there and survived. Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul does just that for readers: its stories relate to kids that they, too, can overcome hardships in their own lives.”

  David S. Liederman

  executive director, Child Welfare League of America

  CHICKEN SOUP

  FOR THE

  KID’S SOUL

  101 Stories of

  Courage, Hope

  and Laughter

  Jack Canfield

  Mark Victor Hansen

  Patty Hansen

  Irene Dunlap

  Health Communications, Inc.

  Deerfield Beach, Florida

  www.hcibooks.com

  www.chickensoup.com

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Chicken soup for the kid’s soul : 101 stories of courage, hope and laughter

  [compiled by] Jack Canfield . . . [et al.].

  p. cm.

  Summary: A collection of short stories, anecdotes, poems, and cartoons

  which present a positive outlook on life.

  eISBN-13: 978-0-7573-9710-3 (ebook) eISBN-10: 0-7573-9710-7 (ebook)

  1. Children—Conduct of life. [1. Conduct of life. 2. Children’s writings.]

  I. Canfield, Jack, date.

  BJ1631.C46 1998 98-16871

  158.1'28—dc21 CIP

  AC

  © 1998 John T. Canfield and Hansen and Hansen LLC

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher.

  HCI, its logos and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

  Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

  3201 S.W. 15th Street

  Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190

  R-10-07

  Cover illustration by Larissa Hise Henoch

  Book

  Oh, look, it’s a book!

  I’m sure it must be

  A path of adventures waiting for me,

  A yellow brick road to the Wizard of Oz,

  A frivolous poem without any cause.

  Should I open it and peek to see what’s inside?

  What if it’s scary I might need to hide.

  I’ll never know unless I dare.

  I need a good laugh, a cry or a scare.

  I’m sure it can wait—well, then I’ll never know

  Maybe it’s someplace that I’ll never go.

  But today is the day that’s been waiting for me

  I’ll open this book, and I will see.

  Jessica McCain, age 14

  To the kids of the world who

  need these stories, we dedicate this book.

  We want to bring you hope, laughter, inspiration

  and courage—and to let you know

  that you are not alone.

  Especially to our own kids—

  Christopher; Elisabeth and Melanie;

  Marleigh and Weston.

  You are our heroes.

  “My teacher says I can grow up to be whatever

  I want to be. I want to be a kid.”

  Reprinted by permission of Randy Glasbergen.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction

  Share with Us

  1. ON LOVE

  Kelly, the Flying Angel Louise R. Hamm

  The Tower Robert J. Fern

  Uncle Charlie Patty Hathaway-Breed

  The Game of Love Lou Kassem

  “Where’s My Kiss, Then?” M. A. Urquhart

  The Visit Debbie Herman

  The Fire Truck Lori Moore

  Merry Christmas, My Friend Christa Holder Ocker

  2. ON FRIENDSHIP

  There’s an Alien on the Internet Joanne Peterson

  Seeing, Really Seeing Marie P. McDougal

  Kim Li, the Great Berniece Rabe

  Edna Mae: First Lesson in Prejudice Sandra Warren

  The Connection Joel Walker

  The Favorite Vase Belladonna Richuitti

  A Friend . . . Danielle Fishel and friends

  Best Friends Mary Beth Olson

  All I Would Ever Need Kerri Warren

  My Friend Anthony Katie Short

  3. ON FAMILY

  No Dad?! Jason Damazo

  Terror on Route 83 Mary Ellyn Sandford

  Watching for the Miracle Korina L. Moss

  Dad
dy’s Girl . . . At Long Last Candace Goldapper

  From the Heart Marcia Byalick

  A Brother’s Love Diana L. James

  Secrets That Made Paul Special Judy M. Garty

  Goat’s Tobacco Roald Dahl

  My Grandfather’s Gift Rider Strong

  Silent Night, Crystal Night Lillian Belinfante Herzberg

  Green Salami Patty Hansen

  Going, Going, Gone Martha Bolton

  Your Name in Gold A. F. Bauman

  Father’s Day Taylor Martini

  Mom’s Duck Page McBrier

  4. ON ATTITUDE AND PERSPECTIVE

  The Bobsledder’s Jacket Tim Myers

  Things Are Not Always Black or White Judie Paxton

  What’s Wrong with a B+? Donna M. Russell

  Just Ben Adrian Wagner

  The Green Boots Linda Rosenberg

  Showing Up Julie J. Vaughn with Tyler Vaughn Marsden

  The Pest Judy Fuerst

  A Good Reason to Look Up Shaquille O’Neal

  Close Call Diana Parker

  The Flood Adam Edelman

  The Man Who Had Plenty Reverend Mark Tidd as told by Jerry Ullman

  The Perfect Dog Jan Peck

  To Be Enormously Gorgeous Carla O’Brien

  5. ON DEATH AND DYING

  The Purple Belt Chuck Norris

  B. J. Nate Barker

  The Perfect Angel Stacie Christina Smith

  Someone to Hold Onto Ann McCoole Rigby

  Rebecca’s Rainbow Tara M. Nickerson

  One Rainbow Wasn’t Enough Matt Sharpe

  A Nightmare Come True Damien Liermann

  Lessons from God Jennifer Rhea Cross

  6. ACHIEVING DREAMS

  Believe in Yourself Jillian K. Hunt

  The Little Girl Who Dared to Wish Alan D. Shultz

  The Playground Audilee Boyd Taylor

  Dreams of the Children Jody Suzanne Waitzman

  Batgirl Dandi Dailey Mackall

  G-o-o-o-a-a-a-a-l-l-l-l! Heather Thomsen

  With Every Footstep Shannon Miller

  The Rock Club Vanessa Clayton

  Socks for Kerry Barbara McCutcheon Crawford

  Just Ask David Levitt

  7. OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

  Grandfather Learns to Read Karen Beth Luckett

  School—Moving Up Ben Carson, M.D.

  In Control John D. Troxler

  The Sandbox Lucas Parker

  What a Year Robert Diehl

  Dear God, This Is Charles Charles Inglehart

  Missy and Me Glenda Palmer

  The Miracle of Life Lacy Richardson

  8. ON CHOICES

  Goodwill Cynthia M. Hamond

  Putting My Best Foot Forward Kathy Ireland

  Understanding Jessica Stroup

  Nine Gold Medals David Roth

  Without a Nightlight Jessica Harper

  Nobody Knows the Difference Deborah J. Rasmussen

  The New House and the Snake Christine Lavin

  I Found a Tiny Starfish Dayle Ann Dodds

  9. TOUGH STUFF

  Get Help Now! Tia Thompson

  The Big Director Kel Mitchell

  I Love Her More Than Ever Amber Foy

  Dear Momma Darnell Hill

  My Dad Aljon B. Farin

  Smoking Is Cool. . . . Not! Valeria Soto

  DARE Rap Shelly Merkes

  I’m Not Dana Sabrina Anne Tyler

  No Home Elizabeth A. Gilbert-Bono

  10. ECLECTIC WISDOM

  Baby’s Ears Valerie Allen

  Kindness Is Contagious Kristin Seuntjens

  Do You Have Your Wallet? Laksman Frank

  Small Talk Multiple Authors

  The Day I Figured Out That No One Is Perfect Ellie Logan

  The Little Notice Kenan Thompson

  Teenagers Melissa Mercedes

  My Guardian Angel Travis Ebel

  Grandpa’s Bees Barbara Allman

  The Flying Fish Megan Niedermeyer with Killeen Anderson

  Mother Says . . . Martha Bolton

  What I’ve Learned So Far Multiple Authors

  Afterword

  Reading Stories: An Act of Co-Creation James Elwood Conner, Ed.D.

  More Chicken Soup?

  Supporting Kids

  Who Is Jack Canfield?

  Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?

  Who Is Patty Hansen?

  Who Is Irene Dunlap?

  Contributors

  Permissions

  Foreword

  You hold in your hands a very valuable book. In it, you will find inspiring stories from celebrities and adults . . . but most importantly from people your own age! The stories will encourage you, enlighten you and maybe even make you cry . . . but hold them close. Keep the book on your bedside table and read it often—whenever you need a guiding hand or hopeful thought.

  Never give up believing in yourself. With God, you hold the power and talent to achieve all of your dreams. My friends, you are our future.

  Muhammad Ali

  Three-Time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion,

  Humanitarian

  Discovery

  Faraway places

  Events gone by

  Interesting faces

  Make you laugh, make you cry.

  Cities never visited

  Easy to see

  Mysteries unsolved

  Unraveled for me.

  In the chair by my bed

  Tall mountains I’ve scaled

  In the pages I’ve read

  Seven oceans I’ve sailed.

  Stories on pages

  Picture it well

  Mystical fables

  Only books can tell.

  Jesse Damazo, age 14

  Acknowledgments

  During the eighteen months that we worked on this book (actually, the book worked through us), we were blessed to have many loving and supportive people associated with its production.

  Special thanks to the “English policewoman,” Killeen Anderson, for her hours of editing and proofing; to Gina and DeeDee Romanello, and especially Michelle René Martin, for ongoing work effort; to Nancy Richard-Guilford for research and writing on “Just Ask”; to Nancy Mikaelian Madey for research and writing on “The Rock Club”; and to Sally Redd for photographic support.

  From 7,800 stories that were submitted to us, we looked very seriously at 376 of them. With the help of the following people, who read for several weeks, we were able to cut that number down to a manageable 205, which were then sent to our readers for grading.

  Thanks to the staff of Mark Victor Hansen’s office: Lisa Williams, DeeDee Romanello, Michelle René Martin, Trisha Holland, Gill Torres, Michelle Adams, Laurie Hartman, Paula Childers and Ami Garcia; and to Pam, Kyle and Jack Brown, Pattie and Makenna Buford, DeDe Moore, Megan Niedermeyer, Laurie Walker, Jody Sherman, Dawn Siemonsma and Kathi Fischer. Thanks to Sandy Asper and her seventh-grade classes at Ensign Intermediate School, and to Dee Mattern and her fourth-grade class, Cindy Branson-Waller and her sixth-grade class, and Shirley Kwan and her third- and fourth-grade classes at Kaiser Elementary School in Costa Mesa, California. We send big thanks to Donna Thompson (we love you, Donna!) and her seventh- and eighth-grade classes at Riverchase Middle School in Birmingham, Alabama. Also: Virginia Becker, Jennifer and Angela Sarb, Jordan Curry, Jacob Hackler-Roy, Carol Kline, Meladee McCarty, Kim Kirberger, Nancy Siebert and her granddaughter, Brittney, Sara Krehbiel, and Elyse and Dana Wilhm—thanks to all of you.

  We had over 375 kids take part in the reading and grading process to help create the book you now hold. We thank our own kids, Elisabeth and Melanie Hansen, Christopher Canfield, and Marleigh and Weston Dunlap, for hanging in there while we worked long hours and were away from you. To Kasey Mullins, thanks for saving our book when our computer crashed during the last hours of book production. To Eva Espinosa, thanks for keeping the home fires burning. To Kent Dunlap, thanks for letting us invade your home during the production of the book. Also: Sarah Mutt;
Maegan Romanello; Chris Baker; Marieth Mitchell; Ann Thompson; Jennifer Fishel; Donny Wilson and Michael Parris at Shaq’s office; Skye at Sterling Winters Company, Kathy Ireland’s management office; Adrienne Lopez at Nickelodeon; Dana and Pilar at the Savage Agency; Jordan Dabby at Shade Global; and the Children’s Authors and Illustrators Society. Thanks to Lisa Williams for technical support; John Sokalski for graciously helping to keep our computers networked; Christine Jurenka at Kaiser Elementary for support and ideas; Christine Russell for typing; and Melissa Pool for scanning hundreds of stories.

  Thanks to Georgia Noble for her gracious hospitality while we finished editing the book at Jack and Georgia’s house and offices. And, speaking of hospitality, many thanks to Clark Albright and the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel for hosting our out-of-town kids. You are fantastic! We also wish to thank the following people for their ongoing love and support:

  Peter Vegso and Gary Seidler at Health Communications, Inc., for recognizing the value of our book from the beginning, and for getting it into the hands of millions of readers. Thank you, Peter and Gary!

  Patty Aubery, who was always there when we needed guidance and advice, and who keeps the whole Chicken Soup for the Soul central office up and running in the middle of what always feels like a tornado of activity.

  Nancy Mitchell, for her invaluable feedback as well as the outstanding job she always does in getting permissions for the stories, poems and cartoons—especially the hard-to-track-down ones. Thanks, Nancy, for hanging in there!

  Heather McNamara, senior editor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, for helping with the readers’ evaluation, and for being there when we needed her.

  Veronica Romero, Robin Yerian and Leslie Forbes, for helping to ensure that Jack’s office ran smoothly during the production of this book.

  Rosalie Miller, who kept all of the communication flowing efficiently throughout this project. Your smiling face and never-ending encouragement have lightened our hearts.

  Teresa Esparza, who brilliantly coordinated all of Jack’s travel, speaking, and radio and television appearances during this time.

  Christine Belleris, Matthew Diener, Allison Janse and Lisa Drucker, our editors at Health Communications, for their generous efforts in bringing this book to its high state of excellence.

  Randee Goldsmith, Chicken Soup for the Soul product manager at Health Communications, for her masterful coordination and support of all the Chicken Soup projects.