Annabel has a lot of interests, but her current passion is writing and illustrating books. Yes, you read that right. It’s her favorite thing to do with Mike. The two of them will spend some time at her writing desk, where Annie will draw a picture, then dictate the words for Mike to write. After she’s done, she’ll spend…oh, about twenty minutes fretting over the placement of the staples (so much fretting…sooooo much), then she’ll finally present the book to me.
After I read the book, she always tells me to “put it in the library so everyone can read it.” Then she asks me repeatedly how many people have read her book. Good thing she doesn’t know about book stores or she’d be asking about her sales numbers.
Here’s the thing about Annabel’s books…well, she’s a budding Stephen King. Her books take turns you would not expect, and just when you think everything is going to be okay…bam. Twist!
I asked Annie which two books were her favorite, and she picked these. Then she said, “Will kids read them?” And I was like, “Ummmm…”
Book One is called Butterflies Are My Friends (I have no idea why). I will caption it because apparently the writing of a 38-year-old man = the writing of a four-year-old girl.
Once upon a time a little girl got lost in the village and the dinosaur stomped her.
Killing off a main character on page one, bold move.
This little girl was at home but a dinosaur stomped her right into the house.
Killing another character…still bold, but you have to give me someone to root for, Annabel!
These sisters were at home alone when their parents got stolen by the wicked witch.
Sounds like the beginning of a Disney movie.
The last page: This little girl got lost and crashed right into a rock.
Yeah…remind me to never go to this town, it seems very dangerous.
The second book she picked is called Bunnies. She’s really into abstract names.
Once upon a time, this little girl came home from ballet class when a monster came into her house.
First scene, so much tension! I love that she gets right into the action.
This little girl was safe at home when a rainbow got into the house.
This feels like it should be a good thing, but you never know with Annabel. Also, the homes in this town have security issues.
This bunny was at a girl’s house and then a girl came home and found it.
Surprise bunny from the parents? Best parents ever! This book is so heartwarming!
This little girl was hunting for rabbits because she had no rabbit pets, but the bad guys captured her and the rabbits so she didn’t get home at all.
I…did not see that coming. Chilling.
I think these are interesting windows into the way Annabel thinks. She’s been exposed to a lot of heavy stuff in her life and these books are part of how she processes everything (she also asks endless questions). She’s got a bit of a twisted streak in her, but I like that she takes the bad/weird stuff and sprinkles it with things like rainbows and bunnies.
Or, maybe she’s just trying to tell us that she wants a rabbit.
Auntie_M says:
BEST STORIES EVER!!!!!! (If it looks like I’m shouting,I am, with great enthusiasm!!!)
I love that Annie is such a vibrantly imaginative author! And I love even more that her parents encourage her to write and illustrate books. Please say they have cover pages with the Title and “written & illustrated y Annabel Spohr.
Another great thing to do with her is to keep an artists’ quality notebook and just sit by her randomly and say, “Tell me today’s story….” writing as she dictates, leaving room for her illustrations. (And remember a long pause is often a new paragraph/page and with long run-on sentences, the word “and” is often really a period.)
I hope you both save the originals AND scan these & save digital copies. Someday her fiance or her future children will love them!!!
(But, ahem, Mike, dear, penmanship! You are representing the typed word….at least, I THINK you are!!! LOL)
Molly says:
Those really had me laughing (including your comments)! How delightful!
Missy in PA says:
Tell Annie Missy in PA has read 2 of her books and can’t wait to read something about horses (her favorite)
Katy says:
Amazing! I love her stories! I did similar things with my mom as a child, and I was so happy she kept them all. As a (sometimes struggling) writer now, they are always a source of inspiration when I get stuck. If 3 year old me could dictate a 2 page story about lollipops, surely 27 year old me can write, too. I hope she keeps it up, and you continue to share!
shannon says:
Lol, YOUR comments about her books cracked me up the most. I bet you and Annie will have some good laughs about these when she is older.
Elizabeth says:
I used to sit for a little boy and around age 6 he became obsessed with drawing theme parks (think 6 Flags). He had a roll of butcher paper covered in different rides – and all of them ended in horrible, gory ways! Little bits of blood and dead riders were everywhere! His mom asked me if I thought it was an issue and I said, “I don’t think so …” It turned out not to be but that was always so funny. “Now they go down the water ride and at the bottom their heads are chopped off!” So glad I’ve never liked roller coasters.
MNMom says:
I think she needs to learn what “happily ever after.” means….. Who knew a witch could “stomp.” Very funny, very original. Do you take her to theater? She is at the perfect age for it. I bet you have your pick of children’s theater out there! I bet she would love to act and perform…..
Maris says:
Love that she’s writing. I did this all the time as a kid. Then I would sew the pages together (learned that from my school librarian).
Jess says:
Love it! My daughter also is big into making books, I can fold some paper in half and staple it together, and she’s busy for hours (well, maybe a half hour, but that’s a lot for a 5 year old!)
Her most recent creation is the “Racoonicorn.” That’s right – he’s a racoon with a horn on his head. And he has super power and he lives in the sky. Also, from the illustration I can tell you that you should FEAR the Great Racoonicorn. That thing looks DANGEROUS!
I love Annie’s stories. How fun will it be to look back at those years from now?
Terri says:
Oh my, LOVE her stories!!! Kalie is doing creative writing in kindergarten this year. It made me giggle when I thought of what her teacher would say if she started killing off her characters by dinosaur stomps and chews. Hilarious! Annie is going to be SO ready for kindergarten when the time comes! That’s one thing they can’t teach is creativity, either they have it or they don’t and Annie sure has it.
Pattie says:
Annie has a great imagination. I look forward to reading more of her works down the road.
Jennifer says:
We call my 5 year daughter our little Wednesday Adams. She’s not really had any traumatic experiences or huge heaviness to deal with (but she’s lost a dog and a cat, and she’s been to a funeral, both of which lead to ennnnnndless questions). Conversation in my house in the last couple months:
Her: Mom, how to rabbits grow old and die?
Me: Just like any other animal. As they get older, their bodies don’t work as well, and eventually they stop working and they die.
Her: Oh ok…..or you could shoot them in the throat with an arrow. (Note: we are not hunters and are HUGE animal lovers)
Me: Well, yeah, I guess
Her: It would work for humans too.
She really is a sweet kid…I swear!
Tricia says:
I love that kid. It must be all the books she got for her baby shower. You guys knew she was reader/writer from the womb! hahaha
deanna says:
My daughter loves to make books too! A couple of years ago, my brother sent her this fun kit where they take your child’s drawings and words and put them together into a hardbound book. My daughter has done one every year and it’s so fun to see the progress in her drawing and story-building skills.
http://www.amazon.com/Creations-by-You-IKR-IlluStory/dp/0963679600/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393435656&sr=8-1&keywords=illustory
Heather says:
I love this! Thank you for the tip, I’m going to get it for her!
TonyaM says:
My girls had these kits as a gift, and my you youngest LOVED them. My oldest….not so much. She has her talents and creativity isn’t one. I’ll treasure them forever. The “about the author” section is priceless.
Also? Maddie’s stories are hilarious. Tell her they’ve now been read all the way across the country in Tennessee!
Malissa says:
Have you ever ran across storybird . com? It is a (free) site where kids can make there own digital stories complete with illustrations to pick from. They can format the stories in lots of ways, AND the settings can allow it to be private or shared to be read by others. MY kids LOVE it. She has some great stories by the way :).
Andrea says:
I am usually a reader, not a commenter, but these stories, especially your commentary made me fall over laughing! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
K.B says:
I read the post to my husband and we were both laughing so hard. We are also excited to be able to say, that we read the first two published books Annie wrote. You know, for when she is a big time author. :o)
Jess says:
Apparently when I was in the 3rd grade my report card said “has quite an imagination”. Mom had asked why and the teacher said during reading the story started “we’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean” and I jumped in with “and there are sharks and we’ve been there for weeks with no food and water and we may die soon…..”
I seem to have been going the same way as Annie. I’ve always had quite an imagination. It helps when telling stories. Especially when I was a nanny (no scary stories I promise!)
Kathy says:
What an imagination, I love it! If it is any consolation, my now 17 year old’s first grade teacher frantically dragged me into his classroom one afternoon after a writing assignment. The assignment was to create an “-ER” book using words that ended in “er.” Like your daughter, my son was a budding Stephen King. One page was “I’m people eater.” (with a monster eating people), another was, “I’m a sister ti-er upper.” (with a picture of his sister tied up, hanging from the ceiling), and “I’m a people chopper.” (picture of a man with a bloody ax) All pretty graphic and frightening to a first year teacher. I was frantically looking up child therapists, calling my husband, convinced I had a serial killer on my hands. He didn’t understand why we were so upset, he thought it was hysterical to write a horror book. We just took the book at the other night and were howling about it. He’s a happy, well adjusted, social kid with a terrific sense of humor. Still super creative, witty and sarcastic, I think he might frame the book for his college dorm room.
Kimberlee says:
Seems like you have a young “Gillian Flynn” there with all the unexpected twists. The bunny one is pretty close to “Gone Girl”
Glenda says:
I still have the stories my son wrote in 1st and 2nd grade that made it to the state book fair. Pretty awesome! LOVE that Annie has this vivid imagination! Keep sharing!
kakali says:
Beautiful!!! Annie’s Mom and dad both are very talented writes so she already has the good genes from her parents. It did not surprise me to see beautiful stories with beautiful illustration came from our little Annie! Way to go beautiful girl!
Paula says:
Keep nurturing this. Better to get those thoughts on paper. Your daughter is an amazing author and has a gifted imagination!
hulsta says:
just wanted to say this is one of my favorite posts ever. Laughed again re-reading it.