Just Joy
by Jacinta Farragher
Once I met a pelican, in a salty cave.
The pelican is now my friend - she’s smart and strong and brave.
Pink is pleasant and she’s playful; she can swim and dive and fly,
She’s confident and caring, and I’ve never seen her cry…
“Where are your wings?” Pink said to me, one fine and sunny day,
“How do you flap and float and glide? How do you fly away?”
If only I had such wondrous wings, I could soar as high as Pink…
If only I was more like her, life would be better, don’t you think?
Once I met a deer in a leafy forest clearing.
The deer is now my friend - he’s gentle, graceful and endearing.
Butter is bold and brilliant; he runs swiftly and jumps high,
He’s faithful and sincere, and he never tells a lie.
“Where are your antlers?” he said to me, one brisk and breezy day,
“How do you wrestle with your friends, or scare enemies away?”
If only I had those awesome antlers, I’d be forever safe and strong,
If only I was more like Butter, then how could I go wrong?!
Once I met a mountain goat, upon a jagged peak,
The mountain goat is now my friend - he’s funny, smart and chic.
Moe is majestic and magnificent, and can sprint along a wall,
He’s dashing and he’s daring, and I’ve never seen him fall.
“Where are your hooves?” Moe said to me, one wild and windy day,
How do you climb around on rocks? How do you find your way?”
If only I had those handsome hooves, I’d be confident like Moe.
If only I was more like him, I’d always know where to go.
Once I met a butterfly, on a grassy meadow rise,
The butterfly is now my friend – she’s happy, fun and wise.
Maeve is masterful and magical, and gorgeous in and out,
She’s clever and she’s cluey, and I’ve never heard her shout.
“Where is your chrysalis?” she asked, one bright and blooming day,
“How do you transform yourself? Shed your skin and float away?”
If only I had a chrysalis, I could change myself completely;
If only I was more like Maeve, I’m sure life would work out neatly.
But then again… now let me think…
Why should I want wings like Pink?
I have my fingers, hands and arms,
I have my talents and my charm.
And why would I need antlers? I don’t need to fight or chase.
I have my mind and body, and the smile on my face.
What would hooves prove? I have my feet. I can jump and climb and run.
I can already do most anything I need to, to have fun.
Well, I don’t have a chrysalis, but I DO have my heart;
I CAN change if I want to, but I’m already kind and smart.
Pink and Butter, Moe and Maeve, are clever, caring, strong and brave…
But so am I! I’m all those things – despite not having hooves or wings.
My friends may squark or bark or bleat, or say nothing at all,
They may be strong, or fast, or wise, they may be big or small…
My friends may be good at diving, or jumping or at climbing…
They may be good at solving puzzles, or perhaps have perfect timing…
There is no use comparing their traits and strengths with mine,
Each of us have our talents and our different ways to shine.
I don’t need wings and things to feel happy and free…
All I really need to do is to love me for me!
'If a website can be described as 'homely' or 'a friendly place for emerging writers to visit' then that's how I would describe Creative Kids Tales. It's probably the only Australian website for children's writers that I visit regularly and actually feel part of. When I need motivation, interesting writers to read about, or just a peek at my own 'baby steps' towards being a published writer, I visit the Creative Kids Tales family.' A big thank you to Georgie and Rod for a great website. - 
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Creative Kids Tales offers a brilliant platform for established and emerging creators to keep in touch and learn from each other. That is a great thing for this most isolated of all professions (apart from On-site Antarctic Penguin Imitators). - 
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'I stumbled on to Creative Kids Tales by accident. I thought it was kid's tails. I'd been doing some research about goats and how their tails were actually a fifth leg, a very long time ago. Or did I just dream that? In any case, I was bitterly disappointed at first to find not tails, but tales. However, while I was at the site I had a wander around, and soon discovered that it was even better than a goat's site - no kidding! This is a brilliant haven for writers, new and not so new; a place to showcase their work and to learn from others.' Well done, Georgie. You've done a fantastic job. - www.enterprisingwords.com.au
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'Thanks for having me on Creative Kids Tales. It's a great resource for emerging writers and illustrators and I hope it will have a long future.'
'CKT is a great resource for both established and emerging authors. I like the way you're always coming up with new and exciting initiatives at your site. And I love reading the fascinating journeys and achievements of the writers you profile here.' - 
'Creative Kids Tales is a fantastic resource for aspiring writers that showcases emerging and published authors and illustrators and provides links to publishers' websites, helpful hints and competitions.'
'Congratulations to Georgie Donaghey for her hard work and enthusiasm in setting up a site that has been sorely needed to promote current Australian children's writing. Not just for the established, but for up and coming, Creative Kids Tales showcases talent and provides information essential for anyone in the industry.' - www.enterprisingwords.com.au
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'I love the grumpy cat videos, hahaha it's so grumpy ... oh, wait, wrong website. Ah yes, Creative Kids Tales. Brilliant! Getting published is an amazing, frustrating, brilliant, lonely, creative journey, and www.creativekidstales.com.au is awesome in that it helps both published and pre-published authors by providing support, inspiration, a community, and by allowing authors to learn from other authors, and who better is there to learn from .. .except maybe that grumpy cat, hahaha, hilarious.' - 
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'What a great asset you are to the children's book industry, Georgie.
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'Buckets of thanks to Georgie for creating Creative Kids Tales. There’s a wealth of wonderful information and resources for everyone interested in creating books for kids – and a warm sense of community.'
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'Georgie Donaghey’s Creative Kids Tales is deservedly going gangbusters! What a wonderful forum and multi-storeyed resource for shiny new authors, legends of the industry and every writer in between!'
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'Creative Kids Tales is a unique and valuable online resource for new and established authors. The site provides a wealth of information and insight into the children's writing world.' 'Thanks for all your support, Georgie, and keep up the good work.' - 
'What a wonderful website Creative Kids Tales is, supporting and helping Australian authors in their quest through the dark thorny forest of the publishing world. Georgie should be congratulated for all her hard work and fearless leadership!' -