Tommy Is Ambitious

Tomm y

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Tomm y

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Tommy is a little boy that dreams big dreams.

Today he is dreaming about space.

“I want to fly to the moon in my own rocket!” says Tommy. Mom laughs and says “Tommy, you are one ambitious little boy.”

Tommy goes outside and begins to gather materials to build his very own rocket.

“First, I need a rocket. Then, I need an engine— Simple!” Tommy begins to look for the parts.

He sees a shovel lying in the yard as he walks past.

It gives him an idea! He quickly runs inside to tell mom.

a

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“Rocket Parts”

go

I od

“Have you built your rocket yet? Mom asks when she sees him. “Not yet,” says Tommy, as he paces back and forth deep in thought. “I have a new plan.

I’m going to dig up some gold first, THEN I’ll be rich! I could build a rocket if I was rich.”

Mom laughs and says “Oh Tommy, how did I raise such an ambitious little boy?”

Realistically sized finger

“What does that word mean? Am...bid...igoose?”

Tommy asks as he struggles with the word.

“Ambitious” Mom gently corrects. “It means that you have very big plans that will be really hard to finish.”

Breaking 4th wall

Tommy shrugs and goes back outside to dig some more. He thinks about the word that mom used, and tries to remember how to say it.

No t a le even tte r

Am...bec...ily? Am...bitcoin? Am…AMBITIOUS! Tommy thinks trying to say the word in the first place is plenty ambitious on its own.

Why?

As he digs, a big Truck drives by, towing an even bigger trackhoe on the back. The trackhoe backs off of the trailer and begins to dig a hole across the street. This gives Tommy another am..bit..tious idea.

Am I the only one who doesn’t see this ending well?

I mean...I guess?

Perfect form

“If I had THAT then I could dig up the gold much faster, which would make me rich, which would give me money for rocket parts, which would take me to space!”

Then he thinks of a small problem. A trackhoe costs a LOT of money. He doesn’t have the money, which is why he is digging in the first place...but he needs the trackhoe for that. He could, of course try to build one, but then he is back to where he started.

His Best Idea

Yet

Hold up, he’s got an idea

Tommy walks sadly into the house and plops down on the couch. “What’s the matter?” Mom asks when she sees the sad look on his face. “Mom? Do you—do you think I’m too ambitious?” Tommy asks.

Mom sits down next to Tommy. “Absolutely not! I think it’s wonderful that you have such big ideas! Even if they seem like they will be hard to finish, I’m glad that you want to try anyway. Nobody ever solved a problem by quitting when things got hard. Of course you will fail sometimes, and things won’t always go your way, but if you keep trying, you’ll do great things one day.” Tommy smiles. “Thanks mom.”

Really comfy couch

Mom stands up and pats Tommy on the head.

“A new space museum just opened in town a few weeks ago. Would you like to go see it?” Tommy shakes his head. “No, I hate space its so dumb—OF COURSE I DO!!” And he runs out to get into the car.

Even faster than a rocket

CAR

This book was written and illustrated by Isaac Dynys in the State Fair Career and Technology Center’s Graphic Design Program.

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