A book of amazing animal characters by the kids of Xpey’
Copyright © 2019 The Writers’ Exchange This book was created by Ms. Sebastian’s grade 1-3 class at Xpey’ Elementary School in the winter of 2019. The Writers’ Exchange gets inner-city kids excited about reading, writing and their own potential through mentoring and creative projects like this chapbook. All Writers’ Exchange programs are free for the children and families we serve, so we could not exist without the support of amazing donors, including Social Venture Partners Vancouver, BOCCI, Marily Mearns, the Waterbury Foundation, Megan Abbott, Linda Louis, Bernard MacLeod, the City of Vancouver, the Grayross Foundation held at the Vancouver Foundation, Sasamat Foundation, TELUS, British Columbia Arts Council, Judy Gale, Richard and Suzanne Cole, Nancy and Ted Maitland, John and Nina Cassils, Jim Fletcher, Lindsay Mearns, Scott Shaw, Premium Brand Foods, the Edith Lando Charitable Foundation, the Wolrige Foundation, the Van Tel/Safeway Credit Union Legacy Fund, Steve Munford and CLICK (Contributing to Lives of Inner City Kids Society). Thank you.
207–877 East Hastings Vancouver, BC V6A 1R8 vancouverWE.com
We are honoured to be able to provide safe, fun and welcoming programs for kids and their families on the unceded and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓ íl̓ witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As uninvited guests on this land we are grateful to be able to enjoy this beautiful place and we are committed to building relationships and learning about ongoing traditional ways of life from our Indigenous friends.
Writers’ Exchange mentors: Barbara, Devon, Jackie, Maneesa, Susan, Samantha and Vicky Design and layout: Maddalena Aliprandi, marameolab.net Creative lead: Taylor Richardson
VAN TEL/SAFEWAY CREDIT UNION LEGACY FUND
generously donated the printing of this chapbook.
THE WOLRIGE FOUNDATION
support Writers’ Exchange in-school projects.
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Owly the Owl
By Kiaayo
5
Bob the Snake
By David
6
Bacon the Puppy
By Kaileah
7
Mittens the Cat
By Donnie
8
Thunder the Pegasus
By Tamura
9
Liz the Hamster
By Lacey
10
Sonic the Ink Monster
By Elijah
11
Max the Cat
By Melvin
12
Big Bear the Bear
By Ashlyn
13
Pepper the Kitten
By Avery
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Amy the Wolf
By Bella
15
Caley the Cat
By Forrest
16
Mr. Banana-Head the Pig
By Steven
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Mittens the Cat
By Marius
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Chase the Dog
By Kash
19
Wolfy’s Bat
By Wolfy
About This Book We explored the different sounds that animals make, and picked the ones we liked best. Then we imagined what kinds of things our favourite animals would say if they could talk. We made ID cards for our animals and made up some things they would like, and then we brought them to life as sock puppets!
By Kiaayo
Hoot! Worm! Hoot! When can I go to sleep?
NAME
Owly
ANIMAL
Snowy owl
HAIR
Brown
EARS
Black
EYES
Green
About Me I live in a tree. I like it when it is quiet. Worms and mice are my favourite foods. I have white socks.
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By David
I hate mice because I don’t like the taste!
I like ants and worms
NAME
Bob
ANIMAL
Snake
HAIR
Red and green head
EARS
None
EYES
Black
About Me My favourite food is bubblegum. I also like apples, mice and ants.
5
By Kaileah
I’m free! Run! Oh … we only crossed a street but … I’m free! YAY!
What am I? WHAT AM I?! Hm … An elephant? Oh, I remember! A puppy!
NAME
Bacon
ANIMAL
Dog
HAIR
Black
EARS
Black
EYES
Brown
Ruff ruff! Whine wine!
What a wonderful day … or is it night? Or is it Auntie time? OH, IT’S DAY! YAY!
About Me I eat dog food. I love having fun. I like leaves and walks. My favourite foods are blueberries, bubblegum, salad, water and blue food. My favourite book is about finding snacks.
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By Donnie
So, I found a friend to live with me!
Meow! I miss my mom because she went out
NAME
Mittens
ANIMAL
Cat
HAIR
Blue
EARS
Gold
EYES
Gold
About Me I love gloves, Coca Cola and scratching. I could sleep for 1,000 days. My favourite book is about Sonic the Hedgehog. I eat dog food when I’m hungry. I sleep in a baby crib.
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By Tamura
I saw a rainbow beaked bird
NAME
Thunder
ANIMAL
Pegasus
HAIR
Red and purple
EARS
Red
EYES
Red
About Me I can fly for a long time. I like flying and napping. I eat cherries, shimmer, diamonds, rubies and rainbows. I like seeing crystals and lightning.
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By Lacey
I am hungry and thirsty
NAME
Liz
ANIMAL
Hamster
HAIR
Black and white
EARS
White
EYES
Black
About Me My favourite food is hamster food. My friend the cat likes to play with fruit and be scratched behind the ears. My favourite book is about a lost kitten who gets found.
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By Elijah
Illustration by Jackie, a volunteer mentor
NAME
Sonic
ANIMAL
Ink monster
HAIR
Blue
EARS
Bendy
EYES
White
About Me My favourite food is bacon soup. I’m like Sonic the Hedgehog.
10
By Melvin
MEOW
NAME
Max
ANIMAL
Cat
HAIR
Grey black
EARS
Medium
EYES
Green
About Me When I’m good they give me food. I get in the way in the hallway. I like cat food.
11
By Ashlyn
NAME
Big Bear
ANIMAL
Bear
HAIR
Brown
EARS
Blue
EYES
Black and white
About Me My favourite food is berries.
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By Avery
Meow! I want to sleep!
Purr … I love Christmas, Halloween, the Easter Bunny and Valentine’s Day I am home
NAME
Pepper
ANIMAL
Kitten
HAIR
Slimy
EARS
Cat ears
EYES
Sparkly
About Me I eat cat food. My favourite book is about a ninja.
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By Bella
I love everyone mwahahahaha
NAME
Amy
ANIMAL
Wolf
HAIR
Gray and white
EARS
Pointy
EYES
Hazel and blue
About Me I love to hunt baby mice. My friend fox is playful. We play together. I love mommy.
14
By Forrest
Yaarr, me love cat food
Ka-Pow!
NAME
Caley
ANIMAL
Cat
HAIR
White, black
and orange
EARS
White and black
EYES
Orange
About Me I like cat food and goldfish.
15
By Steven
I want some french fries and banana chips
Yaar, banana chips actually taste good
NAME
Mr. Banana-Head
ANIMAL
Pig
HAIR
Black
EARS
Pig ears
EYES
Orange
About Me I like banana chips. I can sleepwalk at night.
16
By Marius
NAME
Mittens
ANIMAL
Cat
HAIR
Turquoise
EARS
Pointy
EYES
Orange
About Me My favourite foods are cat food and tuna.
17
By Kash
I want to have a banana
Woof, woof, I want to be part of Paw Patrol
NAME
Chase
ANIMAL
Dog
HAIR
Blue, red
and purple
EARS
Dog ears
EYES
Dog eyes
About Me I eat dog food. I like bananas.
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By Wolfy
I make bat poop
NAME
No name
ANIMAL
Bat
HAIR
Black
EARS
Pointy
EYES
Black
About Me I like fruit. I like the dark.
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As an author of a Writers’ Exchange book, you are invited to sign up for FREE after-school and summer programs at the Writers’ Exchange home base at 207–887 East Hastings Street. We run programs for kids in grades 1 to 12. Ask your teacher for a signup sheet, go to vancouverWE.com or call Jennifer at 604-428-8228 for more information.