Stick’s Masterpiece

Sad little Stick gazed up in fear.

Where could she even start?

This huge entire page was hers

But she could not do art.

Sad Stick sat down and hung her head.

A tear began to fall.

Just then a tiny bird flew near

And gave a hungry call.

“I’m sorry I can’t help you, Bird.

I’m just the me you see.

I cannot paint a feast for you.

Oh! What good can I be?”

The little bird, he bumped Stick’s brush

And made a golden spot.

He scooped it in his beak and chomped

And waited for more dots.

A masterpiece she could not paint

But birdseed she could try.

And so she dabbed some yellow spots

Beneath the empty sky.

Just then a streak of blue appeared

High on her page above.

A brilliant, vivid, joyful blue

Of courage, strength and love.

She did not see her coloured sky

But Stick now had a plan.

Perhaps her art was needed here

So off to paint she ran.

A blanket for the chilly bear…

A piece of string for fox.

Some cotton balls for dinosaur

For centipede, some socks.

Just then she saw her simple shapes

Had beauty past her skill.

She did not ever want to rest –

So much to do here still!

As she ran from here to there…

She brushed and stroked along.

She played and learned and made new friends

She skipped and sang her song.

The more she brushed, the more she saw

She knew what she could be.

She bit her lip and twirled her tongue.

And worked more thoughtfully.

The sun was setting, it was time.

She had to finish now.

But even in the twilight dim

It was her best work somehow.

All out of paint, so tired too,

Stick closed her little eyes.

And fast asleep she peacefully went

And dreamt of rainbowed skies.

When morning came, she woke and saw,

Was greeted by the sun.

Her lines and shapes were so much more.

Her masterpiece was done.

The End!

 

Original short story for kids by the Brothers Whim, Spencer Hanson and Randy Hanson.

 
Children’s Illustrations by the Brothers Whim, Spencer Hanson and Randy Hanson. 

‘Stick’s Masterpiece’ is shared under a Creative Commons license – you can purchase hard copies of the story here. 

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

 
Self-Confidence, Optimism 

1. Stick thinks she can’t fill up the big page with her artwork, until she starts with the little things. Have you ever thought that you couldn’t do something, and then realised if you did it in little bits, you could do it after all? 

2. Why do you think ‘starting off small’ (doing the little parts of a big job first) is a great way to do big new things? 

Individuality 

3. Stick paints a world in the colours she chooses, She could have chosen any colour she liked for her art. What do you think the colours Stick chose tell us about her feelings?