Little Silly's Big Adventure!

Over the last few months, I've been working on an idea that has been bubbling around in my brain for a few years.  I wrote and illustrated a children's picture book, called Little Silly's Big Adventure!  After painting over twenty illustrations and many edits, I sent the manuscript out to some publishers.  Publishers receive so many stories that it can take several months before you hear back, and then only if they are interested.  I know the chances of hearing back are low, but I'm happy to have completed this fun project.  I have enjoyed sharing the story with several classes at the elementary school where I substitute teach.  It was great to hear the kids exclaim that Silly was very cute, laugh at the 'right' parts, and show concern when Silly gets into trouble.  The kids and teachers all enjoyed my Silly story. 

Now, I want to share the story with you.  Unfortunately, I can not share the entire story and illustrations on this blog because there's no good way to protect it from internet thieves.  But here is a excerpt and if you wish to read the entire story please contact me directly by email at anna.c.malcom@gmail.com.  I would love to get your feedback, and to continue improving the story.  Little Silly's Big Adventure does not have an obvious nature theme, which is strange for me, instead it focuses on having a imagination and being curious.  I am thinking of writing more Silly stories, perhaps the future stories will use Silly's character to explore nature related themes.  I hope you enjoy the excerpts and illustrations.  Let me know what you think!

"Little Silly had never been out of the yard alone before, and she felt brave.  She was able to go where she liked, and stop at each new smell.  -sniff, sniff, sniff-She soon lost the butterfly, but found a new friend as a lizard scampered across dry leaves.  -rustle, rustle, rustle-The game went deeper into the woods."

Many Pages Later...

"Once the jar was off, Silly realized that she was no longer a Space Dog, but a jungle explorer … so she set off on an expedition searching for the lost City of Doggie Biscuits.  She crept through vines, around large boulders, and between tall reedy plants to reach the edge of a nearby pond.  Silly heard jungle birds squawking, skraw, skraw, skraw; frogs escaping into the pond, kerplunk, kerplunk, kerplunk; and large insects flying, buzz, buzz, buzz.

Silly was dreaming of all the biscuits she would eat upon finding the Lost City, when suddenly she froze!  She spotted an Alligator with its black, scaly head floating at the water’s edge.  Silly crouched, ready to leap onto the alligator…

  she barked a loud warning…

    Ruff! Rufff! Rruufffff!

      and sprang!"