Many years later, when Kevin was in his backyard with his children, his daughter Ava cried out, “Dad! Josie is cheating at Tag!”
Kevin said just one thing.
“Is that so?”
*Kevin the Complainer
Tag: children’s book
Page 17 Do Over
I can’t draw all the figures in one scene. So my plan is to have them spread out on a page piecemeal.
Page 14*
“Yeah! And I was just playing and being good, you know? That’s what makes it fun! They’re just mad because I was winning.” Kevin was burning with indignation.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah! And now they’re ignoring me. I bet they want me to apologize. But I won’t. I refuse. It’s a matter of principle.”
“Is that so?” Lily continued to eat her lunch.
“Yes! I am right. They are wrong. Period!” Kevin fumed.
“Hm. Is that so?” Lily popped a flower bud in her mouth.
Kevin stopped and looked at Lily.
*of my next book, Kevin the Complainer
Page Ten*
Carlos and Minji continued to ignore Kevin. Day after day, Kevin remained silently hopeful, only to be crushed by dismissal bell.
One day, Ms. Meretta made an announcement.
“Class, we have a new student. Her name is Lily. Please introduce yourselves throughout the day and make her feel welcome.”
The new student walked to her desk and sat down.
*(From my next book, Kevin the Complainer)
Page 8* (tentatively)
“Well, then I QUIT!” Kevin stormed off.
It was awkward at lunch. The three always ate lunch together.
Minji and Carlos were eating their lunch and Kevin had to sit by himself.
He was sorry, but couldn’t bring himself to go and apologize.
So he ate his cricket sandwich with jackfruit jelly and felt sorry for himself.
*From my next book, Kevin the Complainer
Page Seven (maybe)*
At last! Recess.
Minji kicked the ball and ran for cover. Carlos got the ball and kicked it toward Kevin. But Kevin couldn’t catch the ball, which meant he was “out.”
“Let’s start over! That was unfair!” Kevin cried out.
Minji and Carlos shot each other a look.
“You know very well everything was fair, Kevin.” Minji took the ball to continue the game.
“Yeah, you’re out,” Carlos added.
“Oh yeah?” Kevin asked.
“Yes,” The other two replied.
*My book-in-progress (Kevin the Complainer)
When I asked the 16-year-old daughter what she thought of this illustration, she said:
“It looks like the two cats are going to eat the chameleon.”
Excerpt from “Kevin the Complainer”*
Ms. Meretta was teaching a new math lesson.
Kevin looked out the window. The storm subsided and the sun was out. He wished he could be outside, playing Kick and Cover.
“Kevin, pay attention. You need to learn this,” Ms. Meretta said.
Sighing heavily, Kevin muttered, “I knew this was going to be a bad day.”
*my second self-published children’s book – check out “Esther, Mia and the Stars“!
