The Critter Chronicles

Children's books written by Kim McGlynn's IB English HL: World Literature students and illustrated by Jo Adachi's Painting & Drawing students.

Children's Literature Collaboration Project

The Wagahoos and the Skiddybumps celebrated together that night. For the first time, they came to an agreement. “We will take half of the lake and you can have the other,” said a Skiddybump. “That is a great idea,” said an excited Wagahoo.&nbsp;

The Wagahoos had discovered the lake years ago and believed that they deserved to keep it. “Finders keepers,” they always said. But the Skiddybumps argued that they needed the lake because the water was much cleaner than their muddy swamp.&nbsp;

Unknown to the Wagahoos and the Skiddybumps they were each missing a member. One little Wagahoo and one little Skiddybump had been left behind at the lake after the failed competition. Now, they were stranded in the middle of the storm.

The two groups worked together to make a raft by using sap to glue the reeds together. The Wagahoos and Skiddybumps sailed to the middle of the lake.&nbsp; The little ones were rescued!

“I blame you!”, cried a Wagahoo. “No, I blame you!”, cried a Skiddybump. &nbsp;Suddenly, a Wagahoo raised her hand. “I have an idea”, she said. “The Skiddybumps have reeds and we have sap! Let’s make a raft and save those little ones!”

Between the forest and the swamp, there was a lake. Here, the water was clear and the air was warm. But there was just one problem.

Nearby in the swamp lands, the Skiddybumps rested in the water.

That night, a dark cloud loomed over the lake. The critters could hear the thunder and heavy rain as they tried to fall asleep.&nbsp;

Immediately, the Skiddybumps ran to the lake, knowing that the Wagahoos must have done something to their friend. But, the Wagahoos were waiting for them when they got there. “Look!!”, screamed a Wagahoo, “the little ones are stuck in the middle of the lake”.

Deep in the forest among the tall twisting trees, the Wagahoos sat in the grass.

Written by Hana Sparks-Woodford &amp; Kate Levesque Illustrated by Celeste Huang

After a long and disappointing day, the two groups returned home. “Is anyone ever going to win?” a Skiddybump asked himself on his way back to the swamp.&nbsp;

On the day of the 50th annual competition, the two groups met again at the lake for a swimming race. They were very angry at one another and yelled mean words as they prepared. When the race began, the Wagahoos secretly put sap all over the Skiddybump swimmers so that they were too heavy. “No fair!!” yelled a Skiddybump. The Skiddybumps used reeds from the swamp to block the swimming path of the Wagahoos.&nbsp;

The terrible storm had ended when the critters gathered for breakfast the next morning. However, looking around their breakfast tables, they each realized that they were missing a little one.&nbsp;

From then on, the Wagahoos and the Skiddybumps lived in everlasting peace with one another.&nbsp;

To solve their disagreement, the two groups of critters created a competition. The winner would get to use the lake. The loser would be banished forever. But the two groups always sabotaged each other, so no one ever won.&nbsp;

Author's Note: The Israeli–Palestinian conflict has caused peril in the Middle East since the mid-20th century. Like the Wagahoos and Skiddybumps, the Israelis and Palestinians both believe they should have control over a very special place--Jerusalem. This difference of opinion has been the source of war for over fifty years. These two groups have continued to choose competition over cooperation, and no resolution has come of it. Knowing how to effectively resolve conflict is an important skill for every person to have, and the lessons must start in childhood. The skills that the Wagahoos and Skiddybumps learn in the story are ones that can be used to solve fights between friends or even moderate global conflict. After years of disagreement, they found a common goal and realized that sometimes to gain a little something, you must give a little something in return. Through the adventures of these little critters, the writers want to instill faith in the human capacity for cooperation and show that finding peace is possible.&nbsp;

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