Crivens!

We've been reading a book series by Terry Pratchett. The cool thing about this series is that the author has made up his own language. For instance:

Crivens! - A general exclamation that can mean anything from "My goodness," to "I've just lost my temper and there's going to be trouble."

Bigjobs - Human beings.

Blethers - Rubbish, nonsense.

Geas - A very important obligation, backed up by tradition and magic. Not a bird.

Hiddlins - Secrets.

Mudlin - Useless person.

Scuggan - a really unpleasant person.

Scunner - A generally unpleasant person.

Ships - Wooly things that eat grass and go baa. Easily confused with the other kind.

The best thing about this book series is that it is exciting and funny. We are going to start the last book, "I Shall Wear Midnight," as soon as Erica can pick it up from the library. I highly recommend these.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Today we played a game where you collect story elements and then make them into a story. Dan got a dragon, a cave, a knight, a Puss In Boots, a sack of gold, some magical potion, and a hot air balloon. He wrote the following story. There can be no doubt that this young man is very creative.

Beware: Not for those who hate dragons or are easily frightened. If you hate Puss In Boots, you'll be OK.

It was a dark and stormy night, and the dragon was asleep in his cave when the cat, Puss in Boots (OUCH!) came wandering in. The cat was weird and a little crazy. The cat had a knight with him. “This crazy knight has come in to kill me!!!!” yelled the dragon.

Well, in self defense, the dragon bit their heads off. He knew that he shouldn’t have, but the cat was so good. He dipped the bones in ketchup. The knight’s bones are still there. He spent the knight’s gold on a computer to write the story that you are reading, because, surprise, I am the dragon! As for the knights other stuff, well, I drank the potion (burp!) and popped his hot air balloon.