For Little Friends

By Carolyn Brooks

There is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works (Eccl. 3:22).

By Carolyn Brooks

I woke up very early.

I was happy all day long.

I never said a naughty word,

But smiled and hummed a song.

I obeyed my dear, sweet mother

When she said to clean my room.

I helped my dad and grandpa

By sweeping with my broom.

I read a long, long story

To my little sister, Kate.

I helped my Great-aunt Sally

Bake and frost a cherry cake.

I walked the dog an hour,

Cleaned the birdcage, fed the cat,

Carried out the garbage pail—

I even took a nap.

It makes me feel so happy
When I finish all my tasks.
I’ve done everything I should.
I hope this feeling lasts.

By Susan Hilton Andersen

1 piece of fruit per family member (apple, orange, peach, pear, etc.)

1 can (12 oz/355 ml) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

1/2 gallon (1.91 liters) vanilla ice cream

1.
Each person should wash his or her piece of fruit. With an adult’s help, peel the fruit, remove the seeds, and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Place all the fruit in a large bowl.
2.
Add 1/2 can orange juice concentrate to the fruit and stir until the fruit is evenly coated. Spoon the mixture into individual bowls.
3.
With the back of a spoon, make a hole in the middle of each bowl of fruit. Place a scoop of ice cream in each hole. Drizzle a little orange juice concentrate on top of the ice cream.

By Sherry Timberman

To make a card, you will need: a letter-sized sheet of paper, scissors, an old magazine, glue, and a black pen or a fine-tipped marker.

1.
Fold paper in half width-wise.
2.
Find a picture in the magazine that will fit on the card, and cut it out. Glue the picture to the front of the card.
3.
With a black pen or marker, draw stitch lines around the picture (see illustration). If desired, draw stitch lines along the outside edge of the card (see illustration).
4.
Write a message inside the card and sign your name.

[illustrations] Illustrated by Apryl Stott