It's best to be "me"

Sometimes I wish I wasn't "me" and wonder who I would rather be.
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illustrations by David Byrne story by Salvatore Puglisi




Inside you will meet the animals you see. They were not happy being
"me"


Text copyright c 2007 Salvatore Puglisi Illustrations copyright c 2007 David Byrne
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form
or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the copyright holders, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
First Edition
It's best to be "me"
illustrated by David Byrne. written by Salvatore Puglisi
Summary:
Sometimes I wish I wasn't "me" and wonder who I would rather be. ---------
It was a lot more fun, they now say, being the "me" they were, in every way.
ISBN 1-4196-8351-9 (hardcover) / ISBN 1-4196-8330-6 (paperback)
[1. Animals - Fiction. 2. Self-esteem -Children. 3. Stories in rhyme. 4. Humor-Children]
Library of Congress Control Number: 2007909312 Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
North Charleston, South Carolina www.BookSurge.com


Sometimes I wish I wasn’t “me” and wonder who I would rather be.
illustrations by David Byrne story by Salvatore Puglisi
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This story is told by the animals you see, they were not happy being "me".
They wished to be a new someone, and thought their lives would be more fun.


Sometimes, people have these wishes too, when they are sad and feeling blue.
After you hear this story you will agree... it's always best to be
"me"


IwishI wasaturtle...therabbitsaidwithasigh, And had a house on my back to keep me warm and dry.
I could lie on a log and take naps in the sun, and diving for dinner would be lots of fun.


Gee! said the turtle... I'm so very slow.
If I were fast like a rabbit, I could go, go, go.
With nice warm fur and ears that flop, It would be fun to hop, hop, hop.


I'm a Rabburtle and it's no fun. With a house on my back it's hard to run.
My ears stick out when I go in for a nap, and I can't get up when I lie on my back.




I'm ugly said the croc, and scary too. I wish I was cute like a kangaroo.
My legs are short and my teeth stick out, instead of a tiny nose I have a big snout.


The kangaroo thought...if only I could smile, with great big teeth like a crocodile.
Swimming is better than having to hop. I could play in the water and float on top.


I'm a Crocaroo ....to my regret.
I swim too slow 'cause my fur gets wet.
Hopping through swamps is hard on my knees. My pouch fills with mud and my head hits the trees.




I'm heavy and slow, grumbled the bear.
If I were a butterfly I could float through the air,
I'd spend winter flying in the warm southern sun, not sleeping in a cave waiting for Spring to come.


I'm a fragile butterfly, light as a feather, If I were a bear I could play in any weather.
How fun it would be to be brave and ferocious. Being tiny and weak is simply atrocious !


Being a Butterbear makes me feel odd. I'm not very pretty and I'm still a clod.
I'm too big to fly, no matter how hard I try. Can you imagine me way up in the sky?




I want to be a bird, thought the dog, then I could fly. Fleas wouldn't find me way up high.
I'd have no collar, nor need to obey.
I could do what I wanted and play every day.


I must hunt for food, said the bird. There is no time to play. I'd rather be a dog, who gets fed every day.
To be petted and loved with a kindly pat, sounds better to me than being chased by a cat.


I'm sad said the Bird dog and very confused. Is it my legs or my wings that I should use ?
I'm much too awkward to nest in a tree, and all of the birds are afraid of me.




I'm drab, thought the penguin, all black and white. To be pink like a flamingo would be a delight.
I'm always cold and must swim to eat. To be able to fly would be such a treat.


I'm ugly said the flamingo and I live where it's hot. My legs are like sticks, so pretty I'm not.
To be cute like a penguin would be so nice. It must be fun to swim and to slide on the ice.


Look at me said the Peningo I'm such a fright. My coat looks like pajamas worn at night.
My short wings get so icy that I can't fly. My bare legs get so cold it makes me cry.




To stay beautiful said the peacock is very hard work. My tail is long and it drags in the dirt.
I want to be a frog with no feathers to clean. I could jump in the water and not be seen.


Hmmm...thought the frog, I'm ugly and I croak. My eyes bulge out and I have a slimy coat.
If I were a peacock I'd be colorful and proud and spreading my feathers would draw a large crowd.


Being a Peafrog really makes me mad. I'm too big to hide under a lily pad.
To hear a frog screech is a great surprise.
And I wish these feathers wouldn't get in my eyes !




Squeak said the mouse, I'm too small. If I were an elephant I'd be big and tall.
Mouse traps wouldn't scare me, I'd not be a pest, and stomping through the jungle would be the best.


The elephant bellowed, I'm in despair.
I can't fit in a house, I can't hide anywhere.
If I were a mouse, I'd have no trunk to drag. I'd be nimble and quick and my skin wouldn't sag.


I'm an Elemouse just look at me! A stranger beast you'll never see.
I trip over my ears, I can't see my toes. Have you ever tried to eat cheese with your nose?




These animals have become what they wished to be, but they are not happy....it's plain to see.
It was a lot more fun, they now say, being the "me" they were, in every way.


You can play this animal game. Put two together and make up a name.
When you do it you will see. Animals are always best when they are
"me"
..... and so are we






Young readers’ creativity is stirred
when they are led to imagine what animals might be like if they took on certain characteristics of other animals. What if a bear could fly
or a butterfly could roar, or a crocodile were cute and a kangaroo could swim? It sounds good when wishing, but
there are more than a few drawbacks to these switch-eroos...
Clever and humorous, author Salvatore Puglisi and illustrator David Byrne spark children’s imaginations and emphasize the importance of being happy with who they are in It’s best to be“me”, a beginning reader that is fun for the whole family.
By creating unforgettable creatures like the elemouse, butterbear and crocaroo children learn an important lesson about being proud of who they are.
U.S.A. $14.99
ISBN 978-1419683305
9 781419 683305
51499 >
book design c salvatore puglisi