Intro: This is intended to be the story in a picture book. One or two large illustrations per page, with big words. The idea is that you read it to your child, and they connect with the pictures. As they grow, they learn the words, and begin to tell the story themselves. It's got some morals in it, life how-tos, and little lessons. And yes... there are lots of exclamation points. It's a kids' book. Everything is terribly dramatic and exciting! :-)
How KittyGirl Lost Her Meow
“It was terrible!” said KittyGirl.
“What happened?” said Mousy.
“Well, I was hungry so I went to tell my person” she said. “She was working hard on her computer, so I walked up behind her and opened my mouth to meow and tell her I was hungry.”
“Yes? Then what happened?” said Mousy.
“Nothing came out!” exclaimed KittyGirl.
Mousy was confused. “What do you mean?”
“I opened my mouth to meow, and there was no sound! My meow is gone!” cried KittyGirl.
“Oh no!” cried Mousy.
“Oh yes!” cried KittyGirl.
“You lost your meow?”
“Yes! And I am so sad! I am hungry! And without my meow I can’t ask my person to feed me!” KittyGirl was very upset. A kitty that can’t meow is in big trouble, indeed.
Mousy had never heard of a kitty losing her meow, so he decided to have a look for himself.
Mousy told KittyGirl, “Open your mouth. Let me see.”
KittyGirl did as she was told, and opened her mouth wide.
Mousy didn’t know exactly where the meow should be, so he looked everywhere. He looked under her tongue. He looked behind her teeth. He looked so far down that he almost fell into KittyGirls mouth!
But there was no meow in there. He was sure of that.
“Well that doesn’t look good” said Mousy.
“What? What did you see?” asked KittyGirl.
Mousy thought for a moment. “Well,” he said, “I didn’t see anything. And I am pretty sure it should be in there.”
“Oh no!” cried KittyGirl. “I will never be able to ask my person to feed me again!”
KittyGirl started crying. Mousy didn’t know what he could do to help KittyGirl.
“I’m not a doctor,” said Mousy, “but I don’t see your meow anywhere in there.”
“A doctor!” exclaimed KittyGirl. “That is a great idea! We will go see Doctor Owl. He is very smart. He will know what to do.”
So KittyGirl and Mousy went out into the forest behind the house to find Doctor Owl.
“Hoo hoo!”
Mousy hid behind KittyGirl. “What was that?!?” he said.
“Hoo hoo!”
“That must be Doctor Owl,” said KittyGirl, “but I don’t see him anywhere.”
“Hoo hoo!”
They could hear him, but they couldn’t see him anywhere.
“Hello? Doctor Owl? Where are you?” called KittyGirl and Mousy together. “Doctor Owl? Hello?”
There was a whoosh of wind, and KittyGirl felt it in her fur. Suddenly there was a great noise - WHOOF WHOOF WHOOF - of huge wings, the wind blew, and dry leaves flew into the air.
Doctor Owl flapped his giant wings twice more – WHOOF WHOOF – and landed next to KittyGirl and Mousy, who were both covered in dry leaves.
Doctor Owl gracefully folded his wings, adjusted his glasses and looked around.
“Hoo called me?” said Doctor Owl, looking around.
KittyGirl and Mousy called out together, “We did, Doctor Owl!”
Doctor Owl turned his head to the left. Then he turned his head to the right. Then he turned around in a complete circle.
“Hoo called me?” he asked again.
KittyGirl and Mousy brushed the leaves off their heads so Doctor Owl could see them. “We called you!” they said together.
Doctor Owl turned around and saw the little kitty and the mouse standing together. He adjusted his big glasses and looked closely at the two little animals.
“Hoo yes! I see you now!” said Doctor Owl. “I was afraid my ears were tricking me. I had never heard leaves talk before!”
Mousy was very small and nervous next to the big owl, but he spoke first. “KittyGirl has lost her meow!” Mousy cried, pointing at KittyGirl.
“Oh really?” said Doctor Owl. “Now that is very interesting!”
“Yes!” said KittyGirl. “I tried to tell my owner that I was hungry, but no sound came out! Mousy looked inside” she opened her mouth wide to show him “and said he couldn’t see my meow anywhere!”
Doctor Owl looked wisely at the two little animals. “Well I seem to be the only doctor here, so why don’t I have a look? Open wide.”
KittyGirl opened her mouth wide for Doctor Owl.
Doctor Owl adjusted his huge glasses and looked into KittyGirl’s mouth.
“Hmmm” said Doctor Owl as he looked behind her teeth.
“Ahum” said Doctor Owl as he looked under her tongue.
“I see” said Doctor Owl as he looked deep down inside her mouth.
“Very interesting” said Doctor Owl.
Doctor Owl stood up straight and tapped his nose. “Well.”
Doctor Owl looked up at the sky and scratched his head. “Hmmm.”
Doctor Owl looked down at the ground and pulled his ear. “Amazing.”
Mousy was so excited he squeaked, “So what is it, Doctor Owl? What is it?”
Doctor Owl looked very sternly at KittyGirl and said, “Well KittyGirl, I am afraid it is true – you have lost your meow,”
“Oh no!” cried KittyGirl and Mousy together.
“What will I do without my meow? How will I ever tell my person that I am hungry? Can you fix it Doctor Owl?” cried KittyGirl.
“Yes, I believe I can.” Doctor Owl dug around in his doctor’s bag, pulling out strange shiny tools and mysterious glass vials.
Doctor Owl pulled something small out of his bag and said, “Let’s try this.” He put the small thing into KittyGirl’s mouth. “How is that?”
“WOOF WOOF!” said KittyGirl. Her eyes popped open wide, “Oh no! That is a dog’s bark! Can you imagine me trying to fetch the newspaper in the morning?!?”
“Oh! Well that won’t do at all” said Doctor Owl. “Let’s try this one.” He put a new one into KittyGirl’s mouth. “How does that work?” he asked.
“BOK BOK!” said KittyGirl. “Oh no! Now I sound like a chicken! My owner will feed me dry corn and seeds – yuck!”
Doctor Owl searched through his bag some more, but there was nothing left inside. “I am sorry,” he said. “I’m afraid that I am all out of meows right now. You will have to find your own meow, wherever you lost it.”
KittyGirl was still worried. “But how will I find it?”
“When was the last time you used it?” asked Doctor Owl.
“Oh! I know! It must have been last night when you asked for dinner, KittyGirl!” said Mousy.
“Yes! You are right. That was the last time I had it.” Agreed KittyGirl.
“Well then,” said Doctor Owl, “all you need to do is go to all the places you were since last night, and you will find your meow.”
“We will do it!” shouted KittyGirl and Mousy. “We will go look for it right now!”
Doctor Owl spread his huge wings and got ready to fly away. He looked down at the two friends and said “Good luck, you two!” Then, with a WHOOF WHOOF WHOOF of his huge wings, he flew off into the trees.
“Thank you Doctor Owl” called KittyGirl as he flew away.