Janice Campbell Access

Inspired by her actual philosophy that reading and storytelling should feel like "cookies" rather than forced chores, here is an original story about a young girl who discovers the magic of words.

Just then, her aunt Janice stepped into the room. Janice was a teacher who loved books so much that her house was less a building and more a giant, sprawling library. She was carrying a small tray with two glasses of cold milk and a small plate of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies. janice campbell

Clara nodded gloomily. "I want to write something wonderful, Aunt Janice. Something like the books you have downstairs. But I'm just a kid. I don't know how to make words dance." Inspired by her actual philosophy that reading and

"I don't know any big words," Clara muttered to the empty room. "And nothing exciting ever happens in this house." She was carrying a small tray with two

Clara closed her eyes. She ignored the rain and thought about last summer. She thought about the giant old avocado tree in her grandparents' backyard. She remembered climbing up into its thick, green branches where the leaves were so dense they created a secret, shaded cave. She remembered sitting up there for hours, hidden from the rest of the world, eating a peach while the juice ran down her chin. "I'm thinking of the avocado tree," Clara whispered.

Clara wanted to write a story, but her mind felt as blank as the page before her.

An hour later, the rain had finally stopped, and a weak beam of afternoon sunlight broke through the attic window. Clara put her pencil down and looked up at her aunt, her eyes glowing. She had filled two whole pages.