YEEK

the

EMU

By Ganna Omar

Illustrations by Ben Hren

There once was an

emu that lived in the

zoo, with mommy

and daddy, and

siblings too.

To Miss Debbie and the teachers and staff at

ACS Doha International School who help us learn

new things about ourselves everyday.

This book was inspired by the works of author Sheena

Knowles and illustrator Rod Clement.

ACS Doha International School

Doha, Qatar

February 2013

His name was

Yeek oh yes it was and he had

grown tired of the

old zoos buzz.

He wanted an

adventure some time away.

If he found a

good place, he

might even stay.

So he crept out of bed

and said with a smile,

Im leaving this place. Ill be gone for a while.

But just as he stepped

his first foot in the city

he got kicked from

behind. Oh what a

pity!

He soared and

flipped and flew

through the sky,

and landed at the

feet of a weary old

guy.

A safe lucky landing

or so it had seemed.

Yeek looked up at

the man, and he

beamed.

A little emu. Well, thats a sight. Ill keep you maybe for a night.

So on the way home, the man said

to Yeek, I have a nice cage, but it might need a tweek.

Youll be sleeping here buddy right next to my bed.

Well turn in for the night just after youre fed.

But just as young Yeek was about to doze off,

the man started to snore, and wheeze and cough.

Yeek slipped through the bars, and crept

across the floor.

He looked back only once, and walked out

the door.

Hmph, he said, too bad. I can see this certainly isnt the place for me.

Yeek walked a short

way and came to a

house, and standing

at the door was a

girl in a blouse.

Yeek jumped

toward her for a

look up close, and

the girl stopped,

and stared, and

froze.

Ill keep you and take you

to school

tomorrow.

Oh little emu, your

eyes are

filled with

sorrow.

So the next morning, as the sun

shone bright, she put Yeek in her bag

and smiled with delight.

At school Yeek napped and nibbled

her lunch turkey sandwich, banana, and even fruit punch.

As he peered out the top to

have a look around, he fell to

the floor and made a loud

sound.

An emu in school - get out of my

room!

And the teacher

chased Yeek

around with a

broom.

Yeek raced down the hall and

got out in a rush.

As he stepped out the door, he

said in a hush, Hmph! Too bad - I can see this certainly

isnt the place for me.

Yeek walked and

walked and walked

all day, and met an

old man with

something to say.

Youre a cute little

fella. Ill take you

home.

And when

we get

there Ill read you a

poem.

As the man began to read, his hand

held Yeek tight.

There was no escape, though he tried

with all his might.

Yeek desperately wanted to get out of

there,

but the man just kept reading without a

care.

Finally, when the man went to bed,

Yeek crept out the door and once

again said, Hmph! Too bad - I can see this certainly isnt the place for me.

He walked all night head hung low in

defeat. And then he

saw it Chickadee Street.

He ran so fast he practically flew until there in front of

him was the zoo.

He knew that he wanted his family now,

and as he approached, they all screeched WOW!

Yeek thought, Hmph! Now I can see this certainly is the place for me.

There once was an emu that lived in the zoo

with mommy and daddy, and siblings too.

But this little emu,

with an itch to roam,

had found the best

place to be is at

home.