Unhappiness Is ... A Book that Takes a Fun Look at Everyday Situations With a little touch of Serious Stuff For Young & Older readers I created this book when I was fourteen years old. I have always tried to find the silly in a situation and this book does just that. It's mostly about the funny side of everyday life. Unhappiness Is ... has gone through a few changes over the years, yet it remains timeless This version is for you, my readers, to illustrate 'cause I couldn't get mine to be what I wanted And, I think it'll be great for you to be able to interpret the events your way and put your take on the pages The sayings will make you chuckle, laugh and reflect. Most of the time, you will be able to think "Yep. That happened to me." Illustrating your thoughts may be a surprise to someone else, as well as yourself A Note About Illustrations An illustration for a book is a way of putting an image on paper about the book's subject. It's the same as a person turning written words into a song. Illustrations may be drawn, painted, photographed, or glued - such as a collage. Therefore, you may illustrate these 150 sentences any way you like We all feel things differently so be creative and have fun bringing your imaginations to the pages "Every Cloud has a Silver Lining " Dabs & Company 2013

StarLeader Guidebook Positivity Poems The YoungStars Series Dear Leader, The 70+ poems in the following books - for which this guide was created - will provide our youth a literary and literacy boost up They are intended to stimulate higher ordered thinking in our young people. This collection includes the meanings of the poems written to Young Adults and Younger Children complementing the books I am a YoungStar and I Love Me Some ME and I am a YoungerStar and I Love Me Some ME Too It is my intention these explanations will assist you in deciding which poems to use from either book, depending on the type of groupings you are leading. The poems are meant to be read orally (I suggest not putting unconfident readers on the spot) and followed by discussions where the participants are encouraged to speak their minds in an accepting atmosphere of tolerance. Some may seem a little "downpressing" but we NEED to talk openly about the issues. Seriously So much of what we adults try to protect youth from - and are not preparing them for - is not allowing them to be their personal best selves Of course, due to the ages and level of understanding of your learners, some of the poems will require more dissection than others. Please encourage the learners to "use the muscles in your minds " You may need to have dictionaries handy for their use. Many of the poems are playful. Some are "deep." Others are sobering. All are provocative. Thank you helping our youth elevate BREAK THE BRAIN CHAIN Peace & Understanding, K. E. Dabney Promote Literacy Keep Our Minds Lit Copyright (c) 2013 by Karen E. Dabney All rights reserved YoungerStars' Positivity Poems ... are to give our youth a literary and literacy boost up The poems are designed for marinating & masticating They are intended to stimulate higher ordered thinking in young adults. They are meant to be read orally and followed by discussions where the participants are encouraged to speak their minds in an accepting atmosphere of tolerance. Some of the poems will require more dissection than others depending on the ages and level of understanding of the readers. This collection is for Young Adults and Younger Children. You may decide to use poems from either book depending on the type of groups you are working with. Many of the poems are playful. Some are "deep." Others are sobering. All are provocative. To the YoungStars: Ready, Set, Read The poems inside are for YOU They are to let YOU know folk LOVE & CARE about YOU & want to help YOU SHINE & SOAR in life There are so many GOOD people pulling for YOU - even if YOU don't know, can't see or feel them, they are there And, we ALL know how sometimes life's easy & other times SO HARD But YOU can work at feeling better about the struggle when YOU OPEN YOURself to PREPARE for & FIND the LESSONS. Some of these poems are breezy & others are stormy. Dress for the weather & wade in Allow YOURself to FEEL in order to stay TRUE & FOCUSED WE NEED YOU TOO cuz WE ALL got a lot of WORK to DO BE STRONG & LIVE LONG Don't give up the fight Pamoja Tutushinde "Together We Will Win" P.S. WE REALLY DO LOVE YO

Pure poetry...with an edge Dabs & Company re-releases poems by Safi And for you insatiable types...she's supplied even more to nibble & ruminate upon...

HEY YOUNGSTARS The sampling of 25 poems inside are for YOU They are to let YOU know folk LOVE & CARE about YOU & want to help YOU SHINE & SOAR in life There are so many GOOD people pulling for YOU - even if YOU don't know, can't see or feel them, they are there And, we ALL know how sometimes life's easy & other times SO HARD But YOU can work at feeling better about the struggle when YOU OPEN YOURself to PREPARE for & FIND the LESSONS. Some of these poems are breezy & others are stormy. Dress for the weather & wade in Allow YOURself to FEEL in order to stay TRUE & FOCUSED WE NEED YOU TOO cuz WE ALL got a lot of WORK to DO BE STRONG & LIVE LONG Don't give up the fight Pamoja Tutushinde "Together We Will Win" Encourage OUR YOUTH They all have gifts to share with the world Popular Tameka has a talent for getting along well with all of the girls in class, even those in tight cliques. She doesn't belong to any of the groupings but is always welcome. She's more than a social butterfly; she's a budding executive director of a non-profit. And, there's Sean. He's prone to doing impromptu, complicated dance moves as he glides through the hallways and plops into his desk. He may be the next Usher or Barry Sanders Bonita aka "Bon-Bon" has an unofficial sideline job of selling candy throughout the school and has been shut down twice for the infraction. She is now selling hand-made greeting cards. Hello to an entrepreneur

Jenga is a collection of poems to encourage the reader to look at things in a different light. It is challenging, wry, and stimulating. The poems are about various issues regarding life, love, and peace. Our intention is you will be open to and build upon your knowledge while deciding your point of view after having read them.

This handy book will create a more enjoyable experience between hosting organizations, event planners and vendors no matter how large or small the event. It will especially appeal to vendors because some of the simplest suggestions inside are often overlooked. Business owners must keep in mind that vendors are also in business and help lend credence, entertainment, expertise, and excitement to any event. This is because they are also a part of what is bringing people to your events past, present, and in the future Treating vendors well will help all sell Even if the event is free of charge to its attendees, you are "selling" something. It may be an idea, a fundraiser, a reception, or information. The impression your attendees leave with will affect how they view your organization for quite some time. Constructive reciprocity is the golden key to a healthy symbiotic relationship. Karen E. Dabney

To Our YoungerStars: Ready, Set, Read The poems inside are for YOU They are to let YOU know folk LOVE & CARE about YOU & want to help YOU SHINE & SOAR in life There are so many GOOD people pulling for YOU - even if YOU don't know, can't see or feel them, they are there Sometimes things are easy and other times so hard. Keep trying to find your way and be the BEST you can be Everything you need is inside you You can DO IT So, LET'S GET TO IT

The Elephantom in the Room is a psychological surrealistic sassy tale about an abuser and victim- turned-abuser. This serious topic is dealt with in a somewhat humorous manner. Humor is one way to counteract the negative behavior received from a victimizer who is oftentimes unable to change. You don't want them to know you are laughing about them, however. That will cause them to seek other means to upset you. Remember: they may actually be suffering just as much - if not more - as the "abusee." Also, although the language in the story is very rough, it is the way a lot of people may talk when they are under high, constant, and unavoidable stress. This form of release is done by many regardless of culture, creed, "class" or situation. However, some people just like to cuss Some explanations, descriptions, and suggestions on how to extricate from your life or avoid persons with the disorders discussed by the characters, are provided at the end of the story. Be well

Dear Reader/Instructor, While compiling this glossary, I found myself amused at the language and spellings and expect you may be, as well. However, I want you to know I am very serious regarding this endeavor. I feel The Magic Pencil will reach even the most recalcitrant of learners. The book is "sneakily didactic" wherein many life lessons will be imparted in an entertaining way. My overall intent is to get youth engaged by providing characters with whom they can identify. The Black Language Glossary is designed to help those who may not understand some of what Malcolm and other characters are saying. At first, I thought it wouldn't be necessary but after imagining a well-meaning "uninitiated" instructor being so vulnerable, I decided to release what I had created before publishing The Magic Pencil novel in 2009. I call this book Black Language Glossary because there is truly a black language that has been in use for centuries. It has its own rules, sounds, and consistencies. One should not view it as the slang of the times. Slang changes with the times - keeping the language fresh - but it does not change its roots. Not much of the "slanguage" has morphed since I wrote the novel - proving my contention that black language's roots are traditional, old, and deep. Keep in mind that many black people choose to use the language and are usually quite capable of speaking otherwise. Just as many choose not to use it but may understand it, regardless. Inflection, movement and body language play a huge part in the visually, aurally, and emotionally charged use of black language. Of course, this glossary barely touches upon the vastness of the language but it will get you through The Magic Pencil and perhaps pique your interest to learn more. It may help to remember Mark Twain's excellent ear for the different ways characters spoke in his stories, or to know that Shakespeare was writing for the 'common folk', and to pay closer attention to the ways other cultures code switch in the United States as well as around the world. Black language is as legitimate as any other as long as it is being used by someone. The slang blended with it sets trends and bends into new words that are gobbled up by the mainstream and 'spit' back to its creators and others, who continue to develop more...and the cycle repeats. It is my intention that you are able to make full use of these books. The Magic Pencil novel, its Curriculum Guide, and Glossary are timely and stimulating for the way our world has been impacted by different cultures. Using these three books will allow you, the educator, to discover depths your learners may have yet to reveal. With mirror books to window books: Help our youth see and soar Karen E. Dabney October 9, 2012 Ain't no half-steppin

Hello The Magic Pencil Curriculum Guide was prepared to accompany the engagingly didactic novel for youth, The Magic Pencil. "TMP" is the only book discussing African American English and code-switching from a young person's view point. The Magic Pencil is both a mirror book as well as a window book. It's purpose is to uplift and inspire youth toward greater literacy by letting them see themselves and their peers in literature. This Guide will help the instructor introduce the book almost immediately once she has it in her hands It summarizes each chapter with teaching suggestions and stimulating questions following. OBJECTIVES To encourage the uninspired, reluctant and discouraged reader to develop the desire to read for pleasure. To develop the desire to read for greater knowledge. To increase self-esteem; especially within African American/black youth. To remove the stigma applied to African American/black people when they use colloquial language. To recognize all people engage in this behavior. To understand that there are special and new words used when one is a part of a particular group (the language among computer technicians, for example) which may or may not become known among the general population. To increase vocabulary by creating a desire to know exactly what a particular word means and how it relates to what is occurring. To demonstrate the opportunities available by learning how to effectively navigate unfamiliar territory not just through "traditional" education. To honor the "first/home/community" language of the speaker and to realize s/he is articulate within that language. To, thereby, foster a willingness in the person to adopt other ways of speaking while retaining his or her present mode of speech -- if desired and needed. To become respectful and tolerant of the differences in others. To focus on the commonalities between self and others. To foster self-respect, self-determination and self-reliance. To learn how to constructively debate over preferences and beliefs. To learn to be empathetic towards another's problems. To work together for the greater good. To feel hopeful about the future. You will understand what the author's intentions are and will be able to mold them into what is best for your learners."

The Magic Pencil, a powerful novel for young adults, is the story of Malcolm Bakersfield and the star of his latest and greatest dream, Nia Stellar. Nia is "the new girl" at Gillespie School. Malcolm quickly notices she's definitely different from all of the other kids he knows. Malcolm becomes as mystified as Nia is mysterious. Many wonderful things continue to happen with Nia on the scene. She challenges Malc to be better than his best and he soon discovers amazing things about himself and the world We join Malcolm in his quest to discover the secret to the power of the pencil And we'll uncover hidden powers within ourselves, along the way. The Magic Pencil is also for the young at heart and is appreciated by all ages. It is the only book explaining from a young African American boy's viewpoint, that everyone speaks differently depending on their present audience and situation. I wrote the book especially to attract "uninspired readers" and guide them toward improving literacy, self-esteem and problem solving. There are many ways to teach and everyone must do their part. I don't believe we should be aiming toward producing "cookie cut" children. But we can all be about tailoring toward their varying needs as a COMMUNITY. The Magic Pencil provides suggestions and effective strategies for positive results in an "edutaining" way