Artie Knapp, Stuttering Stan Takes a Stand

excerpt

Stuttering Stan Takes a Stand

Author: Artie Knapp
Illustrator: Barbara Leonard Gibson
Publisher: Cincinnati Children’s
Hospital, 2008
Length: 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9821677-0-0
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The next day while taking a nap in a park, Stanley was awakened by the sound of two Blue Jays fighting over bread crumbs. Stanley smiled as he watched the Blue Jays, because it reminded him of competing for nuts back home with Earl.

“What are you looking at?” asked a sweet little voice from behind a park bench.

Stanley turned around and was surprised to see a little girl squirrel smiling at him.

“Hello,” said Stanley. “I’m ju.. just watching the birds.”

The little squirrel giggled, and then asked Stanley, “Why do you talk like that?”

“I have a pro.. pro.. problem saying words sometimes. Look, I’m not in the mood to be made fun of,” said Stanley sharply.

“I wasn’t making fun of you. I think it’s cute,” said the little squirrel.

“Everybody makes fun of the way I talk. What’s so c... c... cute about that?”

“Look, if it takes you a little longer to say what you want, there is nothing wrong with that. It’s what you say to others that really matters.”