Chapter 4: The End of Junk Food in Chow Town?
By Jon Labrousse
The morning recess bell rang, and the kids sluggishly wandered out to the playground in search of their candy fix. Sure enough, the same bright packages littered the playground. They sighed a collective sigh of relief and gathered them up hungrily.
“This tastes funny,” said Sugar Beet. “It’s, well, it’s not the same.”
“Totally,” said Potato. “I’m not eating it.”
Pumpkin and Butter Roll exchanged a glance and stepped into the circle of kids next to the slide.
“I …

Chapter 3: FoodFace Turns Another Cheek
by Jon Labrousse
On the playground at the elementary school, a group of children was huddled behind the backstop.
“Hurry up, Banana! The bells gonna ring,” Pumpkin chided.
“I’m just so out of breath,” Banana huffed. “Digging is hard work!” Banana dropped the shovel and fell back onto the ground behind him. Corn Cob stepped in to take his place.
“Ooh!” cried out Butter Roll, “I got a chocolate one.”
All the children turned their attention to her while Corn Cob kept digging. “Ooooh, it’s …

Chapter 2: FoodFace To the Rescue!
Snack Package was pleased. He leaned back in his executive chair as Hot Dog ran over the stats on his clipboard.
“It’s been two weeks, boss. We’ve increased deliveries by 400%, and have maintained a 100% consumption ratio.”
“They’re eating it up, boss!” said Corn Syrup. “Get it? Eating it up, cuz they’re— Ouch!” Corn Syrup rubbed the spot on his cap where the pencil had hit him.
Snack Package leaned forward in his chair. “How are things at home? Do …

By Jon Labrousse
The sun was just setting through the trees.  The jungle was growing darker with every passing moment, its deep green turning an even deeper black.  Shadows prevailed, and the once quiet jungle was coming to life with sound.  Cries, cackles and shuffling through the bushes quickly surrounded Jake and his band of adventurers.
Jake sat tall in his saddle, admiring the dying embers of light, with his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.  “Hurry up with that fire,” he commanded.  Evan had gathered a pile of sticks and …

Life is a full of tests: spelling tests, math tests, keeping secrets, karate belt tests, sword fights, retina scans…
Told well, even a story about a spelling test can show us something important, something interesting about a character.  Take Phyllis, for example.  She’s the worst speller in class.  For some reason, she always switches two of the letters in every word she writes, always the very two that make the word no word at all.  It drives her teacher, Mrs. Crumple, crazy.  What Mrs. Crumple doesn’t know is that every word …