Jessica Hershner, a fourth-grade teacher at North Hills Elementary, explained this submission in her e-mail: “My class is really glad April is almost over and they show this in their writing assignments entitled, April Really Bugs Me!”

April Butterfly
My bug is the April Butterfly. It’s a beautiful butterfly but sometimes is ugly. When it’s happy it is blue with green polka dots. When it is mad it’s red with black lines. The April Butterfly eats everything but jets and planes. Its eyes are as big as golf balls. My bug has big blue wings like the sky .You better not make my bug mad or else. — By Aalyah Acevedo

April Bugs Me
My crazy crawler is called the April Gator Shark crawler. The Gator Shark eats any thing that is bigger than him. His blood is green. The critter is as fast as a jet at running but hates the rain. Its home is made of sticks and leaves. Its razor sharp teeth can break a finger and cut flesh. The Gator Shark is as mean as a pit bull. This monster has hands as knives. There are only twenty in the world. If you see one get out of its way! — By Trevor Banks

April Really Bugs Me!
My bug is an Aprilfly. It is a girly bug when it comes to looks. Aprilflys are light and dark purple with black sparkles on their wings. When it comes to eating, an Aprilfly is like a boy because it eats spider eggs and cockroaches. An Aprilfly acts like a crazy bee sometimes because it goes flying around looking for food. It can be as crazy as a jumpy monkey. Now you are in warning for seeing one. — By: Olivia Bernoudy

The Aprilflower Bug
The Aprilflower bug eats humans and other things. They live in The United Bugs of Insectrica. They don’t bite but they have a nasty stinger like a big fat bumblebee. By the way your only chance of seeing one is one out of one million. They have skin like chameleons so WATCH OUT! They turn sun yellow, eggplant purple, ocean blue, flaming red, and carrot orange and hot pink. That is why you don’t want to ever, ever see an Aprilflower bug! — By Trevor Blood

April Spider
The April Spider really bugs me because the spider has eight hairy legs. It also feels weird when it climbs on you with its slimy body. The spider licks you with its hairy tongue that is as hairy as a bear’s back and it’s disgusting. You should stay a few feet from it or it will spit out water. That’s why April really bugs me. — By Jacob Broederdorf

April Really Bugs Me
My April bug is an April bee. It eats other insects and has sharp teeth for ripping into flesh. It looks like a regular bee, but it’s not. It’s a different kind of deadly bee. It has 12 legs, 6 wings, with two sharp stingers, and two pointy ears at the top of its head. The two sharp stingers are for shocking its prey. Then it kills it for its super, yummy dinner. The 6 wings are for flying high in the air. The April bee’s ears hear like a hawk. The strong little legs are for running really fast. The April bee looks as yellow as the sun. It is also the color black. That is my scary April bug.– By Mercedes Bryan

April Really Bugs Me
My April bug is an April worm because in the beginning of April my friends and I find lots of worms. I know worms aren’t really fast so if you see one don’t be scared. The April worm lives in the wet soil. The snake is the worm’s worst enemy because the snake is fast but the worm is slow. I also like worms because they scare the girls and that’s my most favorite part. The worm goes as slow as a sloth. I love April worms because they are good for the enviroment. — By Iyan Butler

Beware of the Aprilbee!
April really bugs me because of the Aprilbee. You wouldn’t want an Aprilbee to sting you because its stinger is like the size of a great White Shark’s tooth. Also you know a bee has black and yellow stripes, right? Well, the Aprilbee has red and green stripes. Crazy right? The Aprilbee eats worms. Yuck! It is big as a frog. The Aprilbee with thick red and thin green stripes is a male and the one with thick green and thin red stripes is a female. When a male stings you, the spot will turn red and if a female stings you, the spot will turn green. Beware of the Aprilbee! — By: Hao Dao

The Aprilhater
My bug’s name is The Aprilhater. She hates ALL boys! The Aprilhater chews on anything I don’t like. One thing I don’t like is my little brother and his friend, Austin. My bug gnaws on the skin on top of the heads. Then, my bug gnaws on the skull and starts eating the brain!
My bug likes to bite people when they’re asleep. Also, my bug likes to eat bees. My bug is like a hungry spider that hasn’t eaten since 2000! In the future, The Aprilhater might start biting cats. The Aprilhater already bites snakes, lizards, boys, spiders, and bees.
Boys, watch out, there’s a new bug in town! Her favorite toys are flies and ants. She is mostly red and black with orange spots.
My bug follows me anywhere I go even if I don’t want it to. It’s like my long, lost twin sister because my bug does whatever I tell it to. Hopefully, you don’t get bitten by this bug!– By: Marissa DeLeon

The Spring-Vampire
Did you know there is a bug called the spring-vampire? They are very close to extinction. There are only 2,000 left. It can fly 100 miles per hour! It can also flap its wings per second! Their teeth are sharp as a chain-saw! Their red eye makes you hypnotized if you stare at it too long! The most important thing you should know is that it sucks blood! So keep your eyes out for this mysterious bug! — By DJ Haas

April Really Bugs Me
The April mean bug is a bug that comes out on the first of April. This bug is about 7 inches long. It has 18 legs and 3 red diamonds on its back. This bug also has 3 red eyes. One eye is on its back and the other 2 are coming out of its head. This bug has 2 3-inch pinchers. This weird bug’s body is like a big oval. The bug’s color is black and red. This mean bug doesn’t fly. My bug also eats little rodents like mice and rats. When I saw this bug it seemed as scary as a big monster. That is why my April mean bug really bugs me. — By: Joey Holder

April Flea Eater
My bug is the April Flea Eater. It really doesn’t eat fleas. It eats animals and humans. Beware, this bug is the most dangerous in the world. Ooohhh I almost forgot, don’t disturb it or don’t destroy its home or it will hunt you down and eat you. It has sharp claws as sharp as knives. It can fly 9,000,000 feet high. It lives high in the mountains in a huge honeycomb. The color of the April Flea Eater is yellow, red, orange and black. This is the most dangerous bug in the world. — By: Cody Isachsen

April-Fly
My bug is the April-Fly. The April­Fly is very small. He’s small like a pea. You also have to beware because it bites. It looks like a little green speck. It flies as fast as a race car. He likes to eat ladybugs and leaves. They act like mini mean dogs. So one day you might be lucky enough to see the April-Fly. — By: Diane Judge

The Apriling
My bug is the Apriling. It looks like a fly, but it has hair, legs, and arms. My bug, the Apriling is orange and black like a panther with a red afro as big as my grandma’s. The Apriling only eats black and red ants. The Apriling’s favorite kind of ants are the red ants. The Apriling flies and sometimes bites. My weird bug, the Apriling, flies by its ears, which are HUGE!!!! My bug also bites with its little tiny teeth. So watch out for the flying, biting Apriling because it might not be a regular fly. — By: Kristina Landis

April Bugs!
My April bug is an Aprilflea. The thing that I like about it is it eats all the bugs that bother me. Even the ones that don’t bother me. It’s awesome! It looks likes a Beetle. It has a shell too. Its shell is colored orange, green, yellow, blue, red and brown. Its antlers are bright brown! Its shell has stripes on it. That’s Why April really bugs me. — By: Joshua Leighton

Aprilfly
April really bugs me because there is a bug known as the Aprilfly. It flies and bites. The Aprilfly is bright purple. It acts like a monkey ripping flesh. The Aprilfly lives in the United States of Bugerica. It is as mean as King-Kong. The Aprilfly’s main diet is people, hairy caterpillars, venomous snakes, frogs, toads and tarantulas. You don’t want to get bit by my bug. — By: Bryce Linz

The April Tree Bug
My bug is named the April Tree bug because it lives in trees and eats leaves. The April tree bug is as camouflaged as a pair of Army pants. Good luck trying to find my bug in the trees.– By Chloe Mann

April Really Bugs Me
My bug is big. It’s black and yellow. This bug eats other bugs. It also flies. They’re as big as your hand. Their wings are so big that they can fly 110 miles per hour! It has a very bad pinch. This bug has two big eyes. So watch out for the April bee! — By: Brandon Olschefski

April Really Bugs Me
April really bugs me because of the AprilAnacondas. All of them can slither fast, faster than a racecar going fast. Oh, also they can stand like a human and blend in with stuff. Also they have huge red fangs as red as flames. They have a blue tongue bluer than the ocean. The AprilAnacondas have a spitting hole that spits out water with poison in it. They can jump higher than a kangaroo. So, I wouldn’t even mess with it if I were you. They also bite girls. So watch out girls it’s coming after you. — By: Andrew Reever

The April Fool
The April fool has seven legs and is purple. It eats ants and can fly. It lives in Hawaii. Its job is to bug annoying little sisters and stings your math teacher. It has racing stripes and a green horn on its head. It flies as fast as a bird. It is a cool bug so don’t mess with the April fool. — By: Cole Sminkey

April Really Bugs Me
April really bugs me! There are bugs known as the June bug and the Mayfly. Have you ever heard of the April Stink bug? Ewww! Sounds gross, huh? The April Stink Bug looks like a dead leaf. The April Stink Bug will bite you if you mess with it! The April Stink Bug is brown. If you kill it, it will stink for a while. Black stuff will come out of the April Stink bug when you kill it. When you kill the April Stink Bug it smells like the sewer. The April Stink Bug eats ants, flies, and other little insects. THAT’S WHY APRIL REALLY BUGS ME!!!!!!!! — By Kaitlin Warnecke

April Really Bugs Me
My bug is called the Aprilbite. The Aprilbite looks like a bee and its stinger looks like a needle. The Aprilbite eats grass and drinks poison. It lives in a lagoon and sleeps on a tiny sandwich. So watch out for the Aprilbite. — By: Lindsey Williams

The Aprilearwig Bugs Me A Lot
My worst pest of April is a bug with the name Aprilearwig. An Aprilearwig is as mean and nasty as a big killer whale. He bites you with his pinchers and poison gets inside you. Then the big bug somehow crawls inside you and makes you sick. Raaaaaaa!!! He¹s coming to get you! He¹s eating you alive. When he eats you alive you turn stiff and green. One other fact is that this bug can change colors. Its colors are fiery red, ocean blue, poison purple, bumblebee yellow, grassy green, pumpkin orange and dirty brown. Watch out they’ll give you nightmares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes you get mixed up with its head and the bottom of it. So keep your distance and stay away from the Aprilearwig!!! — By Cheyenne Zeamer

Fourth-graders in Jim Fahringer’s class at North Hills Elementary School wrote stories about their most prized presents.

The Best Gift Ever
By Cole Bailey
RIP, TEAR! I opened my last present. I had already gotten a remote control racecar, football cards, candy, two DS games, and a notebook. So I didn’t know what to expect. As I looked at it, I was speechless.
My mom asked me…“Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
“Are you lying?”
“No.”
I was so excited! When we were all done opening our presents I zoomed upstairs as fast as a cheetah so I could play my new video game for my Play Station Two. The game was” Madden 10”. It is called “Madden 10” because of the famous commentator Joe Madden. In “Madden 10” you can play tournaments, mini games and other really cool things.
The morning after Christmas, I was still up. I had played two games on my “Play Station II”. One was with the Ravens and Steelers. I controlled the Ravens and won 105 to 35. The other one was with the Saints and the Browns. I picked the Saints and won 86 to 7.
When I came downstairs the next morning with blood shot eyes, my mom yelled at me for staying up all night and playing “Madden 10”. I had to go to school without any sleep and with blood shot eyes. I was really tired the whole day. But I didn’t care, it was still my best present ever!

The Best Gift Ever
By Molly Bruner
Crinkle, Crackle, Crinkle Crackle! “Oh my gosh, oh Grandma it’s as beautiful as the most beautiful butterfly you could ever see.” It was a giant dollhouse. It was so big that my little sister could fit in the living room on the bottom floor. This is the best present because my grandma and grandpa and mom and dad helped build it with their own hands. The reason why it is very special to me is because my grandma has died of cancer. It means so much to me now. So I try to take care of it even though it is sort of falling apart. I asked my dad if he could glue the top and one of the chandeliers back on.
I miss my grandma so much I would do almost any thing to see her again. I am very thankful for my family. Now I always play in the dollhouse and my sister and I pretend to be neighbors. We have competitions and races. Even though I win, I say she wins to make her feel good. The owner of the house is my little sea horses from My Littlest Pet Shop. I invite my sister’s pets over to play. The house has a living room, guest room, kitchen, an attic, and a bathroom. I love my large wooden doll house. It reminds me of my grandmother. I loved her like she was my own mother. I am very thankful for my family that is alive and dead and this special present that they gave me three years ago.

The Best Gift Ever
By Erin Cabry
“Rip rip, Mom, Dad I got a…” My dog, Miley grabbed my present. We had to run all over the house to catch her. She ran as fast as a cheetah running to catch it’s prey. I finally got the present back. I was glad that there wasn’t not any teeth marks on it. There was slobber all over it. “Mom, look I got a…”
My brother yelled, “I got a fire truck!” He was hugging my mom for joy. (Even though my mom didn’t buy it for him). My mom said giggling. “It was from Santa.”
All of a sudden my sister screamed, “I got a stuffed animal monkey!” She was unwrapping her presents upstairs. Then my mom looked at me and she saw something in my hand. She asked me what was in my hand so I said it was my I-pod Nano. That is why my blue I-pod Nano is the best gift ever.

The Best Gift Ever
By Daniel Escobar
I woke up and it was Christmas. I got the Xbox 360. It is really cool. Two of the games that came with it were called “Naruto” and “Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 2”. “Call of Duty” is really fun. In the game you are in the army and the missions are fun. Towards the end of the game you find your captain. He is a hostage because the leader of the army was bad. When you find Captain Price, you have to stop the leader of the bad army. It is really an interesting game. One of the parts of the game is where you are in Washington D.C. and a nuclear bomb explodes and you go in the White House and look to see if there are any survivors and begin to investigate. There are mini missions called “Spec Ops”. There is a game where there are guys with a lot of armor and you have to capture them. Sometimes the enemy team sends out 15 soldiers with 15 layers of armor on them and you have to defeat them. When you have a sniper you have to look quick so you can shoot the head of the enemy soldier. There are 39 missions in the game. You can also play online. I am rank 65 and have a lot of weapons. One of the weapons that I don’t have yet is the Ak-47. That’s the only one left, and I need to be rank 70 to get it. Well, that’s it, the best gift I ever got, my Xbox 360 “Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 2.

The Best Christmas Present!
By Lauryn Carrington
“This looks awesome!” I said when I looked under the Christmas tree for a good present to open. I saw a big present. We tore it open like an animal tearing opening its prey. “It’s a Wii!” I said. I say to my mom, “I’m going to love this forever!” “But did the Wii come with games,” I thought? It did! It come with two games, Mario Kart, and Wii Sports.
Our family loves our Wii! Now I play with it on weekends a lot. We bought some games and some of them are: “Animal Crossing City Folk”, “My Sims Kingdom”, “My Sims”, “Lego Star Wars”, “Lego Indiana Jones”, and “Wii Sports”. My most favorite game is “Animal Crossing City Folk”. It is about living on your own and you have animals for a neighbor! Then my second favorite game is “My Sims Kingdom”. I have played it three times! Now I love to play my Wii so much that it’s like part of the family. If you get one will you like it?
So what is your favorite Christmas present you got for Christmas?

The Best Gift Ever
By Timothy Completa
What holds a pet and contains water? To find out, keep reading.
Last year on Christmas Eve I drove to my dad’s house for Christmas and I got the best Christmas present ever. On Christmas morning I ran over to my dad’s bed and woke him up. Then we ran upstairs to the living room where the tree was on the tree stand. I saw one HUGE present with red wrapping paper. It was so big it wouldn’t fit under the tree, and I’m not just talking about the present, the ribbon was also HUGE. I ran over to the HUGE present and my dad saw me running over to it. “WAIT save it until last,” my dad yelled.
Unfortunately I had to wait till my sister opened her presents. Then I got to open the HUGE present. Finally I found out that it was a fish tank. I really liked my present. Later I bought four or five fish. That was my favorite Christmas present and my favorite Christmas ever.

My Best Gift Ever
By Gavin Downey
“Rip, rip, rip, rip, tear, tear. ” Opening my present, I kept thinking, “What could it be?” It was a TV for my Wii for my room! Even though it’s small, my TV will be awesome because it came with a cool stand and a remote that looks cool! It is about 18 inches wide, I think! It was the second biggest present for me! My biggest present was actually a guitar.
I still use the TV a lot because it is awesome. I like that TV the most because I finally have a TV in my room! It is cool and I am very happy that I got it! I will never forget it because it means a lot to me and I thought that I would never get a TV in my room for anything. Now that I got it, I am more happy than a guy who get his favorite meal in four seconds!
The TV is my favorite present of all time! It was the best gift I ever received in the whole wide world!

My Best Gift Ever
By Isaac Embry
Two days before my birthday on a Sunday morning I was thinking to myself, ”I wonder what’s in that box in Mom’s car! It’s my birthday today and I‘m finally going to know what’s in that box.” My eyes were closed for a couple seconds then I started ripping the paper. I opened my eyes and saw it was the CS-6 Nerf Blaster! I was happier than a baby on Christmas. With some big scissors I cut the cardboard and plastic and started putting it together. After I was done it looked awesome. So I took two empty soda bottles and used them as targets. The first dart missed, but my second one hit it right smack dab in the middle. This was my favorite birthday present ever because it’s fun to play with and it’s from my parents. What’s you’re favorite birthday present?

My Best Present Ever
By Kollinn George
“Wow that was not fair, like life! Man Peach won the race. I still am winning 20 to 18 by race points. Yes, it is the final racing place. Now what, Peach? Sorry about that. So do you want to know why I like it? On my eighth birthday my parents bought it for me but I did not want it. At home I tried it and it rocked. Now I respect it because my parents gave it from their heart. The game is helping me get ready for my racing career.
So, now do you want to know how I got it. We were at Chucky Cheese on my eighth birthday. Everyone had chocolate cake. Also inside the cake was chocolate filling and it was delicious. Then it was time to open presents. It was close to the last one. The game was Mario Kart for DS. Happily, I learned never to judge anything by its cover.

My Best Gift Ever
By Hannah Grigg
“Theresa you gave me…” My sentence was cut off because my mom brought out the birthday cake. Everybody started singing Happy birthday! They sang Happy birthday as fast as you can say, “Every single monster is weird”. After I blew out the candles, I finished my sentence. You gave me straw glasses. When you drink through it, it goes around your ear, then around your eyes, then around your other ear, then into your mouth. I love that gift really much. I still use that gift till this very day. That was my most favorite present ever! What is yours?

My Best Gift Ever
By Ben Herbert
“Holey Moley Quackamoley!!!” That was one of my crazy languages I use when I’m surprised. Today was my birthday and I was just taking it easy when my dad walked in with a big thing wrapped up in paper, I was NOT taking it easy. I jumped up and ran as fast as Sonic, The Hedgehog, to get a close-up. And here was my reaction…
“WHHHHOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAA!!! That is a birthday present!?” My dad said it wasn’t just any birthday present, it was MY birthday present. When it was present time, I decided to save the best one for last. All the other presents were t-shirts, jeans, socks, Pokeman, Bakugan, Hotwheels, Legos, and underwear. I just hope Dad doesn’t put pictures of me holding boxers on Facebook.
So here it is, the Grand Finale, I opened it. RIP! TEAR! I gasped, “A BIKE”!!! That’s right. It was a very tall new bike that was just my size! ZOOM!!! I blasted outside and I rode it. The reason why I like it is because it didn’t make me look like an oversized four year old.

The Best Present Ever
By Nolan High
Woops the Wii remote fell out of my hands. “Hey I didn’t see you there. Guess what? OH, you want to know what I got for Christmas. I received the new game ‘Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games.’ I’m more excited that I got this game than a lion that gets his favorite food because it has my favorite character, Sonic. I liked this game the most. Also, I like it because it’s exciting to play on multi-player. When I saw it on the commercial it looked so cool and I wanted it more than a snake wants mice. My favorite game on “Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games” is pinball because I beat everybody. That is the best game I ever received. What is the best game you ever received?

The Best Present Ever!
By Philip Johnson
“Wake up,” my brother, Ian, screamed! Then we sprinted as fast as a cheetah to open our presents. When we opened the first present it turned out to be a new Wii with four controllers. “That is so cool”, I said. The only game in the box was “Wii Sports”. So far we’ve had it for four years and it is an amazing game!! The game is very much fun because it has all sorts of games like tennis, baseball, golf, boxing, and bowling but no football. It really stunk that it didn’t have football but my favorite on the Wii is baseball. It was the coolest present ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Best Present Ever
By Meghan Kent
Tear, rip, open! Tear, rip, open! Tear, rip, open! That cycle went on over and over for about 20 times before I finally got to the best present. Oh, and I ripped through that paper faster than you can say, “Sister Sue sitting on sharp stuff!”
“That’s the last of the paper and boxes,” I said in excitement as I looked down to find a small silver and white box.
“Do you like it,” my granny asked cheerily?
“I…I…I…I love it, more than I love food or, or, or…,” I just could not say the words I needed to say. I love my new ipod,” I beamed in excitement!
I love this present because a loved one gave it to me, not just any loved one, but my granny!
I listen to it all the time because of my granny. If it wasn’t for her I would not have what I have today, an ipod, the greatest gift ever!

The Best Gift Ever
By Elizabeth Koimene
“Crumble , Crumble, Crumble!”
“Did you hear that Sis?” I said excitedly
“No, now go to bed,’’ said my sister.
“Fine.” So I went to bed.
The next morning, I ran downstairs and tried to find the presents, but my parents hid them. They said that I had to wait till it’s the middle of the day to open my presents. So I waited until it was the middle of the day and I zipped over to the tree faster than an African cheetah. Then, I ripped it open and found a … Wii. I was jumping and shouting because I was so happy. I still use it to this day because it reminds me of my parents when they go somewhere far away. I will never forget that glorious day when I got my WII — the best Christmas present ever!

The Best Gift Ever
By Alec Leese
“Screech, screech get out of my way, you drive like my grandma! Yeah, you do! Low on battery, what! See if you can guess what I got for my birthday?” Well, if you guessed a laptop, you are correct! There are many programs on my Mac or if you call it Apple. My favorite part is the Internet where I can play any game I search. Since it is up to date it goes as fast as a cheetah. I can also make movies but let’s get on to the good part.
Well, I really wanted my own laptop for a long time because I would always ask my parents if I could use theirs. Sometimes I would be able to use theirs but many times they would be working and I would not be able to. So finally they saved up and bought me a laptop. So, guess what? On my birthday I received the laptop and I was so undeserving. You may ask why do you feel so undeserving for your gift! Well, I felt that I did not deserve this gift. I know I am really glad that I have that laptop, but since my brothers don’t have one, I guess I will share even though my laptop is the best gift I ever received.

My Best Gift Ever!
By Josh Metzger
“Hurray the presents are here! WOW! That’s a small present! It looks as small as a Rabbit but as long as a ferret.” The present said, “To Josh & Jacob, from Grandpa.” I opened the present. It was a “Play Station Two”! I shoved it into the TV, plugged it into the power plug and I started playing. I played this game called, “Ratchet & Clank”. By the time the day was over, I was on level four. It was the best present because it was my first game system. What was the favorite present you ever got?

The Greatest Gift I Ever Got
By Taylor Morgenegg
“Is that who I think it is? Could it really be? No, it couldn’t be.” I closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep, but excitement poured out of me like the water in a sink faucet. Then as soon as I knew it I was asleep again.
I woke up to my brother, Jake, yelling at me. I answered in a slow voice and walked downstairs to see my Christmas tree flooded with presents like a sea of fish. But then I smelled warm buttery cinnamon sticky buns. Then I took one out of the tin foil and bit into it. Buttery cinnamon dough slid down my throat. Mom and Dad said We could open one of the presents. My brother replied, “I already opened one of my presents,” as another piece of the cinnamon bun slid down my throat. I quickly opened a small but heavy present. In it I saw an “ipod”. “Yes!”
My mom and dad walked down the stairs. “Thank you! Thank you! This is the greatest gift I ever got.” I wanted this present because I like to listen to music and play games. I couldn’t wait to down load music on it. It’s also my favorite color witch is blue. This is the greatest gift ever?

The Best Gift Ever
By Harini Narayan
What was the best gift you ever received? My tenth birthday, which was last November, was my favorite birthday so far because my parents ordered me a digital piano! It’s dark brown like chocolate with one of those sliding openings and it has 14 different sounds. In addition to that, you can combine two different sounds at the same time. It has a metronome, a demo sound, and you can record yourself playing. The digital piano has two different slots to hold your recorded songs. A stand is also built in, so I wouldn’t have to use my old metal one. Before I got my piano, I had a keyboard, and it didn’t have all the things that my new piano has. My piano is my favorite present of all presents I ever received.
What’s yours?

My Best Gift Ever
By Jonathan Nemtuda
Today is Christmas morning! I darted downstairs. As soon as I got a glimpse of those fantastic, big presents, I knew which one would be the best. Well, I saved that one for last. After I opened every present I opened the biggest and last present which was about as big as school desk.
Rip! Tear! Rip! “It’s a Wii!” This is the best present because most of my friends had one. It was kind of annoying that I didn’t have one. Also the Wii was one of the newest game systems around. It’s pretty hard to get. You should also know that it plays Game Cube games too, so I can get rid of my Game Cube. It also came with three games, Mario Party 8, Wii Play and Wii sports! I’m going to play the Wii right now, and I’m going to ask you, what is your best present ever?

The Best Present Ever
By Makeda Ramnath
Do you want to know what my best present ever was? No, Well I’ll tell you anyways. It all started on a Sunday night, when I got my $50 gift card. I love this present because my parents had to spend $50 just for me.
The next day I shopped. That day we drove to the store. I picked out my own outfit. In the store I found a skirt and a lot of shirts. Also, I grabbed two pairs of jeans. As soon as I grabbed the two pairs of jeans I ran as fast as a cheetah running to catch its prey into the dressing room because I was so excited!
“Makeda hurry up,” my mom said after about five to six minutes.
“OK,” I said.
I came out and my mom said, “Wow, you look amazing.” I love this present because $50 is a lot of money. It’s a lot of money because my parents could have spent it on food , clothes, and/or bills. But instead they spent the $50 just on me for my birthday present. That’s why I think this is the best present ever! What’s your best gift ever?

My Best Gift Ever
By Yazmine Velazquez
What was the best gift you ever received? Well, mine was a… well, I don’t want to spoil the story by telling you too early! So, if you want to know, read my story.
“IT’S CHRISTMAS!” my seven year old sister screamed as we both ran down the stairs as fast as a roller coaster in an amusement park! My mom, dad, and baby sister sleepily walked down and we all admired the gifts under the tree.
“Can we open them now?” I asked.
“Sure,” said my mom as my sisters ran to the tree and started tearing open the gifts with their names on them.
“Oh! look at this neatly wrapped gift! My name is on it along with the sparkling wrapping paper with Santa Claus on it,” I said excitedly! I ripped the paper open and guess what I saw? Go ahead, guess! You don’t have an answer? Okay. It was a NINTENDO DS!!! It was dark pink and came with a teal blue DS case and three swirling DS pens. I loved that gift! It was from my Mammaw. So I called her to say thank you. Well, there you have it! The best gift I ever received.

The Best Gift Ever
By Brandon Wivagg
“What do you think it is, Connor,” I asked?
“I don’t know, but it’s small,” my brother said. Rip! I was surprised by the gift we received. It was a Wii. We ran around everywhere.
“Wait! You have to open the rest of the presents before you play with the Wii.”
So we did. Then my dad hooked up the Wii. We played Wii sports. I won every game but baseball because Connor hit a home run every time. If it was Connor vs. Babe Ruth he would win 999,999,999 to 0 because he’s so good. He could win a game faster then a cat can climb a tree. Now Connor and I know what the gift is and it’s the greatest gift ever!

Students in Jim Fahringer’s fourth-grade class at North Hills Elementary wrote poems entitled, “Looking Out My January Window.”

Looking Out My January Window!
By Erin Cabry

Soft cottony snow falling from the sky
Icicles hanging from roofs like stalagtites
Kids, like groundhogs, crawling through the snow
Kids having snowball fights.

Large black shovels throwing snow around
Kids sledding down slippery hills
Footprints ruining the perfect white carpet of snow
The hardest thing is the heating bills.

Cars stuck in the icy white snow
Snow plows blowing snow like a turning merry-go-round
From the chimneys, smoke rising like the smoke from Santa’s pipe
In the snow, dogs jumping all around.

A blizzard spinning in a circle
A trampoline covered in snow
Ice as slippery as can be
A car driving very slow.

People walking holding hot chocolate
Steam rising from the cup
Kids sledding down a huge hill
Kids throwing snow up.

The shining lights still up from Christmas
The gray sky with snow dancing fast
A slide covered with white fluffy snow
Children running inside at last.

Looking Out My January Window.
By Cole Bailey

I see evergreens in the snow
All the lights and all the decorations.
The day goes so slow
I can’t see any grass on the ground

From the gray sky it starts to snow
The kids come rushing
The ice stops the water’s flow
Snowmen waving at me.

I see kids building igloos
We’re taking down our tree
Someone blew a fuse
When they took the lights down.

I see Lawns of white
December is over
It’s a beautiful sight
But the kids still play.

Snowballs on the ground
Snow angels too
The kids are still snowbound
There’s joy in the air

People playing everywhere
There’s laughter all around
They fall but they don’t care
Later kids will have hot cocoa.

Looking Out My January Window
By Molly Bruner

Looking out my January window
My eyes spot sparkling snow
I can see kids building an igloo
Snow covered branches are bending low

Now the kids build a snowman
The sky is as gray as an elephant
Kids are having a snow party
It is like a treasure hunt

Other kids sledding
They build snow forts
And throw snowballs
Then they play snow sports

Parents are shoveling snow
There are some bare trees
I see clouds in the gray sky
Kids building igloos on their knees

I see some ice on the road
There is ice on cars
I see frosted pine trees
And ice on monkey bars

I can see sled tracks
There are some hills of snow
I can see dead plants
And some snow getting a good blow

Looking Out My January Window
By Lauryn Carrington

Looking out my January window,
I see snowmen in the pure white snow,
Children sledding on one big snowy hill,
Snow flakes dancing on their faces all low.

Looking out my January window,
All I see are houses covered in snow,
I see the smoke coming out of chimneys,
Crystal clear icicles hanging on roofs all aglow.

Looking out my January window,
I see bushes covered in snow and ice,
Snow covered trees,
Dogs in a yard scratching as if they have lice.

Looking out my January window,
I see shovels on a snowy driveway,
A real big snowplow,
Some kids skating on a frozen bay.

Looking out my January window,
I see kids drinking hot steaming cocoa,
Which flows to their stomach,
Making them to start jumping and loco.

Looking out my January window,
I see kids playing in a snowball fight,
Others making huge fluffy white snow forts,
They will see the morning light.

Looking Out My January Window
By Timothy Completa

Looking out my January window
I see trees all covered in snow
All the trees are hanging low
And the trees have no leaves

Swirling like a merry-go-round it goes
Snow is white and fun
And when a snow blower comes, around it blows
I love sledding in the snow.

Ice is slippery and fun
People love to slide on it
But when they slide on it they always hit their bun
I love the ice

I love making snowballs
Especially big ones
And when I hit people I make big falls
I love snow

I see skiers skiing
A full moon glistening on the snow
Bundled up kids zooming down the hill on their snowboards without seeing
If you trip, in the high and fluffy snow you will go

I love snow
When it is good for packing you can make snow forts
Lovely plump snowmen all aglow
Standing guard in my white yard

Looking Out My January Window
By Gavin Downey

When I look out my January window,
I see roofs covered with snow,
Snow plowing and deep gray clouds,
A beautiful white carpet of snow below.

People using shovels,
All over drive ways,
Snow plows scooping the snow,
All of the winter days.

Rounding up snowballs,
That I am going to throw,
We will have our snowball fight,
Next to piles of snow.

Now I smell hot cocoa,
When I am at the window,
But now I only see,
The window covered in snow.

Dead flowers cover the ground,
Next to snowmen,
As all the kids play,
Right next to my friend Ben.

I smell lots of hot cocoa,
On a dinner table,
As I want to drink it,
I try to be stable.

Looking Out My January Window
By Isaac Embry

Looking out my January window I see
Icicles falling from a tree ever so slightly,
A beautiful white snow statue,
That looked like Kyra Knightly.

When I look out the window
I see dark clouds moving in a big fusion
And causing lots of confusion,
Then I thought, it’s just an illusion.

Outside my January window
I see little snowflakes falling from the sky
Foxes looking very sly,
And snowballs hitting kids in the eye.

On the frostbiting edges of my January window
I see shiny streams glistening in the light ,
People shoveling their driveways
Taking the pain of a sensational frostbite.

Looking through the foggy mist of my January window I see,
Little kids running with glee,
Snowmen being created.
Dogs playing so happily.

Sorry to say, my poem is done,
Please don’t be mad, I’ll write another one.
So go outside and have some fun
Keep your eyes open to find the next one.

Looking Out My January Window
By Daniel Escobar

I see snow falling like cotton
Icicles hanging like stalagmites
Gray skies covering the earth
Kids having snowball fights

Swirling like a merry go round
Icicles glinting like shining light
In the sky
The light is very bright

Kids play outside
Making a snowman
Watching the frozen slides
Snow, like ice cream, on top of the trashcan

Kids wake up in the morning
Anxious to go outside where the icicles are hanging
On top of the hill
On the sled riding

Going fast, turning
Left, right, not crashing
Kids yell and scream
Happy sledding laughing

So much fun the kids are having
They have hot chocolate for a nice drink
When they go outside it is cold, inside is warm
When they step in the snow sometimes they sink.

Looking Out My January Window
By Kollinn George

I feel something like snow
My friend is out there
Snow is falling on him
Covering him everywhere

An avalanche is coming
Everyone surfed it
Down goes the mountain
Moving bit by bit

Snow angels everywhere I see
So far I see six
I see a sled flying
Falling ice also sticks

I am sitting by the fire
I feel the warm heat
I hear something like a hammer
Something like a beat

The trees are covered in snow
My whole yard is white now
The road is white also
Now the road plow

A five foot snowman
With a black hat
Also a black scarf
With a middle like a fat back

Looking Out My January Window
By Hannah Grigg

I see lots of snow
Snow laden evergreen trees
Everybody is wearing coats
While skiing on their skis

Kids drinking hot chocolate like dogs
Kids picking up dead flowers
Everyone is wearing a hat
In the distance I hear snow plowers

Dreary gray empty skies
Kids are having a snowball fight
Kids are rolling in the snow
Snow plowers go out-of-sight

I see decorations from Christmas
Kids are building lots of igloos
Everyone is wearing scarves
And protecting their cold feet with gumshoes

Snowflakes fall from the sky like cotton
Kids are playing in the snow
Icicles hanging from cars
Kids walking through the snow slow

I see clouds moving in the sky
There are lots of pine trees swaying around
Kids are sledding down steep hills like rockets
I see shovels shoveling on the ground

Looking Out My Window
By Benjamin Herbert

When I look out my the window,
I see snow on the ground.
North, south, east, and west,
Snow all around.

When I look out the window,
I see a frozen pond.
Snow dancing in the breeze,
What’s next? James Bond?

When I look out the window,
I see no animals.
Except in the woods,
I see quite a few mammals.

When I look out the window,
Hoping January never ends.
Loving January so much
Wishing it was my best friend

When I look out the window,
I see dead trees.
And up high in the sky,
I see a nest of hibernating bees.

When I look out my window,
I see my snowman
With one big top hat
I named him Dan.

Looking Out My January Window
By Nolan High

Looking out my January window
I see snow piled high
Kids with their sleds close by
Icicles falling from the sky

Enormous snowball fights
All leaves with frostbite
Kids making a snowman
Kids in their bed at night

Snow falling from the sky
Hot cocoa being slurped down
Birds flying south for warmth
Gloves that are never found

Snow falling that day
The news says snow all day long
Snow falling all around town
Birds singing a song

People sitting next to a fire
Kids sledding down enormous hills
Bears sleeping through the winter
Kids getting the chills

Schools closed for the day
Kids rushing through the snow
Mom cooking a turkey diner
Kids watching their favorite TV show

My January Window
By Philip Johnson

Looking out my January window
All I see is snow
The snow is very white
Hey! Is that a crow?

There is also some headwear
These are called hats
But my hat is frozen
At least there are no gnats

I see a pointy object
Hanging from a neighbor’s house
The frozen water turned into an icicle
Drifted snow and ice covered my tree house

There’s an animal outside
It is a furry dog
The dog starts to shiver
Well, at least there isn’t a Hog

That thing is cool
Well, it’s a snow fort
For your snowball fights
Hey, it looks like a snow court

Hey, look at that snowperson
Or a carrot nosed snowman
He has warm things on
Hey, look it’s the snow blower man

Looking Out My January Window!
By Meghan Kent

When I look out my January window
I see the leaves falling with the wind,
I remember when it snowed long ago.
The kids are having snowball fights

Still looking out,
I see dog tracks in the snow
Kids running about
And slippery roads of ice.

Sleigh tracks in the snow
Light flakes of snowfall
Sleigh rides on the hill also
Wet gloves and scarves.

Cold children wanting hot cocoa
Dogsled races
People going Loco!
Don’t forget the snow-coved windows.

The decorations still hung,
Lights still on the trees
The baby out there in the snow, so young!
Cars stuck in the snow.

The brightly lighted Christmas tree
Footprints in the deep snow
The temperature feels like one degree
And sadly January is over!

Looking Out My January Window
By Elizabeth Koimene

Looking out my January window
Happy kids are playing in the snow
A big dead tree with fallen branches
Sun sparkling on snow like a rainbow

Looking out my January window
I see frozen grass
Icicles and frozen bicycles
And streets as smooth as shiny glass

Looking out my January window
I see a gray open sky
Shivering kids in a snowball fight
Cold birds in trees singing a lullaby

Looking out my January window
Icy glistening snow rolls down a stream
Looking like gold specks of dust that fell from Heaven
Pine trees with hats of snow like whipped cream

Looking out my January window
Stars twinkling in the midnight blue
The full moon reflecting on the shiny snow
A screeching owl catching my view

Looking out my January window
I see dripping water turning to ice
And cold animals crying
In a pure crystal paradise

Looking Out My January Window
By Alec Leese

When I look out my January window
I see sparkling snow with kids and lights
Walking in the snow feels like you’re in an under tow
I see boys having snowball fights

I see smoke coming from the chimneys of the homes,
Peoples’ breath turning to fog
Someone chopping a log
There goes a jumping and a playful dog

Dead trees at the end of our road
People singing carols and having fun
Kids sledding down the hill
A little boy eating a cinnamon bun

Scampering through the snow goes a hare
Also a shiny silvery pond
Snow covered mountains like vanilla ice cream cones
The cold wild deer might bond

Mmmm … I smell cookies
The bright sparkling stars are coming out
The bright twinkling Christmas lights are all gone
Is Christmas over, I doubt

Now kids and adults are home
Lights are going down
So now the neighborhood is pitch black
Its time to go to my loft

Looking Out My January
By Josh Metzger

I look out the window
And see a little snow
I hear the snow blow
And see someone shoot a bow

I want a snowman
I see a kid sledding
Walking in the snow, I see a tall man
And hear a deer bedding

I see the snowflakes
I feel one on my tongue
A little boy slipped on the ice
The icy cold stung

I hear the cracking of dead trees
I see a frozen garbage can
I can’t see any leaves
But I see a little shivering man

I see ice on the road
I see the snow plow
I look at the gray sky
A little girl fell and said “ow”

I see a pile of snow
A person shoveled the driveway
I see a snowflake
Is that snow plow coming my way?

Looking Out My January Window
By Taylor Morgenegg

Looking out my January window
I see Corgis sniffing the frozen ground,
Icicles dripping down,
And kids are running around.

Looking out my January window I see
Frozen ponds glistening in the breeze,
Snow falling like crazy,
I sneeze in the freeze.

Looking out my January window I see
A snowman in the frosty freezes,
A button nose,
And a breezy Snow freezes.

Looking out my January window I see
A St. Bernard sniffing in the snow.
When I look through my Neighbor’s window,
I see a plate of Cookie dough.

Looking out my January window
I see a frozen stream,
Snowy trees,
And a sunny snow beam.

Looking out my January window,
I see a gray sky,
And dead flowers in the snow.
I smell warm pie.

My January Window
By Harini Narayan

When I look outside my January window,
This is what I see.
Snowball fights, decoration lights,
Kids screaming with glee.

Smoke coming out of the chimney,
People shoveling snow,
I see bare trees and wilting flowers,
When I look below.

Icicles hanging from the roof,
Shovels and snow plowers doing some work,
When the gray skies turn pitch black,
The cats begin to lurk.

Hot cocoa sits invitingly on the table,
After a snowy day.
Snowmen and fort building,
And slipping on the icy driveway.

Christmas trees lighting up the house,
Skating on the frozen pond below,
Looking at the snow-covered buildings,
Dogs digging in the snow.

Warm gingerbread cookies,
Waiting to be munched on,
Look out the window tomorrow,
All the snow will be gone.

Looking Out my January Window
By Jonathan Nemtuda

Looking out my January window
I see shovels lying around,
There are footprints in the snow
Our snowman not looking very round?

I see an igloo and a snow fort
Some snowflakes falling to the ground
There are lots of dark clouds,
And some icicles on the gutter are found.

I see my mom’s car sliding down the driveway
Kids ice skating on a frozen pond
Along with some kids sledding
Some snowflakes swaying around like a magic wand.

Some kids making a snowman,
I see a car stuck in the snow.
There’s smoke coming from my chimney
I saw a snowman wearing a bow.

Snow swirling like a tornado,
And some leftover Christmas lights
Kids sipping some hot cocoa
And some kids having a snowball fight.

I see some kids shivering in the cold,
Also my mom’s car covered in snow
I feel the cold air coming from a slightly open window.
And heading south is a big old crow.

My January Window
By Makeda Ramnath

Looking out my window I see a tree bending down low for me.
While the falling snow sparkles so wonderfully and shiny.
It glanced at me and showed me the decorations on the pine tree
Their lights are so bright and sparkly.

Snowflakes and bare trees look at me so crazily.
Husky dogs barking in my backyard.
At night chimney smoke makes me feel so cozy when the moon makes it as bright as a summer’s night.
Running through the snow is a big St. Bernard.

Kids ice-skating in the road.
I think one of them hit a toad.
Kids slipping and sliding, having such a great time
Hearing the Christmas chimes but one of the chimes fell on the road.

I see sparkly snowmen so pretty.
I see people on the street called mimes.
Kids drinking hot chocolate and there’s smoke from the chimney top.
The smoke from the burning chimney smells so good at night, sometimes.

I see icicles and frozen grounds.
There are snow angels all over the ground.
The dead flowers don’t look so pretty anymore.
There are some hares from under ground but they don’t make a sound.

Icicles hit someone’s head and it sounded like a chime but now they’re fine.
Outside my window I see some ice falling from dead trees making a big snow pile.
I see kids that slid and broke a bone, I think they went home.
Know we have to wait a long while.

Looking Out My January Window
By Yazmine Velazquez

Looking out my January window
I see a kid, a sled
A green pine tree on a hill,
And a snow covered house painted red.

A gray squirrel, a husky dog
Benches covered in snow.
I also see a snow plow
As I watch the wind blow.

Icicles hanging, bushes blowing,
And a dark gray sky.
A white tailed deer, some sticks from trees.
And a skater skated by.

Smoke from people’s chimneys,
Houses covered in sparkling snow.
Frozen ponds shine and glisten
As I watch evergreens grow.

In the dark gray sky I see
Twinkling multi-colored lights
Shining ever so brightly,
On January’s dark, winter nights.

Ice as shiny as glitter.
Blowing white, pearly snow.
As I gaze outside
Through my January window.

Looking Out My January Window
By Brandon Wivagg

Looking out my January window
I see snow, snow, SNOW.
Snow as beautiful as my wife in her wedding dress
It reminds me of my stuffed animal Po.

I see more than snow
I see gray
Because of all the gray clouds that make snow
But at least I don’t pay

I see much, much, MORE!
I see kids having lots of fun
Having fun in the snow
In summer they will have fun in the sun

There is even more I see
Kids having hot cocoa
It tastes better with a marshmallow
Sometimes it makes the kids go loco

I see a lot more
I see dead grass
It’s all because of the kids with their dirty feet.
It would make it worse if the kids sass.

I see one more thing
I see lots of sleds
Kids sled all day long
Until they go to their beds.

Fourth-graders in Mr. Jim Fahringer’s class at North Hills Elementary wrote these holiday stories on the topics, “If I Could Give the World One Christmas Gift” or “If I Could Give the World One Gift.”

If I Could Give the World A Present
By Cole Bailey
If I could give the world a present it would be a family for every lonely child in the world because children have nothing without a family. Children without family hunt for their own food. When homeless children have a family they would have someone to talk to. A kid without a family could cry a river of tears as fast as an elephant could spray it in because kids without family have to do without very much. They have to fend for themselves. Most homeless and lonely children die quickly. The children die from lack of food, clean water and warmth. If each lonely child had family the children would live longer and enjoy life more than usual.

If I Could Give the World One Christmas Gift
By Molly Bruner
If I could give the world a gift it will be to help the environment so we would have no pollution in the world. I would ask everyone to go to a beach and clean up trash on the beach and in the water for the animals and us. I would ban plastic bags and put fabric bags in their place. I would do that so sea animals don’t think it is their prey and choke on the plastic bags like a person swallowing a sword. After all that is finished, I would go plant some trees and flowers to make the environment a better place to live and to keep the rivers clean for swimming, fishing and canoeing. If we don’t throw trash on the beaches and oceans, they will stay clean for our animals and us to swim and build sandcastles on the beach. People should have battery powered cars in place of cars that run on gas so we can see the beautiful clean world.
I don’t know about you, but I would like to live on a clean earth.

If I Could Give the World One Gift It Would Be …
By Erin Cabry
Can you guess what I would give the earth if I could give it one gift? If you said a giant plant shop, you are correct. It would be as big as Mt. Everest! It would have elephant ear plants in it. That plant is as big as an elephant’s ear. It would also have the earth’s most rarest plants. I‘ll also raise vegetables and put vegetable oil in the gas tanks of cars. I would put a whole bunch of plants and trees around the plant shop. The plant shop would be full of gigantic plants and trees like a rainforest. Many of our trees and plants are being chopped down and destroyed and my shop would help us replant all the trees that were chopped down. It would also help replace some of the rare plants that are endangered and almost extinct. I hope the earth likes the present that I would give it because it is a very valuable present that is needed by all the people of the world.

If I Could Give the World a Gift
By Lauryn Carrington
If you love the Earth, well, you better read this! If I could give the world a gift it would be water, air, and clean ground. Because this very minute someone is throwing garbage on the ground. The ground is just like a huge trash can. First, we will talk about the water. People just throw garbage into the water. Some factories that are near the water even dump polluted water into our oceans, bays, and rivers. Now we will talk about the air. People use a lot of cars and the smoke that comes out of the back of the car is polluting our air but that polluted air will disappear because of trees. But if people are cutting down trees and if there are no more trees, we would probably not be living right now. If trees were not here, the trees would not be breathing in the bad air and breathing out the good air. Well, if I could give the world a gift that is what I would do. If you love the Earth so much you should do something good for it too. I think that’s a nice gift to give to the Earth, but what do you think?

If I Could Hive the World One Gift It Would Be
By Timothy B. Completa
If you could give the world one Christmas gift, what would it be? Well, I would give the world peace. There would be no more wars and everybody would be friends. How would I do this you might ask. Well I will talk to all the presidents of the world and make them stop wars. Everyone would be friends. People could rest at night and not fear tomorrow.

My Gift to the World
By Daniel Escobar
If there was one gift that you could give to the world, what would it be? This is the one gift I would give to the world–a house for everyone.
I would give the people of the world a house so they wouldn’t get wet in the rain and so they wouldn’t get cold in the winter season. Sometimes it is as cold as an iceberg or hot like a volcano. Well, I think everyone should have a house because there are people on the streets who move from one place to another and eventually they get sick and pass out because they get too hungry, cold or they have nothing to drink. So that is the one gift I would give to the world–a house.

If I Could Give the World One Christmas Present!
By Gavin Downey
If I could give the world one present it would be to lower the prices on things because some people are laid off or don’t have that much money or don’t want to wait for the sales to come up. So I would lower the prices for everybody so they wouldn’t have to wait to get more money or wait and wait and wait for the big sales. They really need those supplies immediately sometimes! If prices were lowered, they could get more things that they need and want! The first thing that will change is the TV and all the phone prices and the most expensive items. If this wish wouldn’t work for some reason, I would write a letter to the president! I would send it to the next president until they say yes. I will be strong and brave like Sarah in that book where she saves Thanksgiving! I would be that brave and not give up because my mom’s laid off and I don’t want her to spend all her money for us because she needs some for herself! She buys us expensive things all the time and we buy stuff that we don’t need! That’s why I am giving the whole world this gift this Christmas!

If I Could Give the World One Gift This Christmas
By Kollinn George
If I could give the world one Christmas gift it would be world peace. I would give this gift so no one would lose their loved ones. Also, so no one would kill someone that they might be friends with in the future. The kids might lose their moms or dads. I would then stop the nuclear bombs. The earth would be a more peaceful place where everyone would be friends. Your friends would be as sweet as candy! Well, now you know what I would give the world! What would you give the world?

If I Could Give the World One Gift
By Hannah Grigg
If you could give the world one gift what would it be? Well, I would give the world no more pollution. When we are polluting, the earth gets as dirty as a dumpster. I would give the earth a pollution free environment because too many people are polluting it. We should stop polluting so we can have fresher air to breathe. If we cut down fewer trees each year we will have cleaner oxygen to breath. Everyone might live a little longer! That is why I would give the world no more pollution. So, don’t pollute!

If I Could Give the World One Gift It Would Be …
By Ben Herbert
If I could give the world one thing, it would be music. In places like Africa, people aren’t allowed to listen to certain types of music so I would travel there and bring along a radio so they could listen to their own music. In places like China or Italy, they don’t know our kind of music. So again, I would bring my radio and introduce them to rock or pop. But there are some places in the world that don’t even KNOW music like Rotuma Island (Fiji) or Yap Island. So I would go there and introduce them to rock, rap, pop, country, punk, polka, and any type of music. Sometimes music can be important like when you’re tired, a lullaby can put you to sleep. When you’re bored you can play some music you can dance to, just like Michael Jackson. So that is the thing I would give the world.

What I Would Give the World
By Nolan High
“Wow I’m seeing a lot of cans!” There are more cans along the road than there are in a junkyard. Do you know what I would give the world if I could give one present this Christmas? I would give them a cleaner world. I would close down all the companies that pollute the world. I would make a law saying you cannot litter. The person that litters will be more miserable than the people in the great depression were. If people keep on polluting, then all of us will have a shorter life span. That is what I would give the world.

If I Could Give the World A Gift
By Isaac Embry
If I could give the world a gift, it would be peace. I’d give the world peace because all the wars in the past would have never started. All the wars currently being fought would end. Men and women wouldn’t have to sacrifice their lives in wars. People all over the world wouldn’t have to wake up and think about if this was their last day to live. No bombs would be dropped in cities, states and countries like firecrackers. Troops could stay with their family and kids. So, if I could give the world a gift, it would be peace,

The Gift I Will Give To The World
By Philip Johnson
You will never guess what I would give the world if I could. I’ll tell you anyway. It is a house for the homeless. It’s 200 miles long. The house is 28 stories high. I think all the homeless could fit inside. Since the homeless don’t have any money, I’ll let them in for free. There is a pool, cozy beds, free food, hot tub, and free clothes. The homeless will have a three hour class. They will go to school on certain days. Those days are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. There would be a small T.V. in each room. They would have all the channels. The best channels are Nickelodeon for the boys and girls, Cartoon network for the boys, Disney Channel for the girls. The homeless would flood like a river to get in. I think the homeless will like this house.

If I Could Give the World One Christmas Gift
By Meghan Kent
If you could give the world one gift what would it be? As you think about that, allow me to tell you what mine would be. It would be no pollution, anywhere, in the universe!!!! The world has too much pollution and it is bad for the earth and it’s killing our earth. So, remember don’t pollute. Oh, and also don’t forget that is what I would give the world, No pollution as fast as a heartbeat if I could!! So, what would you give to the world? Just think.
So, have you thought of what you would give to the world? What would it be? Is it a good thing or bad thing? So, do you think no pollution is a good present or do you have another idea? If you have another idea what is it? So, just remember, if I could give the world one gift it would be no Pollution!

If I Could Give the World One Christmas Gift
By Elizabeth Koimene
If I were to give the world one Christmas present it would be peace. All around the world white and black people fight because they don’t have the same skin color. Because of that hatred, there’s a group of black people called Black Panthers and they are ready for war against the KKK. The KKK is a group of white people and they’re ready for war with the Black Panthers and I don’t want that in this world.
If they continue hating each other it will create something even bigger than fighting and I don’t know what it is, but I know it will be worse than a snake biting a human being. I just want the world to be at peace with no fighting, no hatred, and no killing. I just want peace. That would be the one Christmas present I would want to give the world because the world needs it.

I Hereby Say That …
By Alec Leese
If I could give the world one Christmas gift I would give the world peace, like every president wants to do. They never do, but they say they will. So I want to go beyond the extraordinary and do what I say. I’ve decided that the world needs peace. My gift would be to stop war altogether, not just one. Worldwide, we all will stop war, that is what teamwork is. What I really want to do is make the world work together. With world peace we would be a family like all animals. Their family is big and our family will grow as fast as a cheetah. So think about how the world would look, sound and smell with worldwide peace. I want the world to be a clean healthy place where we work together. World peace would help us do this. That is what the world will get from me this Christmas.

If I Could Give the World One Christmas Gift
By Joshua Metzger
If I could give the world one gift it would be to pick up trash and dispose of it properly and recycle it. I would clean out the creeks and streams. If I caught someone littering, I’d tell them not to litter, it is against the law and then shake them like a fish!
If you recycle you will be a better person because you will not go to jail for littering. That is why you should recycle. It is your choice to clean up the world or live in a world that is like a dumpster.

The Best Present That I Could Give to the World
By Taylor Morgenegg
If I could give the world one Christmas gift this year it would be a faithful dog that could stand by their side no matter what they’re going through. Dogs can do many amazing things that we can’t do. One dog saved sixty people from an avalanche. There are over two hundred dog breeds from pure bred to pedigree pooches and even mixes. No dogs are exactly the same. They each look different and bark different. The basenji doesn’t even have a bark, but they can howl. Dogs have something special about them that when a person, who’s sick sees a dog, something about them just makes that person smile like the most wonderful thing just happened to them. That’s why I would give the world a dog this Christmas.

If I Could Give the World One Present
By Harini Narayan
If you could give the world one thing, what would it be? I would give the world an animal companion. People would never be bored, there would be no stray animals, and you’d have a buddy wherever you go. They’d be trained and they wouldn’t fight with other animals. You wouldn’t have to leave them outside, either. They’ll be able to have access to everything as much as humans do. When they come to you, they’ll be potty trained, unless you get an animal that’s too small to use the bathroom. They will only get dirty, if you don’t clean them. You won’t be able to trade, sell, or abandon these animal companions. Clothes you pick and buy would be put on him or her. You can have one to five animals per person. But the best thing is, your companion won’t die unless you do. You’d stick together like glue forever. What would be a gift that you’d give the world?

If I Could Give the World One Present
By Jonathan Nemtuda
Hey! Do you want to know what one present I’d give the world. I would give the world, better security. because I watch the news everyday, and there are all kinds of people being kidnapped. If the world had better security there wouldn’t be any kidnapping. There’s a lot of criminals loose in the world. Better security gives you less pollution from litter. I think we should have cops in every neighborhood. I bet if we did have a cop in every neighborhood, the world would be a safer place to live in. It would be as safe as the president. The last thing is, if you can make this all happen, please do. That is the one gift I’d give the world. If you had a choice what would you give the world?

What I Would Give the World As A Present
By Makeda Ramnath
If you could give the world any present, what would it be? I would get more people to fight for freedom so people really know why the statue of liberty is in New York Harbor. Way back then a Frenchmen built the statue of liberty to show that America was the land of the free and all who wanted to, could come here. Like when the Pilgrims came to America they could serve God however they wanted to and not have someone controlling them like slaves!! We’re going to fight as hard for freedom as a lion chasing his food down. What would you give the world? Well, now you know what I would give the world!!

If I Could Give the World
By Yazmine Velazquez
“Okay, so, if you, yes, you, could give the world one and only one gift, what would it be? Would it be no pollution? Or maybe give everybody a home? Well, I would give every kid a family. Yes, a family, as fun as an amusement park. A family to be with everyday, to tell them about your bad dreams at night and just to feel their love! I would give a family some sisters and brothers to play with when they are lonely, a mom and dad to have memories with, and maybe a pet to keep them company! You know, not everyone has a family. So don’t take them for granted and remember to love your family as much as they love you!”

If I Could Give the World One Christmas Gift
By Brandon Wivagg
If you could do something for the world, what would you do? Well, I don’t know what you would do, but I would invent a medicine and put it in the air so when factories work, no smoke comes out. Could you imagine the world with no smoke? Well, I could. You would smell flowers everyday and no bad gases. You would hear birds chirping. It would change the world. If you still don’t get it, think of your dirty hair, then you take a clean shower, right. If that medicine doesn’t work, you, that’s right you, can still help save the world. Here’s how … You can pick up litter. This next one is for grown ups, try to buy a factory and then tear it down. That’s hard to do, but do it. It’s so easy you could do it faster then a cat can climb a tree. So that’s what I would give the world this Christmas, what would you do?

Fourth-graders in Mr. Fahringer’s class at North Hills Elementary explained what they are thankful for in observance of Thanksgiving.

Do you want to know what I’m most thankful for? Well, I’m going to tell you faster than a cat can climb a tree. I’m most thankful for my family because without them, I would not be living on this earth right now. My family is also the best parents in the world because they are kind, intelligent and cool. They are so smart they help me with anything. I don’t know a place I haven’t been with them. Well, maybe here at school, but nowhere else. I just love my family and am very thankful for them and their love and care. What are you most thankful for? — By Brandon Wivagg

I am most thankful for my family. Out of all my family I would pick my sister to write about. She keeps me company when my friends cannot come over to play with me. Sometimes she can be mean to me. Once she bit me and it felt just like a lion attacking its prey. For most of the time she is pleasant, so we play together nicely. My little sister and I get in fights a lot. I try not to fight with her but we always do. I don’t mind it and I can stand it. I am so thankful that Alison is my little sister. — By Molly Bruner

“Mmm!” I said. “I am hungrier than a lion that has not eaten for weeks!” That reminds me that I am thankful for food because I eat more than my mom. I’m also thankful for food because if I didn’t eat, I would starve to death in less than two weeks. The last thing about food that I am thankful for, is that some food is healthy and some is unhealthy for people. That is what I am most thankful for on Thanksgiving. — By Erin Cabry

Are you thankful for the food and water you have? Well, I’m thankful for the food and water I have because some people in the world are as hungry as a Golden Retriever because they don’t have any food or water. I can walk over to the tap and turn it on and have delicious clean water to drink anytime I want. When I come home at night my mom has a snack waiting for me. In an hour or so, I sit down and eat various kinds of delicious food. Sometimes I think that people could be a little nicer to the starving people in the world and maybe even give them just one little can of beans. So that’s why I’m thankful for all the food and water I have! — By Lauryn Carrington

What are you most thankful for? I’m most thankful for my family because without family it would be as disastrous as the volcanoes in Hawaii. Without family, you wouldn’t have anyone to talk to, or help you with homework or cook for you. It would be horrible, because I love to eat! No family means no money, no school, and no jobs. Nobody would learn anything because the school wouldn’t have enough money to buy supplies for the student’s education because there wouldn’t be any adults to pay school taxes. Without education, people wouldn’t know anything, so nobody would know how to buy things to eat to be healthy. I don’t know what you are most thankful for, but I am most thankful for my family. It is the greatest part of my life, even greater than the world Olympics. — By Cole Bailey

Do you want to know what I am most thankful for? If you do keep reading? I am most thankful for my father. He has always been there for me. Every day I’m with him my heart pumps as fast as a Cheetah and he tells me he loves me at least twelve times. Every time he says it, I say it back and I mean it. I hope he means it too. That’s who I’m most thankful for and why I’m most thankful for him. I will always remember my dad even after he dies. — By Timothy Completa

Who are you most thankful for? I am most thankful for my family because they live with me and I care about them and they care about me also. They buy water and everything that we all need. Sometimes I will buy food or anything that all of us need also! They are awesome and they think I am awesome too! Our family helps each other any time we need it! We are a loving family and we all need a fun time and that is what we do all the time! My family is like having a cuddling pet that loves you like a dog! You can just do almost anything you want with them anytime, anywhere! I love my family so much because they buy me some objects that I don’t need. Sometimes they buy things like my phone. That isn’t the only reason why they are awesome because there are a thousand other reasons why they are awesome. What person or thing are you most thankful for in your life? — By Gavin Downey

There’s turkey, there’s stuffing and then there’s family. Your mind should tell you it’s Thanksgiving but if it says Christmas, then something is wrong. Thanksgiving is a holiday of giving and spending time with your family. So it’s Thanksgiving and here’s what I’m thankful for. I’m thankful for my Dad because he helps me with things like sports, videogames, and yes, school. He’s like a walking dictionary filled with answers. He’s like a Super Dad but doesn’t wear those capes and lousy tights and drink super juice. He just wears a t-shirt and sports a robe and drinks caramel flavored coffee. I love my dad that way and I am very thankful I have him as my dad. — By Isaac Embry

Do you know what I am most thankful for? I am most thankful for my family. They take care of me and feed me. Sometimes they are sick and I have to take care of them. Most of the time they take care of me. We all love each other a lot. Some of my family members live in different sates or they are in South America. It is sad because I miss my other family members in South America. Sometimes we wonder if they are safe. Do they have enough food? That’s why I am thankful for my family. I will do anything so I will not lose my family. If I would lose my family, I would scream as loud as dinosaurs scream. I am most thankful for my family. — By Daniel Escobar

What are you most thankful for? I am most thankful for my parents because they care about my health. My dad helps me with my compass rose project because he steps on the circle so it is like you have to be still when a TRex is chasing you so he does not see you and eat you. The most fun part about him is when we play football at the bus stop. My best friend and I joke around with my dad and tell him that he cannot catch the ball. He then jokes back with us and tells us that we can’t catch, even if he handed it to us.
Now my mom, she makes killer cookies. They taste like you died and went to cookie heaven. My mom also rocks at Super Smash Melee. She knocked Fox’s last breath out and I could not believe my eyes, Pichou won. Awesome battle, mom. I will always be thankful for my dad and my mom because they play with me and they love me. — By Kollinn George

What are you thankful for? I’m most thankful for my family because they take care of me. They feed me as fast as a runner can run. I get to have chicken noodle soup and snuggle up with them when I’m sick. They let me watch Nickelodeon and lay in bed all day when I’m sick. When I need to go somewhere they’re always there to take me. My mom makes the best food so I eat it all every night. My family is always there to help no matter what. I love my family for all they do for me and for how much they care about me. Does your family do that for you? — By Hannah Grigg

Do you want to hear what I’m most thankful for? You don’t! Oh well I’m still going to tell you. The thing I’m most thankful for is FOOD!!! Boy, do I love food more than a high school boy who has the biggest crush on the prettiest girl in Central York High School. If I was a hobo living on the streets and a man walked up to me and gave a list of 100,000,000 different types of food combinations, you’d see me checking off the different foods I would wish to eat faster than you can say Dracula Dates Dumb Devils! But do you want to know the favorite type of food I’m thankful for? My favorite type would be Toasted American Cheese Sticks (or TACS for short). I wish that TACS would always be served on Thanksgiving instead of turkey and stuffing and… well you know what I mean. There you go, my thing I’m most thankful for. Thanks for reading! — By Benjamin Herbert

Munch, munch, chew, chew. WOW! I’m hungrier than a lion who hasn’t eaten for a week. But, I’ve been thinking what would happen if I didn’t have this food. Maybe I would be living on the streets. I’d be hungrier than a chicken that hasn’t eaten for a month. If I lived on the streets I would have a shorter life. That is why I’m thankful for food. — By Nolan High

What are you thankful for? I’m thankful for food. Food is what keeps us alive. What does it taste like? It matters what kind of food you’re eating. There are many kinds of foods. The food groups are fruits, vegetables, sweets, grain, dairy, and meat. My favorite food is in the fruit section. What can it be? It’s a honey crisp apple. When I take a bite it’s so juicy. Think about it, some people don’t have any food. So, if you know someone who has no food, you should help them out and if you’re reading this be thankful for food!!!! — By Phil Johnson

What person, place, or thing are you most thankful for? I am most thankful for my family because without my mommy and daddy, I would not have the house I live in now. Without them I would not have food, water, or clothing. So that is why I am as thankful as the pilgrims when they held their Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is coming up and so that is when everybody is most thankful for what they have. The reason I am most thankful for my family is because of their jobs. Their jobs are what make the money and keep me healthy and living! — By Meghan Kent

Would you like to know what I’m most thankful for? Well, it’s my parents because they raised me from the day I was born and I know that they love me. I also know that they will take care of me until I’m 18. They tell me that they will be as old as the first gourmet when they stop taking care of me. But, my parents don’t know when I will start taking care of myself. My parents are very, very, important people in my life. That is why I love them so much and will always obey them. I just love my parents so much that I will drop my body in fire just to see them in heaven. Nobody knows the love I have for my parents, nobody, nobody at all. — By Elizabeth Koimene

Land-Ho! Why, hello mate ye shouldn’t be around here, what do you need, your…family?
Yes!! Well, let’s go. My family is important to me because you see I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have them and my brothers. Think of it, a little baby sheep and its mother were attacked by a coyote and they’re lying there, no family, no future, no nothing. See how lucky we are? However we just take our families for granted. So think, that not everyone has a family. Even I take them for granted. So be thankful for your family and not just what your family does and has. Someday you will notice that your friend can be poor, rich or both. I like Thanksgiving because I can spend time with my family and remember, family is as good as Thanksgiving!! — By Alec Leese

Ok, you probably wonder why I am most thankful for my dog ? Well, I will tell you.
I’m thankful for my dog, Bambi, because she is a lovable dog and she is trustworthy. She is really tough and she likes to play tug of war. I always wanted to have a dog that you could play tug of war with. You don’t want to play tug of war with Bambi because you will be pulled like a little chipmunk with no control over your body. My dog, Bambi, is more kind than most dogs we know. She is very active to play any time, anywhere, and that is why I chose my dog, Bambi, as the thing I am most thankful for. — By Josh Metzger

I have a lot of things I’m thankful for, like my family, my house, food, water but the thing I picked was my dog, Angel. Angel is a golden retriever mixed with a border collie. She is as soft as a feather and as fast as a racecar. Before I got Angel, I had been wanting a dog for three years. Angel has a lot of neat things about her that make her the best dog in the world. One of the neat things that Angel does is play soccer. She has boundless energy and loves to go for walks and she never wants to go inside. The thing I love most about Angel is that she is always there for me. This is why I’m thankful for my dog, Angel. — By Taylor Morgenegg

What is the one thing you are most thankful for? The thing I’m most thankful for is my family. My parents will give me anything, and all they want in return is for me to have good grades and a good character. I have the kindest family anyone could ask for. If I could keep one thing, it would definitely be my family. My family is what I’m most thankful for, and it’s because they’re the best. I’m most thankful for my family because they take care of me like somebody carrying glass and being afraid they will drop it. They provide me with a huge room, food, and a heated house. But I am most thankful for my family because they love me. — By Harini Narayan

What are you most thankful for? Well, I’m most thankful for North Hills. I’m thankful for this, because North Hills is my school. It’s where I get an education and I can meet new friends and the best thing is that we have the best teacher ever. Also, I have the nicest friends They are as sweet as a summer’s day. I also love that we have the nicest teachers here. That is why I am thankful for my school, North Hills. — By Makeda Ramnath

What’s the thing that you’re most thankful for? Well, I’m most thankful for my family. First my mom is the one who cooks all of the food. Also, she keeps the whole house clean. Second, my dad earns the money to buy food and water. My three sisters also care for me. I wouldn’t want to lose them or any part of my family. Finally, my dog and cat feel like cuddly bunnies. Without them I wouldn’t have any pet to play with. Actually I don’t want to lose any part of my whole family. You should be thankful for your family too. — By Jonathan Nemtuda

What are you most thankful for? Well, I am most thankful for my family because they provide food, shelter, water, and everything I need. I love them very much. These are just some of the many great things they do for me.
My dad takes me to the bus stop in the morning. If it wasn’t for him, I would be late for school all the time. My mom makes my family dinner as delicious as an ice cream sundae! My mamma and papaw let my two sisters and I sleep over when my mom and dad want to go out. Also, they let us stay over just for fun, too. My two sisters are fun to play with, and my cat and dog are very energetic and cool. My family is way more awesome than any one in the whole world and they love me more than anything in the whole world! — By Yazmine Velazquez