Lulu Junior Author Of The Month - McKenna Garvey
Are you looking for a fresh, new take on a classic fairy tale? Look no further than our featured Author of the Month for November: McKenna Garvey! McKenna was given the school assignment to come up with her own spin-off to one of the classic fairy tales. Keep reading to find out which fairy tale McKenna gave a creative twist!
In the kingdom of Milkbone lived many dogs but the most important character in this story is Barkerella. She was beautiful and kind but she wasn’t treated well by her older sister, Begerella and Fleaerella. They were very mean and jealous sisters.
Barkerella had been working for her sisters since the age of 16. She had to do a variety of chores for them including cleaning rugs, killing bugs, sewing clothes, and getting bathrobes. She was exhausted and stressed from all the work.
One day, Barkerella was cleaning the floor when she had a bark at the door. Barkerella went to go see who it was.
It was Prince Charles’ servant with a message. “Message from the Prince Charles” he said.
Begerella and Fleaerella came in asking what they received. Barkerella let them know it was from Prince Charles. The sisters couldn’t believe it!
The royal letter said “Every girl in the kingdom shall come to the dog park for a Royal Sniffing Party. You can only attend the party if you have your collar. Whoever the Prince loves the most is going to be his companion forever.”
Both sisters were drooling in absolute amazement. Begerella and Flearella made Barkerella get back to work, making her do twice what she usually did. She gave them a bubble bath and sewed their dresses for the party.
It was time to go to the party, but Barkerella couldn’t find her collar. Everyone needed a collar in order to enter the party. Her mean sisters had taken her collar because they didn’t want her to go. They chewed and drooled on the collar leaving it an absolute mess!
Barkerella found the collar and was very upset.
Begerella and Flearella laughed saying “..the Price wouldn’t like your collar or you at all!” They left to go to the party and Barkerella went to her dog cage to cry. But out of nowhere, a magical fairy dog-mother appeared!
A fairy dog-mother had come to help Barkerella!
She made her the most beautiful collar so that Barkerella could go to the party. Barkerella wanted to repay her with the last few dog treats she had but the fairy dog-mother wouldn’t take it. Barkerella was such a hard worker, her fairy dog-mother said she was a good dog and needed to take a break. The final thing the fairy dog-mother let her know was that at dawn, the collar would go back to normal and Barkerella’s name would disappear.
Barkerella ran off to the dog park to attend the party. As soon as the Prince saw Barkerella, he fell in love with her! They sniffed each other (as this was a Royal Sniffing Party after all) but it was right before dawn and Barkerella had to run back home. She was running away so fast she didn’t realize that her collar came off. The Prince found the collar making it his mission to find his love and sniff her again…
The next morning the Prince put a royal letter on the palace door stating:
The Prince Charles will arrive at each dog house and try on a collar. Every girl will try it on and if fits that girl will marry the Prince.
Of course, as soon as the mean sisters heard about the letter, they put Barkerella hard to work again.
All the girls tried on the collar but of course, it did not fit. The Prince arrived at the sister’s house. He tried it on Begrella, it was too loose! He tried on Flearella, too tight! And finally, it was Barkerella’s turn... a PERFECT fit!
The Prince and Barkerella got married and her sister’s apologized for being so mean. Because of the kind-hearted dog Barkerella was, she asked her sisters to live with them. And that’s the story, “...they happily barked together forever!”
We loved McKenna’s creative take on a beloved fairy tale! Her story also left us with her own final message that you should forgive people in the way that Barkerella forgave her sisters in the end. Thank you to McKenna for sharing your story with Lulu Junior!
Keep reading and find out what McKenna shared with us in her interview!
Read The Full Interview
My neighbor Matilda gave me the Lulu Junior kit for my birthday in June.
My teacher in third grade gave us an assignment to create a fictional story, a spin-off of a typical fairy tale story.
It feels amazing! I keep covering my mouth when I smile because my cheeks get so big from smiling.
I dedicated it to my parents because they helped me figure out some of the parts that could be funny like when my dad had the idea of the Royal Sniffing Party (since I wanted to write the butt sniffing party).
Create the picture in your mind of what you want to write first, and just start writing. Write a little bit every day just to get out more of the story that you have in your head.
I love to read Kate DiCamillo books, I play softball and lacrosse, and play with my sister and brother.
I prefer writing because you get to feel like you're in the story.
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.
I have a desk but I write anywhere; in my bed, at the dining room table, in the car.
Reading other books and watching old and new movies inspire my ideas.
You should always forgive people because at the end Barkerella forgave her sisters.
