I Don't Want to Go
Written by Addie Meyer Sanders, Illustrated by Andrew Rowland,
Page 1
"Joey, is your bag packed?" Mom asked. "Grandma and Grandpa are here. They're taking you to their house, and you're going on the train. You'll have a wonderful time."
Page 2
"I don't want to go," Joey said.
Page 3
On the train, the conductor gave Joey an engineer's hat.
"Wheeww," the whistle screamed. "ALL ABOARD," the
conductor shouted. Chug, the train lurched forward.
Clickety-clack, the wheels hummed under Joey.
Faster. Faster. Clickety-clack, clickety-clack, the train raced.
"Look," Joey said. "I can see the whole train."
Page 4
When they arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's,
Grandma took Joey's hand.
"Joey, you have your own room. You have your own
bed and your own toys. And I know you and Dad like
cereal before bed, so we have that too.”
"Thank you, Grandma," said Joey as he looked at his new room.
Page 5
After breakfast the next day, Grandma said, "Today we're going food shopping."
"I don't want to go," Joey said.
Page 6
But this supermarket trip was fun.
Everyone knew Grandma.
The deli man gave Joey a piece
of cheese and the lady at the bakery
gave him a cookie.
"Joey," Grandma said,
"you can pick out five favorite foods."
"This is the biggest watermelon I ever saw.
Can we get this one, Granny?" Joey asked.
It went in the basket.
"I love grapes." In the basket they went.
Page 7
"Do you like peanut butter, Granny?"
Joey asked. "It's my favorite snack
on slices of green apples, yum.
Let's get a big jar.
Could we get some vanilla ice cream-
and strawberries and blueberries to go on top?" Joey asked.
Grandma laughed. "That's six foods, Joey, but they all
sound scrumptious! I think I'll throw in a few boxes of
spaghetti too. Wait until you see how Grandpa fixes it."
Page 8
The next morning, Grandpa said, "Today we're going fishing at the creek."
"I don't want to go," Joey said.
Page 9
Down at the creek, Grandpa showed Joey how to hold his fishing rod. They waded into the water in high boots. Joey and Grandpa laughed as they watched the fish swim past their plastic lures.
Page 10
When they got home, Grandma said, "Remember, this afternoon is Cousin Bill's birthday party. And you are invited."
"I don't want to go," Joey said.
Page 11
Later at the party, Joey was given a treasure map and four "pirates" to work with. Joey and his group followed the map and found a treasure chest filled with clinking coins. The coins bought them a big dish of dirt and worms to eat.
"Wow," Joey said. "Chocolate
pudding, crumbled cookies, and gummy worms- this is my favorite dessert." Joey's dirt and worms disappeared in a flash.
Page 12
Grandma woke Joey early the next day.
"Today I volunteer at the museum.
You can come with me."
"I don't want to go," Joey said.
Page 13
At the museum, Joey
loved the dinosaurs.
He zoomed from one
giant exhibit to the next.
"I know them all," Joey said.
"Here's the Velociraptor- he was a speedy killer.
And that's a Stegosaurus.
And here's the king, the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Most people think he was from the Jurassic Period,
but he was alive over one hundred million years
later in the Cretaceous Period."
"Joey, I can't believe you know those
big names and facts," Grandma said.
Page 14
Later that day, after they got home, Grandpa said, "Let's go in the kitchen, Joey, and cook my special 'Super-Duper Secret Sauce."
"I don't want to go," Joey said.
Page 15
Tomato smells soon filled the air. "Here, Joey, you can add the spices."
Joey stood on the chair and stirred and stirred the big pot of sauce.
"Ready for the secret, Joey? Promise not to tell?"
"I promise." Joey added the new ingredients and stirred and stirred.
That night, Joey finished three bowls of spaghetti covered with "Grandpa and Joey's Super-Duper Secret Sauce."
Page 16
After dinner, Grandpa said, "Tonight we will sleep outside in a tent."
"I don't want to go," Joey said.
Page 17
Grandpa made a big fire
and they toasted marshmallows.
Page 18
"I've never seen so many stars," Joey said.
"Look at those three stars in a row," Grandpa said.
"That's Orion's belt." "The two stars above are his shoulders
and the two below are his knees. He's the great warrior
in the sky. He'll always be there for you, Joey."
"Just like you, Grandpa?"
"That's right, Joey. Just like me."
Page 19
The next morning, Joey's parents arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's.
"Get your bag, Joey. It's time to go home," Mom said.
"Already? I don't want to go!" Joey said.
"You can come back again," Dad said.
"Promise?" Joey asked. "Okay, then let's go!"
