Spokespuppet Splunkunio Splunkey

How it all came to be

Ashley's Story: Cry from a Burning Spaceship

My father is an astrophysicist. Ever since my early childhood, he was always doing research and traveling around the world to lecture about his findings. I missed him a lot.

One day in the middle of winter, I received airline tickets from my dad to spend time with him in Germany. That summer, I flew to Europe. My father picked me up at the airport. He had received a fellowship to do research at the Max Planck Institute in Bonne.

We spent some time traveling together. One afternoon, while Dad was delivering a lecture somewhere in Bonne, I took a walk along the Rhine River. As I looked into the sky, the heavens darkened and I witnessed a ball of fire - streams of red, yellow and orange - speeding towards earth. Suddenly, I heard a loud, lonely cry. In seconds, the fire fizzled out. The ball of fire had vanished, and the skies were filled with huge vapors of gray smoke that melted into the darkness. Somewhere nearby, a heavy weight dropped to the ground.

Following the moaning and whimpering sounds, I found myself in the presence of an alien being. "Let me help you," I cried out.

"Shinam shumka wachinahu."

"I don't understand you."

"Contact my wife, the Queen. Ask about the Princess."

"How do I make contact with her? What should I tell her?"

"Take this device off my wrist. Press the blue button."

The figure before me stopped speaking and lay motionless. I was very frightened, and lay my head down on the chest of the King, hoping to hear a heart beat. It was there. I sighed deeply.

A very high voice filled the air - "Ooshantu situma mishapa wanosha."

"I don't understand you. I am from Planet Earth. Your husband, The King, lies motionless before me. But he is breathing. He asks how the Princess is doing."

"Princess Filadella gave birth to a beautiful baby this morning - Splunkunio Splunkey. His name means wonder child."

"Please tell me how to take care of The King."

"Don't worry. He will tell you what to do. I must go."

Splunkey's Story: Meeting an Earth Princess

My grandfather - Mawakunam - would often tell me the story about his crash landing on Planet Earth. Shortly after he had parachuted down from his burning spaceship, he saw a beautiful, black-haired human bending down before him. He always wondered how she knew he was a king.

She wanted to help him. But before he asked for himself, he wanted her to call my grandmother, who would know if the baby had arrived. The baby, of course, was me! And yes - I was a very healthy baby, and showing off from the moment I arrived on my home planet - Planet Onyx.

When grandfather asked the lady her name, she said, "Everyone calls me Princess." And so, my grandfather met his first earth princess.

Of course, it was necessary to get the okay of Maurice - the father of the Princess - to arrange for the caring of The King since they would all be living together. And he welcomed my grandfather with open arms. They became fast friends, and learned much from each other about the universe.

With the warm caring of Princess, my grandfather became well quickly. With many thanks to Maurice, Mawakunam returned to the United States with Princess. In the secrecy of the hills of Wisconsin, Grandfather built a new spaceship to return home.

Over their short time together, Mawakunam and Princess became good friends. My grandfather learned there was much to enjoy on Planet Earth. Early each morning, they swam in fresh water lakes and caught fish. They built a fire by rubbing stones together and cooked the fish - all kinds of fish - salmon, wall-eye pike and others. They canoed along hundreds of water channels, often fighting against the challenging underwater currents. They rode horses bareback through endless grassy fields. This is the kind of life my grandfather lives on Planet Onyx - simple and joyous, one with family and friends, one with nature.

One day, Grandfather announced he would be leaving - he missed his family - his wife, Queen Anasita, and their children. Princess begged to go with him to Planet Onyx - to meet my grandmother, the beautiful Queen Anasita; to meet my mother - Princess Filadella; to meet my father - Prince Filbert; to meet his new grandson - Me! She had heard so many amazing stories from my grandfather about Planet Onyx. She had heard of so many wonderful places to visit and unusual life forms to meet, and did not want to lose her one opportunity to be where she had never been before - to experience the life of our planet.

Early one sunny morning, The King and The Princess climbed into the newly constructed spaceship, and sped off to Planet Onyx.

The moment Grandfather and Princess arrived, I made sure I was the first to greet them. It was then I knew that Princess would become my best friend. Princess stayed with us the entire summer. She explained she had to return to her work - doing programs for children and parents about self-esteem, cooperation, friendship, honesty, caring, peace and important ideas like that.

It was then I knew I had to let her know very quickly that I was old enough to help her with her programs. You need to understand that we on Planet Onyx grow up very quickly. Unfortunately, grandfather was nearby when I was sharing my dream with Princess. Mother, father and my grandparents all agreed I needed to wait at least four years, and then they promised to send me to Earth to work with Princess. Now, I am almost five, and can't wait for my promised trip. They better have not forgotten their promise. I just know that Princess is waiting.

Ashley and Splunkey's Story:

The Meeting of Two Like-Minds

Splunkey:

"Grandfather did not forget his promise. He had given Princess the special device he wore on his left wrist and told her to keep it so she could always be in touch. She knew we would be coming."

Ashley:

"On Splunkey's fifth birthday - March 18th - Mawakunam himself piloted Splunkey down in his royal spaceship to the hills of Wisconsin where he and Princess had last stood on Earth.

Splunkey:

And there she was to greet us! She looked exactly the same to me. I hoped she thought I was more grown up, and would not treat me like a baby. Grandfather could not stay. He spoke quickly and quietly to Princess, but I heard every word - "Take good care of Splunkey. He's smart, even wise, and always full of fun. I know he can help you with your mission. I believe it has become his mission. He has been waiting to be with you, to work with you, to learn from you and others, to meet more earthlings and to help you make Planet Earth more like our Planet Onyx - a planet of peace and harmony. I think that together, nothing will stop the two of you from bringing greater understanding and joy to your planet." And then grandfather ascended the heavens in his spaceship.

Ashley:

When Splunkey and I saw each other, we embraced in a huge bear hug. I knew this was the beginning of great things. I immediately planned three storytelling and singing programs for children about self-esteem and friendship for the next month, hoping that Splunkey was indeed a quick learner. And Splunkey did a splendid job - first at a public school in Deerfield, Illinois; second at a private school in Elgin, Illinois; and third, at The University of Chicago Children's Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

Splunkey:

This summer, Princess and I traveled to Europe - to France, Spain and Italy. One day, I will tell you all about these wonderful trips. But, I surprised Princess with a spectacular trip -- with my mechanical genius, I built a spaceship to take us to The Red Planet!

Ashley:

Before leaving, we arranged to do two special shows at The Chicago Children's Museum.

Splunkey:

Surrounded by black heavens and glittering golden lights, we journeyed together to The Red Planet! One of my most exciting adventures was climbing Olympus Mons, which is three times taller than Mt. Everest on Planet Earth! And that's when and where the accident happened.

Ashley:

I tripped on a large stone that jutted out, and fell hard onto the rocky surface of Planet Mars. I convinced Splunkey it was nothing, and I encouraged him to climb to the top of Olympus Mons alone. I still managed to plant a flag on Mars for each of Earth's U.N. member nations.

Splunkey:

I did it! I made it to the top! Only Princess had not been honest with me when she fell. She had twisted her leg badly. Planet Mars can be very cold. And I had left her alone for a very long time.

When I got back and looked at her face, I knew she was in a lot of pain. I carried her back into the spaceship, and got us back to Earth as soon as I could. She has had surgery, and I know she will be able to walk again. It just may take a little while. By the time you read this, I am sure she will be recuperating nicely.

Ashley:

My fall on Planet Mars made it impossible to keep the commitment at The Chicago Children's Museum (Navy Pier), but I have been healing well. Now, I am fine. Splunkey and I have been bringing all kinds of programs and performances to locations as far as Splunkey's spaceship can take us.

Splunkey::

During her recuperation - while Elana was learning how to walk again, and in the meantime, using a wheel chair, a crutch and then a cane to move from place to place - she and I talked about writing a book together for kids. And that is what we did!

Ashley::

After months and months of writing and changing, starting and stopping, more editing and revisions - it was written. Then I needed the cooperation of the heroes of the story - Splunkey and his two earth friends Ellie and Eli - to pose for all the pictures.

Splunkey:

The photographs in the book are awesome! I think Elana did a great job as the photographer of our book.

Ashley:

The first book in our new, mystery series for children, families and teachers is entitled -

Splunkunio Splunkey

Detective and Peacemaker

Case One:

The Missing Friendship Bracelet

Splunkey:

If you and your parents would like to learn more about our book, you can visit - www.dreamimagepress.com.

Ashley:

I love reading the book and taking on the voices of the characters. And Splunkey, Ellie and Eli choose among themselves who will be with me at each performance, and meet and talk with students and teachers and children and their parents after the reading!

Splunkey:

Pretty cool, huh? Did you or your parents ever get a chance not only to meet a children's book author, but also to meet the storybook characters themselves? And, if I may say so myself, I am a very cool dude! Nice, too.

Ashley:

Since the other two storybook heroes are not here to speak for themselves, I should add that Ellie and Eli are delightful and lots of fun. Splunkey teaches them a lot, and he also learns much from them!

Splunkey:

Guess what?!? Elana and I have been working madly on a second book.

Ashley:

What we did was to rewrite the first book in the form of a bilingual reader in English and Spanish.

The title of the new children's book is -

Splunkunio Splunkey

Detective and Peacemaker

Detective y pacificador

Case One:

The Missing Friendship Bracelet

Caso primero:

El brazalete de la amistad desaparecido

Storybook and photography by

Texto y fotografia de

Elana Ashley

Splunkey:

Elana does not give me credit for helping her write the book, but that's OK. We both know I am her silent partner. And now you know, too!

If you can speak and read Spanish and do not know how to read in English, this is a terrific book to read with a family member who knows English well or a teacher of English.

If you can read English and would like to learn to read Spanish, this would be a great book to read with the help of a teacher of Spanish or a brother or sister who knows and can read Spanish very well.

Ashley:

And if you are just learning how to read in English or in Spanish or in both languages, enjoy this book with your family, and get their help in reading, undestanding and enjoying this fun, mystery adventure!

You could go to your local library and ask them for Splunkey's bilingual mystery. If they do not have it, they can always order it.

Splunkey:

I am excited to report to you that this first book in my adventure series now - in the Fall of 2008 - has an Audio CD and Teaching Guide for Educators and Parents.

Ashley:

On this Audio CD, I take on the voices of the narrator and storybook characters while I am accompanied by original music intermingled with Hispanic melody lines.

Splunkey:

And the Teaching Guide is awesome because it talks about not only plot, characters and themes in my book, but it also offers many series of questions and series of activities that adults can use when they talk with children about my important messages.

Ashley:

A special closing section of the Teaching Guide provides a peacemaking process, a fundamental process for children and adults to use in working out conflicts We all deserve dignity and respect from eachother.

rents.

Splunkey:

You can check out our upcoming programs and readings, by going to

greatimaginings.org/programs/future/readings_signings_html

Let us know if you would like us to come to your home town and share peacemaking messages at your school.

Can't wait to meet you!

Ashley:

We look forward to meeting you and sharing exciting programs filled with reading and storytelling, song and poetry, drama and dance, and magic and fantasy!

Hope to see you soon!

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"Spokespuppet" and "Splunkunio Splunkey" are Registered Trademarks of Elana Ashley.