Jolly Time Books: Leo the Lion Politician Read online

Jolly Time Books

  Leo the Lion Politician

  Written and illustrated by

  Karen S. McGowan

  Dennis E. McGowan

  Text and illustrations copyright

  2016, 2017

  by Karen S. McGowan

  and Dennis E. McGowan

  Contents

  The Beginning

  Special Preview

  Other Books You Will Like

  About the Authors

  The Beginning

  “Professor Hootie, Leo and I are finished with the racetrack,” said Kelly.

  “It looks very nice, Kelly. Students, I’m very proud of all of you. You worked together as a team to build the racetrack.”

  “Thank you, Professor Hootie.”

  “Let’s go outside for recess,” said Professor Hootie. “When we return, we will put the finishing touches on the racetrack to make sure it is very strong. Then we will have a math lesson.”

  “Do we have to do math when we come back? I’d rather race the cars.”

  “Our math lesson will be fun, Kelly. We will have races to see how fast your cars can go. We will time the speed in seconds.”

  “That sounds like fun. Come on, Leo. Let’s go outside and play.”

  “Oh no, Kelly,” said Leo. “You left Big Owl in the classroom.”

  “Uh oh, I forgot. Professor Hootie, I left Big Owl in the classroom. Can Leo and I go get him?”

  “Okay, Kelly, but hurry back. We only have a few minutes left to play.”

  “Come with me, Big Owl. We have to go back outside and play,” said Leo.

  “Hey, Kelly, I’ll get Big Owl,” said Leo.

  CRASH! THUD! BAM!

  “Leo, the racetrack fell down!” yelled Kelly. “You knocked it down when you jumped up to get Big Owl.”

  “Yikes! I’ll never get it put back together before everyone comes inside,” said Leo. “I can’t let anyone know I did it. I am running for class president. The others will be mad at me. They won’t vote for me if they know the truth. Hurry, Kelly, let’s run outside before Professor Hootie and the others come back inside and find this mess.”

  “Look, Professor Hootie! Our racetrack is all torn down,” said Leo.

  “Oh, my goodness, Leo. It is a mess.”

  “Yeah, our racetrack is a mess. What happened? Who tore it down?” asked Leo.

  “Well, Leo, maybe it was my fault,” said Professor Hootie. “I left the windows open. Maybe the wind blew the racetrack down.”

  “Yes, Professor Hootie. That could have happened. Maybe it was your fault,” said Leo.

  Leo the Lion is going to let Professor Hootie take the blame for this mess, thought Kelly. I know that Leo knocked the racetrack down. What should I do? What should I do?

  “Wait a minute. Aren’t you George Washington, the president of the United States?”

  “That’s right, Leo. How are you doing today?”

  “Not so good, President Washington. Kelly and I went back inside the classroom to get Big Owl. When I reached for Big Owl, I knocked down the racetrack we were building. There is nothing left. It’s a mess. I can’t tell anyone that I did it.”

  “Why can’t you tell anyone?”

  “I’m a politician,” said Leo. “I’m running for class president. I can’t let the others know that I knocked it down. They will be mad at me. They won’t vote for me.”

  “Leo, I understand. We all make mistakes. Here is what is important. We need to make things right.”

  “What do you mean, President Washington?”

  “When I was a young boy about your age, I made a big mistake by chopping down a cherry tree. It was my dad’s favorite tree. He was so angry that he blew his top. He started blaming everyone.”

  “I was the only one who knew what happened. I was so scared that I hid from my dad so he wouldn’t find out. I was afraid that he would punish me. But soon I got hungry and went inside the house.

  My dad asked if I knew who chopped down his favorite tree. My knees started shaking. I didn’t want to have to make up more lies to cover up what I had done. I knew that unless I told the truth someone else might be blamed for something I did.”

  “What did you do, President Washington?”

  “I told the truth. My dad was so proud when I told the truth that he stopped being mad. He hugged me and told me that honesty was the best policy. That was the best day of my life.”

  “Maybe it wasn’t your fault, Professor Hootie,” said Sasha. “Maybe someone from another class came into our classroom while we were outside. Maybe they knocked down our racetrack because they were jealous. Do you think that could have happened, Professor Hootie?”

  “That might have happened, Sasha,” said Professor Hootie. “Anything could have happened. We don’t know the truth.”

  “Professor Hootie, I have to tell the truth. I did it when I came back inside with Kelly,” said Leo. “When I reached for Big Owl I knocked over the racetrack. It was my fault. I made a big mistake. It was an accident. I’m sorry.”

  “Leo, I’m very proud of you. Anyone can make a mistake. Telling the truth is the right thing to do. It makes you feel good. And it lets me know that you are dependable. The class and I respect you for being honest.”

  “Class, I checked the racetrack. It can be rebuilt in a jiffy. I will get my toolkit. Then we can see which car goes the fastest.”

  “Can Leo and I help you, Professor Hootie?” asked Kelly.

  “Sure, Kelly. Maybe we can build a bigger and faster racetrack than we had before.”

  “Didn’t George Washington say that honesty is the best policy?” asked Leo.

  “He sure did, Leo,” replied Professor Hootie.

  “I learned one thing today,” said Leo. “Even though I’m a lion I should always remember to tell the truth.”

  Thank you for reading this book.

  If you enjoyed it, please take a moment to leave a review.

  Thank you.

  You will find messages in each book—

  messages that some of you will hold near.

  Some of them will make you think,

  and some of them will make you say, “Oh, dear!”

  Even if life has not unfolded

  by the book—as you think it should,

  there is still one thing certain—

  life is good. Yes, life is good!

  Turn the page for a preview of another exciting story from Jolly Time Books!

  Special Preview

  Jolly Time Books: Hopscotch Hoopla

  “Kelly, you have all your school homework done. Why don’t you turn off the TV and go outside?”

  “Yikes! Do I have to turn off the TV, Mom? I want to play with my toys and stay inside.”

  “The TV has been on too long. You and Big Owl would enjoy going outside and playing with your friends.”

  Other Jolly Time Books You Will Like

  Kelly Adventure Series

  (Read in this Order):

  Searching for Kelly (Book 1)

  Chasing Kelly’s Shadow (Book 2)

  Kelly Saves the Day (Book 3)

  (Study Guides):

  Searching for Kelly (Book 1)

  Chasing Kelly’s Shadow (Book 2)

  Kelly Saves the Day (Book 3)

  Jolly Family Series

  (Read in any Order)

  Captured by Aliens! (#4)

  Into the Dungeon! (#5)

  Yucky Boogers! (#6)

  Are We There Yet? (#7)

  Goat Finger! (#8)

  Yikes! It’s Alive! (#9)

  Lost in the Jungle! (#10)

  Save Janie! (#11)

  Blast Off!
(#12)

  Halloween Moon! (#13)

  Special Delivery! (#14)

  Keeping Up! (#15)

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  Elvira Tackles Picky Eaters

  One Ring-a-Dingy

  The Good Life

  The Handyman

  Jolly Time Books

  Dog Squad Series

  Lost Spaceship (#1)

  Fang, the Ornery Cat (#2)

  Moon Over Miami (#3)

  I’m So Popular (#4)

  That Stinks (#5)

  Surf’s Up (#6)

  Molly Megaphone (#7)

  Once in a Blue Moon (#8)

  Rescue Me (#9)

  What’s Up? (#10)

  Bullies Beware (#11)

  My Perfect World (#12)

  Jolly Time Books

  Playhouse Series

  Rhyme Time (#1)

  The Big Score (#2)

  I Hear You (#3)

  I Want a Pet (#4)

  Big Red Fire Truck (#5)

  Big Bad Bully (#6)

  T. Rex Shares a Secret (#7)

  My Birthday Party (#8)

  Catch Me if You Can (#9)

  Searching for Treasure (#10)

  Pooter’s Big Stink (#11)

  Stuff Happens (#12)

  Leo the Lion Politician (#13)

  Hopscotch Hoopla (#14)

  Jolly Time Books

  Storytime Series

  Stop Fighting (#1)

  King of the Jungle (#2)

  On the Road Again (#3)

  Good Night Friends (#4)

  How to Be Cool (#5)

  Leo the Lion King (#6)

  The Perfect Gift (#7)

  It’s Mine (#8)

  Who’s Got Talent? (#9)

  Yes We Can (#10)

  Where’s Big Owl? (#11)

  The Dancing Queen (#12)

  I Am Somebody (#13)

  In My Room (#14)

  What I Do Best (#15)

  Tear Down This Wall (#16)

  What’s for Dinner? (#17)

  Dark Shadows (#18)

  More Books

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  The Living D.I.E.T.: Conquer stress in your life now (Study Guide)

  About the Authors

  Karen S. McGowan has worked more than 20 years as a teacher and holds a Master of Education degree. She is a children’s book author and leading advocate of education.

  She believes in inspiring, strengthening, and nurturing students and their families. Readers will discover different ways to make friends and build confidence, develop empathy, strengthen family relationships, deal with bullies, and more!

  Dennis E. McGowan has worked in foreign affairs and human resources for more than two decades. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree.

  Text and illustrations copyright

  2016, 2017

  by Karen S. McGowan

  and Dennis E. McGowan

  Book cover design by

  Dan S. McGowan

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the authors except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  To Denise and Dan

  for inspiring Jolly Time Books!

  Kelly, the joy and enthusiasm you created

  made us pause and say, “Gee, whiz!”

  The most valuable lesson you taught us was

  how precious life really is.