ANOTHER DAY By Jessica M., age 9

WEDNESDAY By Nhi, age 9

FINAL BATTLE By Edgar, age 10

Each time Mario  jumped on Bowser’s head

his neck stiffened

and thickened.

His eyes bulged.

His tail grew fatter and

sliced through the air.

He retched sparks

and  heaved fireballs

at Mario.

He jumped

and the

fireball hit the ground

and bounced back

at Bowser.

Mario stole the key from the air

and unlocked the cage.

“Thank you, Mario,” Princess Toadstool said,

and hugged him.

LOCKET By Anvivi, age 9

Heart shaped, sparkling and beautiful.

My mom gave it to me for my birthday when I turned 5 

in Vietnam. 

A year later, I zipped it into my backpack along with 

the other things

coming with me

to America.

On the bus to the airport I took out my charm 

and opened it.

I looked at the picture,

as small as my finger nail.

In the little photo, my eyes glance at the window, 

Lipstick colors my mom’s sad mouth peachy.

I looked out the bus window.

Saigon moved passed me.

Goodbye, Vietnam. I’ll miss you forever.

Tears slipped out of my eyes.

On the plane, I asked my mom,“Where is my backpack?” 

“I don’t have it,” she said.

I left it on the bus.

Maybe now it’s on someone else’s 

back.

NO MORE by Sharlene, age 10

The fragrant smell of french fries

hovers in the air.

I dash through chairs

and claw the the greasy sticks

into my mouth.

Crumbs of garlic tickle my tongue.

It’s my turn.

I pick up a bowling ball the size of my head,

stab my fingers through its skull

I lift my arm, swing,

and let go.

The ball echos down the lane.

Strike!

Pins clatter.

The reseter sweeps them down its throat.

I come back to the table.

Specks of garlic stare at me

from the greasy basket

No

more

fries.

Art by Jessica

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: A COMIC BOOK, Story by Leslie; Art by Leslie, age 10, Jessica M., age 9 & Anvivi, age 9

View and download your own copy of this comic here!

ARROWS By Tai, age 12 & Daniel, age 10

Arrows

By Tai  Luu & 

Daniel Briseno

Three people 

shooting 

arrows at me.

Only one way out. 

I ran across the deck

and jumped 

over the rails 

into the ocean

A triangle 

sliced through the surface

I tried to pull my gun 

from my pocket.

But I was too slow. 

I was dead.

I was reborn

at the edge of 

a pit. 

I looked down.

Lava 

oozed 

through the dirt. 

STUFFED RABBIT by Jessica, age 10

Its rainbow-spattered tie 

used to hypnotize me. 

Ears flopping over its face,

eyes reflecting the sun, 

blue fur like powdery snow.

Now 

another child hugs it 

against his chest.

I thought I lost it 

but I 

found out 

that my mom

took it to

Goodwill.

WHISTLE by Ricardo, age 9

On a string

around my neck,

its color brightens my chest.

Small enough to hide in my pocket, 

its tweeting invades my mind.

I drop it.

It breaks into pieces on the ground.

I put it back 

together with glue.

I blow it again

but now its sound

is broken.

GRANDMA By Khenny, age 10

Her brown eyes shimmer

and blink in the sun.

Her gum, 

a tuft of blue 

between her teeth.

Her hand waves at me.

Rows of red, blue and yellow flowers float across her dress. 

She smells like apples.

She lives in Laos.

In her garden

grey water drips onto her carrots from the hose.

Her black hair twirls in the wind when she walks home

and her shoes clack on grenade-colored cement.

   

HOCMON By Nhi, age 9

The last time I saw my grandma

she was standing

underneath 

our pear tree.

Its leaves fell onto

her shoulders.

She had 

smooth hands

like silk.

When she 

went to 

parties she

wore a dress the color of roses 

and lipstick the color 

of cherry  blossoms.

Her brown eyes 

are the color 

of my hair.

ROSALINDA By Jessica M., age 9

She knew almost everything

about multiplication and addition.

Even

nine

times

nine.

She had to move away.

On her last day

wind

blew

her hair past her shoulders

when her arms

swung

across

the monkey bars.

Tears

dripped

onto her bottom lip.

TEDDY BEAR By Leslie, age 9

I left her

in my old apartment,

pillowed in

the couch.

Her heart was 

still.  

Her paws 

were shaped

like 

little 

rocks.

MY STROLLER By Tran, age 9

Gleaming

in the sun,

Heart shaped 

spots dot

its nylon seat,

Blue 

as the Saigon

sky,

Its pillow 

puffed 

like a 

cloud,

lulling

me to sleep.

The wheels 

squeak as they

roll.

I had to 

leave it 

behind.

I did not get a new 

one

in America.

MY HIPPO By Jessica C.

Yellow cloth,

Shiny eyes.

My birthday present

from my grandma,

soft

baby

pink ears.

Packing boxes,

Mom’s vase slipped

from her hands,

shattering

on the floor.

One of its shards

sliced

off a piece

of

its

space

green

heart.

My mom sewed

it back together,

mended it

with love and

white string.

Only

two more days

to comfort it.

When we left for

America,

it stayed behind

on the couch.

FAKE MONEY By Sharlene, age 19

Wings fluttering in my hand,

their ink stains my fingers,

their whiteness blinds my eyes.

As I count the bills 

they rustle

through

my

fingers

then drift into my

plastic 

bag.

Safe

GOODBYE, CARE BEAR By Anna, age 9

Its black eyes 

shimmer and

lighten the

room.

A pink flower

fades

on its belly.

I leave it in

the box

my mom

gave me.

She said,

this box

is the

leaving

stuff.

I pulled off the lid.

At the bottom of the box,

a bottle of

cute hot

pink

nail

polish

glanced

at me.

The necklace wrapped

around its neck

shimmered. 

Too light

to come with us

to 

America.

CABBAGE LOOPERS: A Scientific Comic Book by Jessica C., Anvivi, Tran & Sharlene

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LENNY & THE GHOST, A Comic Book by Anna, age 9

Download a PDF copy of this comic book here.

You can watch a Room 2 Readers' Theater adaptation of Lenny & the Ghost here:

TROLLOLO By Sharlene, age 9, Khenny, age 10 & Tai, age 11

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