Daniel Errico - The Journey of the Marmabill

The J OURNEY of the M ARMMABILL D ANIEL E RRICO Illustrations by T IFFANY T URRILL Sky Pony Press New York Copyright 2013 by Daniel Errico Illustrations 2013 by Tiffany Turrill All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Sky Pony Press books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or info@skyhorsepublishing.com.

Sky Pony is a registered trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyponypress.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. ISBN: 978-1-62087-736-4 Manufactured in India, February 2013 This product conforms to CPSIA 2008 T O THE H ERO A marmabill was searching on the rainy forest floor. She came up to a tree that had a tiny wooden door. Shed traveled very far and where she was, she didnt know.

Shed never been so scared and wasnt sure which way to go. She gave a gentle knock and twenty wugs came rolling out. When wugs hear any noise, they want to see what its about. Im looking for a creature. He has run off with my nest, But now Ive lost my way, and I could use a place to rest. If he has come this way, Im sure youll find him on this path.

But we have beds and lots of food and sniff, oh my, a bath! The wugs got started cooking and they filled a tub of bubbles. Leaf and flower bubble baths are sure to ease your troubles. They served up nuts and stew, and she devoured every bite. And played some Toss-the-Wug until they fell asleep mid-flight! Please dont go! they pleaded, when she thanked them for her stay. She said, I may still be lost, but I am on my way. The marmabill walked over logs and under heavy brush.

Her tiny legs were moving fast, like she was in a rush. She stopped for just a moment by a lazy flowing river, And ate some berry snacks the wugs were nice enough to give her. Do you mind? the ground exclaimed from underneath her rear. The ground just spoke? she said out loud. Im going mad, I fear. Im not the ground! the voice declared, while rising from the dirt.

Im just a tankadiggy. When you sat on me, it hurt! The marmabill apologized and offered him some food. She hadnt meant to squish himshe was anything but rude. Im looking for my home, she said, and he responded, Why? A buldabeast has taken it! Then she began to cry. I saw one pass me by and he was carrying a sack. She fell inside a hole that they had covered up with plants. She fell inside a hole that they had covered up with plants.

They chuckled from the trees, while building stacks of olly ants. She slipped along a muddy slide that traveled underground. And when it stopped, the marmabill was all mixed up around. More confused than ever, she was in a darkened cave. But being lost and scared is what will teach you to be brave. She grabbed a bunch of rocks, and threw them here and there. She grabbed a bunch of rocks, and threw them here and there.

And when they hit a wall or dip, the sound would tell her where. She walked along, until she threw a rock up to the ceiling. It made a funny sound that gave her quite a scary feeling. Instead of hitting stone, shed hit a soundly sleeping fluther. Soon its eyes lit up and started waking up another. One hundred fluthers fluttered down, glowing emerald green.

Having just been woken, they were acting cranky and mean! They chased her down a tunnel til she ended up outside. A fluther pulled her by the tail and took her for a ride. She grabbed a branch while flying by and managed to break free, And found herself on top of a Bonondabonza tree. I see him! said the marmabill. That thieving buldabeast! He sat beneath a waterfall she spotted to the east. She grabbed the nearest vine and started swinging through the air.

But when she reached the buldabeast he gave an icy stare. Give me back my nest! she yelled in quite a shaky voice. She may have been afraid, but she had made a mighty choice. The buldabeast came charging. He was in a foul mood. (Buldabeasts are known to have a fiery attitude.) When she looked for cover it was then she recognized, That she was near a key-key trap, cleverly disguised.