Johannes - Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker

For Stephen Barr in glittering gold Copyright 2017 by Shelley Johannes Designed by Phil Caminiti and Shelley Johannes Illustrations created with felt-tip pen, brush marker, and colored pencil on tracing paper All rights reserved. Published by Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address New York, New York 10023. ISBN 978-1-4847-7412-0 Visit www.DisneyBooks.com Beatrice Zinker always did her best thinking upside down. It worked like poof. It worked like poof.

It worked like presto. It worked like shazam on every problem, every pickle, and each and every jam. But not everything in her life was a piece of cake. The Zinkers were a right-side-up family. Being the upside down daughter wasnt easy. Her siblings didnt make things any easier.

Beatrice was the middle child. Her older sister, Kate, was a cookie-cutter version of their mother, Nancy. Her baby brother, Henry, was a cookie-cutter version of their father, Pete. Even the cat seemed cut out to be a Zinker. Beatrice, however, had been different from the very beginning. The Zinkers liked boxes and boundaries.

But not Beatrice. She climbed out of her first box as soon as she was able. Kates first word was MOM. When Beatrice finally spoke, her first word was WOW. Wow, indeed, said her father. Uh-oh, said Kate.

Oh no, said her mother, what now? As Beatrice grew, Kate said a lot of UH-OH. Nancy Zinker said a lot of OH NO and a lot of WHAT NOW? When Beatrice was five years old, she headed off to William Charles Elementary. It was an upstanding institution with a stand-up reputation. Keep your chin up, buttercup, encouraged her father. Take it easy on Mrs. Beasley, her mother teased.

Beatrice tried her best. She filled up on facts and figures five days a week. She sat at circle time. She relied on the rules and relaxed into the routine. But kindergarten couldnt counteract the pull of gravity. Despite a daily dose of ABCs and 123s, her mind still gravitated toward MAYBES, WHAT-IFS, and COULD-BES.

Maybe shell outgrow it, said the parents at pickup time. Maybe said Nancy Zinker. MAYBE was actually one of Beatrices favorite words. Occasionally one of her MAYBEs was a hit. And others saw things her way. It didnt happen often.

Nothing happened fast. But in first grade on Halloween night, to be exact Beatrice found a friend named Lenny. In matching costumes, they found plenty of candy and lots of common ground. After that they spent recess in the trees, sailing high seas, and fending off zombies. Sometimes they were ninjas. Some days they were knights.

Each day their high kicks and hijinks reached brave new heights. In the eyes of Lenny Santos, Beatrice was not a problem to be solvedshe was the perfect partner in crime. By second grade, even her teacher came around. At the graduation ceremony that spring, the whole class filed into the gym. Mrs. Walker crossed the stage and faced the crowd.

Holding a piece of paper and a microphone, she asked Beatrice to join her. This year, Beatrice reminded me that there are infinite upsides to being yourself. Infinite upsides, and infinite upside down sides, too. Beatrice squinted under the lights as Mrs. Walker made it official. This special award goes to Beatrice Zinkerour very own, very best Upside Down Thinker.

Wow, said Beatrice. Wow, indeed, said her father from the second row. Her mother stood up to snap a picture and spotted a problem. The award was upside down. Flip it around, she told Beatrice. TA-DA! she said. TA-DA! she said.

Once she had it in writing, there was no turning back.

Every idea starts as a tiny seedeven the biggest idea of the very best upside down thinker. Three months later, Beatrice launched the most important plan of her upside down life, but the seed of the idea was planted that very afternoon in June, on graduation day. The award was still crisp in her hands. The ink was still damp. Her cheeks still hurt from smiling.