My First Story: The Turtle That Got Too Close To The Sun

I wrote my first book when I was 5. It was titled The Turtle That Got Too Close To The Sun.

Here’s my 5-year-old author picture (aka my kindergarten school picture):

I wrote the story, and then my mom helped me lay it out in multi-page form. I drew the illustrations in black ink, and then my mom copied them, so I could send a copy of the story to all my relatives. After my mom sewed the book together on her sewing machine, I colored in the pictures.

And now, without further ado, the story:

I still feel that this story may be the best thing I’ve ever written.

Story Influences

Near the beginning of kindergarten we watched a movie about the Icarus myth. To escape from their island prison, Icarus’ father, Daedalus, builds them wings. As they’re escaping, Icarus flies too close to the sun. Apparently this myth bothered me, because a few months later I wrote this story. I reflect more on the process of writing this story in my personal essay, “I Am Not a Writer.”