You can listen to it here,
You can read it here,
And it’s available in paperback here š
Come back tomorrow for another Luke Walker chapter read aloud!
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vegan, vegan fairy tale, vegan children’s books, vegan books for children, fairy tales, children’s stories, books, children’s books, audiobooks, listen with children,
Shop now to get 15% off on all purchases from the Violet’s Vegan Comics bookshop!
Use code TREAT15 at the checkout.
Hurry! š
Offer ends Friday 23 October at 23:59 UTC
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vegan, vegan books, vegan children’s books, vegan books for children, vegan storybooks, books, discount books, special offer,
See you next week for more stories on ‘tape’! š
Have a great weekend! ā¤
[All theĀ Luke Walker: animal stick up for-erĀ stories are available in paperback and free to readĀ here ]
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vegan storybook, vegan books for children, short stories, books on tape, audiobooks, childrenās books, children’s stories, vegan children’s stories,
Come back tomorrow for chapter four! ā¤
All theĀ Luke Walker: animal stick up for-erĀ stories are available in paperback and free to readĀ here š
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vegan storybook, vegan books for children, short stories, books on tape, audiobooks, childrenās books,
And the story continues …
Come back tomorrow for chapter 3! ā¤
All the Luke Walker: animal stick up for-er stories are available in paperback and free to read here š
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vegan storybook, vegan books for children, short stories, books on tape, audiobooks, childrenās books,
Let me tell you a story ….
Come back tomorrow for chapter two! ā¤
All the Luke Walker: animal stick up for-er stories are available in paperback and free to read here š
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vegan storybook, vegan books for children, short stories, books on tape, audiobooks, children’s books,
You might remember that back in August, Plant Based Health Professionals worked on the World Plant Milk Day Campaign and did an interview with the Times newspaper calling for a replacement of free school milk with fruit and vegetables or plant milk. Unbeknown to them, this prompted a letter to RT Hon Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, from Dr Hilary Jones (TV doctor) on behalf of The School & Nursery Milk Alliance. Who even knew about this organisation?!
āWe are a coalition of organisations from the early years, education, health and dairy sectors who are committed to promoting the benefits to childrenās physical and dental health and wellbeing that arise from drinking milk in learning environmentsā.
So essentially a dairy funded front organisation. The UK Government are of course complicit in propping up the dairy industry using tax payers’ money even though demand for milk is steadily reducing, excess milk is being thrown away, dairy farming is contributing to environmental destruction and itās detrimental to human health.
The following is Dr Shireen Kassam’s response to that letter.
Dear Dr Jones,
I am disappointed to learn that you continue to promote cowās milk consumption in children and the free school milk programme. You state that milk has āunrivalled nutritional contentā. In my view, the nutritional content of milk is only unrivalled if you are a baby cow. There is no requirement for milk consumption beyond weaning, as evidenced by the fact that 70% of the global population have lactose malabsorption, which can manifest as intolerance. Europeans have indeed adapted to digesting dairy beyond weaning but even then, up to 30% are not able to digest the main sugar lactose. For those with lactose intolerance, consuming dairy can be distressing, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea. The school milk programme excludes and discriminates against those with lactose intolerance, often children from ethnic minorities in the UK.
With this is mind, Health Canada has removed dairy from its most recent food guide. The healthiest hydration for children and adults is in fact water. You however state various health benefits of dairy consumption for children, such as boosting energy, aiding concentration and maintaining a healthy weight but there is no such conclusive evidence. In fact, a review paper from earlier this year summarising the current evidence for milk consumption in one of the worldās most highly respected medical journals concluded that milk was not required for optimal health in children or adults. The authors conclude that there is no convincing evidence that milk consumption promotes a healthy weight, improves bone health or reduces the risk of any chronic illness. In fact, they highlight that milk consumption has the potential for harm, including an increased risk of eczema, asthma, acne, prostate and endometrial cancers.You claim that dairy consumption helps maintain a healthy weight in children, yet a randomised study found no benefit of dairy consumption for reducing body fat or weight. You also state that omitting dairy from the diet could lead to malnutrition, including Kwashiorkor ā a form of protein malnutrition ā especially when consuming a rice-based vegan diet. Yet, when meeting calorie requirements, scientific studies have shown that a healthy plant-based diet provides more protein than is required for any age group.
Neither I nor Plant-Based Health Professionals UK are recommending a rice-based vegan diet in place of free school milk. The study you cite raising concerns about the use of plant milks leading to malnutrition was conducted in children aged 4 to 14 months, when breast milk is considered the optimal source of calories and nutrients, and these data cannot be extrapolated to school-aged children. Studies have shown that the growth, health and nutritional status of vegetarian and vegan children are within normal range and comparable with non-vegetarian children. It is widely accepted that nutrients found in milk, including calcium, can be obtained from whole plant sources and fortified plant milks if preferred. Fortified soya milk, the most appropriate alternative to cowās milk, has similar quantities of protein and calcium as cowās milk, with benefits for heart health and breast cancer reduction. The absorption of calcium from many green vegetables is also greater than that from cowās dairy. This information is supported and endorsed by major dietetic associations around the world including most recently the BDA in the UK.
I agree wholeheartedly with you that our children need access to high-quality nutrient rich food. The foods most associated with health promotion in children and adults are fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. Yet only 18% of children in the UK eat five portions of fruits and vegetables a day. We should be promoting the consumption of these foods in schools, which are inclusive of all communities and supported by strong scientific evidence. It is time we put childrenās health before the vested interests of the dairy industry.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr Shireen Kassam,
Founder and Director of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the mainstream media were not interested in Dr Kassam’s response to Dr Jonesā letter so she has published it online here and on social media and hopes we will all share widely.
Please do.
Thank you.
Roll up roll up! It’s time for the annual Bridlington Vegan Festival!
Normally it’s held at Bridlington Spa – oh don’t you wish you were there right now? š – but this year, for obvious reasons, it’s going to be online so that means that even if you can’t get to Bridlington on Sunday, you don’t have to miss out š
Whatās on at the 2020 Bridlington Vegan Online Festival I hear you ask?
Well, if you pop over here you’ll find out that there’s going to be posts from and/or links to:
* delicious vegan food providers
* businesses providing vegan, ethical, eco-friendly products and holistic therapies
* Information and advice about following a vegan lifestyle
* Local and national groups campaigning to help people, animals and the environment.
But that’s not all š
You can also enjoy:
Inspirational speakers,
Music from Tess Fletcher, Barbara Helen and His Witch
Cookery demonstrations
& Relaxing yoga sessions
And still there’s more!
If you go to the Bridlington Vegan Festival 2020 page you can see the whole timetable.
There will be instagram posts to enjoy from 9am onwards. There’s going to be sing-alongs, and yoga [via zoom and in real life on the beach!] There’s a children’s drama workshop and lots of other things for children to join in with. There’s even a juggler!
So come on down (to your settee) and enjoy this happy event š
Sunday 11th October, 9am – be there!
It’s eight years ago today that Violet’s Vegan e-Comics set up camp at WordPress!
So Happy Birthday us!
Long may we continue! š
Have a slice of birthday cake ā¤
Mm mmmmm – doesn’t that look amazing?
Well I can’t take credit for it, I found it at Vegan Dollhouse!
There are tons of amazing recipes over there!
You should check it out!
vegandollhouse.com š
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vegan cake, vegan recipes, vegan birthday cake, vegan chocolate cake,
A colourful compilation of rhyming stories and nursery rhymes. This one is our best seller and now it’s only Ā£5! š
A compilation of popular rhyming stories from Violetās Vegan Comics ā āWhy are you a vegan?ā, āIām not dinner!ā, Edmundās Lunch, bones and teef, and Where are you going Deidra? Plus ten well-known nursery rhymes reworded with humour to reflect compassion and respect for animals.
Filled with colourful, hand-painted illustrations, this bright and happy vegan storybook is great for bedtime stories and for reading with and to little ones.
Format: Paperback 96 pages, colour interior, dimensions: 6 x 9 in / 152 x 229 mm, vegan childrenās book suitable for pre-school children.
Ā£5.00 in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from international printer lulu.com
āThis book has a sweet approach to teach kids why our family chose to be vegan and respect animals. Also, we like that it gives a voice to animals and to kids. Our favorite story was āWhereā¦
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Learn to count to ten with this delightful early learning book about an alien visitor who wants to make friends. Only Ā£4.50! ā¤
Wibbolywub is a Bibbolybob from planet Bobbolybib. Heās come to Earth for the day to find out about the different types of Earthlings and to make as many new friends as he can. You could help him count them.
This delightful early learning book introduces the numbers zero to ten and reveals some very interesting facts about Earthlings. It does so in the context of a lovely story of friendship between an alien being and the ten different animals he meets.
Colourfully illustrated with watercolour paintings, this vegan picture book is suitable for reading to pre-schoolers and for older children to read alone.
Format: Paperback 63 pages, colour interior, dimensions: 7.44 x 9.68 in / 189 x 246 mm, vegan childrenās book suitable for reading with pre-school children and for older children to read alone.
Ā£4.50in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from internationalā¦
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Everyone is excited because itās Grandpa Wollemiās birthday but Cedro is a little worried. Kauri and Myrtle have spent days making special presents for Grandpa but Cedro isnāt very good at arts and crafts so he doesnāt have anything to give.
Luckily he realises just in time that he can make Grandpa a birthday cake. This story explains how he does it. A happy vegan picture book, colourfully illustrated in naĆÆve style, with simple vegan cake recipe included. Suitable for reading with little ones.
Format: Paperback 53 pages, colour interior, dimensions: Square (8.5 x 8.5 in / 216 x 216 mm), vegan childrenās book suitable for reading with children aged four and up.
Ā£4.00Ā in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from international printer lulu.com
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vegan, vegan childrenās book, vegan picture book, childrenās recipe book, vegan birthday cake recipe, vegan children, raising vegan childrenā¦
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Let’s do some colouring! š
A colouring book for children or adults.
Full of nutritious food, Colour By Nutrients is at once a resource for artistic indulgence and an educational tool.
Divided into chapters of different vitamins and minerals, the book illustrates which foods contain significant amounts of each.
The authors are happy for teachers and parents to photocopy the colouring pages for use in the classroom. You can also download it for free here
All in all a delightful way to learn about nutrition. š
Format: Paperback 120 pages, black and white interior, dimensions: 7.44 x 9.68 in / 189 x 246 mm, vegan colouring book, suitable for all ages.
Ā£4.00in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from international printer lulu.com
Comments from the web:
āJust to let you know that I received my book today. Itās fabulous and my grandson is going to love it. Thank youā¦
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Reflecto Girl #7 – “Awesome story” and a cake recipe at the end – all for ONLY Ā£3.50!!! š
RenƩe Gale is a vegan activist and superhero. Sort of. When she was eleven years old her grandmother gave her the Dounto, a mystical mirror, (pronounced doon-toe). Its name comes from the rule that you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If the Dounto is held in front of someone who is doing something horrible to someone else, their misdeeds are reflected back. Whatever they are doing, happens to them.
With the Dounto, RenĆ©e is Reflecto Girl. In episode 7, on her way to reflect an unpleasant billionaire, Reflecto Girl accidentally reflects three other people on the same train. This exciting vegan comic, in the style of 1970s childrenās comics, tells the very different stories of what happens to each of them.
Plus thereās a delicious vegan cake recipe at the end š
Format: Paperback 41 pages, colour interior, dimensions: 8.5 x 11ā¦
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Venus Aqueous: Prison Break ā her most exciting adventure so far. And thereās a crossword puzzle at the end. Colourful vegan adventure comic, suitable for readers aged 8 and up, for only Ā£3.50 š
Venus Acton is a champion swimmer who likes nothing more than wild swimming in the ocean. After being hit by sonic vibrations from an underwater explosion, she developed the ability to hear and understand marine animals. She uses that ability to rescue those who call for her help.
In episode 5, Venus and friends suspect that their local public aquarium is not all it pretends to be and decide to investigate. What they discover is worse than they could have imagined and they know they just have to do something. But what? What can they possibly do to help? Well, itās amazing what four intelligent, compassionate and highly motivated people can achieve when they put their minds to it. Especially when one of them can hear the animalsā desperate cries for help.
Venus Aqueous: Prison Break ā her most exciting adventure so far. And thereās a crossword puzzle at theā¦
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Here’s something different: a rhyming story with words and pictures in collage. Only Ā£3.50! š
Patty Panda is hungry but doesnāt know what to eat. Luckily she meets lots of different animals who are happy to share their food with her, but still she has trouble finding something that suits her.
This delightful rhyming story, written and illustrated completely in collage by Lavender Laine, teaches children that we are all different and whatās good for one is not necessarily good for someone else.
It might also inspire children to make art out of old odds and ends (such as left over yarn and buttons, paper cut from old magazines, fabric off-cuts, and food packaging etc) as Laine has done here, encouraging recycling and resourcefulness.
Format: Paperback 34 pages, colour interior, dimensions: 8.5 x 11 in / 216 x 279 mm, vegan childrenās book suitable for reading with pre-school children and for older children to read alone.
Ā£3.50 in UK. Prices may vary depending on whereā¦
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Old fashioned black and white comic with funny stories and three puzzle pages – ONLY Ā£2.50! š
Beans on Toast: a new vegan comic for 21st century kids! This comic includes three different stories!
First: Marvellous Mildred and the Girl Scout Twins ā a funny new animal-rescue adventure in the style of Penelope Pitstop.
Second: Sherman & Geynes: Pretend Detectives ā another funny story about a couple of imaginative boys who investigate mysteries of their own invention.
AND third: What Me And Jude Did While Everyone Else Was At School ā the diary of a nine year old home-schooler.
All this as well as three puzzle pages in this old-fashioned, black and white, funny comic for kids aged 5 and up.
Format: Paperback 43 pages, black and white interior, dimensions: 8.5 x 11 in / 216 x 279 mm, vegan childrenās book suitable for ages 5 and up.
Ā£2.50 in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from international printer lulu.com
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Vegan fairy tales – what fun! š
The Little Chicken Book of Fairy Tales contains four new stories in the classic fairy tale style. Thereās one about a princess whose need to be popular makes her a little too eager to please and she has to find out the hard way that itās not always a good idea to give the people what they want, ā thereās a wizard in that one!
Then thereās the king whose three sons have to compete to win the throne by solving a crisis. Thereās no wizard in that one. Then thereās the one with a world protected by witches, and the last one has a boy who makes a lot of wishes ā thereās no wizard in that one either but there is a bit of magic! š
Vegan fairy tales! What fun! š
Actually these are only subliminally vegan so while this lovely book will definitely be enjoyed byā¦
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A vegan ghost story! Plus two puzzle pages and a colouring page – all for only Ā£3!!! š
The Andersons were once an ordinary family. Mr Anderson was a postman, Mrs Anderson grew fruit and vegetables in their garden, Denzel the dog had a comfortable bed and enjoyed two walks a day, and the children, Casey and Brietta, went to school. But, after Mr Anderson broke the law to protect some innocent birds, they had to leave town in a hurry and now live a nomadic life in an old red bus.
We join them three months later, living the dream in Old Red and completely unaware that theyāre about to cross paths with an angry ghost.
The English Family Anderson is a colourful comic suitable for readers aged 8 and up. Thereās also two puzzle pages and a colouring page.
Format: Paperback 39 pages, colour interior, dimensions: 8.5 x 11 in / 216 x 279 mm, vegan childrenās book suitable for ages 8 to 108.
Ā£3.00 inā¦
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Reflecto Girl #5 and #6: 2 stories and 2 puzzles! Ā£3!
Renee Gale inherited the Dounto, (pronounced doon-toe) an ancient mystical mirror, from her grandmother when she was eleven years old. When held in front of someone doing something horrible, the Dounto reflects their misdeeds. Whatever they are doing to someone else, happens to them. With the Dounto Renee is Reflecto Girl.
In episode 5, Sidekick, a nice day out turns ugly when Reflecto Girl has to intervene in unpleasant goings on at a public formal garden.
In episode 6, Harsh But Fair, Reflecto Girl and her new sidekick go up against a government man who makes the mistake of underestimating her, with devastating consequences.
Daring, exciting, and a little bit supernatural, the Reflecto Girl stories are told in the style of 1970s childrenās comics, complete with a puzzle at the end of each story.
Format: Paperback 35 pages, colour interior, dimensions: 8.5 x 11 in / 216ā¦
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The first four episodes of Reflecto Girl, a fact file about sea animals, a wordsearch puzzle, a colouring page and a paper doll to cut out – and all for just Ā£3!!! š
Renee Gale was an ordinary girl when she inherited something from her grandma: an ancient Celtic mystical mirror ā the Dounto (pronounced doon-toe). It had been passed down through the female line of her family for centuries. The Dounto has the power to reflect peopleās misdeeds back onto them. So if Renee holds it in front of someone, whatever they are doing or about to do to someone else will happen to them. With the Dounto Renee is Reflecto Girl, saving all sorts of animals from all sorts of dangers by giving their abusers a taste of their own medicine.
These first four stories tell how it all began for Reflecto Girl. She is just finding her feet. This is only the beginning.
Also, thereās a fact file of interesting information about sea animals, a wordsearch puzzle, a colouring page and a paper doll to cut out.
A vegan adventureā¦
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The first four episodes of Venus plus two animal fact files and a puzzle page – all for just Ā£3!!! ā¤
Venus Acton is a champion swimmer. Sheās captain of the school swim team and enjoys competing with other schools, but what she loves most of all is swimming in the sea.
After an unexpected event leaves her with a supernatural power, she uses her new ability to respond to the animals who call for her help.
Venus Aqueous: Beginnings contains the first four episodes of the popular comic from Violetās Vegan Comics, plus two animal fact files and a puzzle page. Suitable for readers aged 8 and up.
Format: Paperback 41 pages, colour interior, dimensions: 8.5 x 11 in / 216 x 279 mm, vegan childrenās book suitable for ages 8 to 108.
Ā£3.00 in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from international printer lulu.com
Comments from the web:
āThis is a great story š I really love the artistic style and the fun senseā¦
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A Little Chicken Classic – two books in one! Great value for money at only Ā£4.50 for sixteen chapters!
In a playful imitation of the old Penguin Classics, we bring you the first Little Chicken classic! Drawn untidily and off-centre in crayon, this book cover is the perfect wrapping for stories about Luke š
This edition contains all the stories from the first two Luke Walker books but it is written in ordinary Times New Roman instead of the handwritten font used in the others. For this reason it has less pages and costs less to print. Complete with hand-drawn illustrations.
For the uninitiated, Luke Walker is an eight year old boy with a mind of his own. Growing up in a meat-eating family, heās noticed that life often isnāt fair for animals and that his parentsā and teachersā justifications for this donāt make sense. Wanting to right wrongs, he becomes a self-styled vegan outlaw who will not play by the rules if the rules mean being unkind. Heā¦
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Hey! Yesterday was World Read A Book Day – if you missed it, read one today! š
Luke Walker started sticking up for animals when he was 8 and told his parents he wasnāt going to eat meat any more. From that point on he trusted no one and questioned everything. He became a self-styled outlaw who spoke out and took action when animals needed his help, regardless of the trouble he got into.
Now, in the third book of the series, heās 11 and at secondary school. Heās still the same brave outspoken animal defender but heās not alone. Three friends have joined him and together they are the Secret Society of animal stick up for-ers.
As always, Lukeās rebellious antics will amuse and inspire. Whenever youāre faced with an animal-related dilemma, think to yourself ā what would Luke do? Chapters 17 to 24 of the Luke Walker: animal stick up for-er series of vegan short stories by Violet Plum. Printed in hand-written font.
Format:Ā ā¦
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And then he was nine!
The second book in the Luke Walker: animal stick up for-er series continues where the first left off, with chapters nine to sixteen.
Luke is a year older but just as outspoken and brave ā perhaps even braver. He sticks up for cows and sheep and fish and everyone else who canāt stick up for themselves. His adventures are exciting, funny and sometimes outrageous! Luke Walker ā a vegan Just William for the twenty first century.
Written in hand-written font and including black and white illustrations by Miranda Lemon.
Format:Ā Paperback 244 pages, black and white interior, dimensions: 6 x 9 in / 152 x 229 mm, vegan childrenās book of short stories, suitable for ages 8 to 108.
Ā£5.50Ā in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from international printer lulu.com
Comments from the web:
āMy daughter ( 7 yrs ) and I justā¦
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Remember when Luke was eight? š
Luke Walker is an eight year old boy with a mind of his own. Heās noticed that life often isnāt fair for animals and that his parentsā and teachersā justifications for this donāt make sense. Wanting to right wrongs, he becomes a self-styled outlaw who will not play by the rules if the rules mean being unkind. He knows heās right but he also knows that, in order to do the right thing, he sometimes needs to be sneaky.
These first eight chapters of Luke Walkerās adventures sticking up for animals are funny, inspiring, and very entertaining. Great mischief, great adventures, great fun! Luke Walker is a vegan Just William for the twenty-first century. This book is the first in the Luke Walker series.
Format:Paperback 150 pages, black and white interior, dimensions: 6 x 9 in / 152 x 229 mm, vegan childrenās book of short stories, suitable forā¦
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And on Day 3 of our books posts we have a funny conspiracy theory:
Suspicious ciphertexts discovered by state investigators. Assumed to be the correspondence of a hostile rebel gang. Those in charge fear an attempt to overthrow the government. M is tasked with tracking down the rebels, discovering their plans and bringing them to justice before they destroy civilization.
This is the classified document, complete with uncovered ciphertexts and suspect profiles, which details the investigationās progress. The Rebel Gang and the Number Ciphers: a funny, intriguing and sometimes badly-spelled code-cracking journey of discovery.
This conspiracy theory is fiction and any resemblance to real people or events is probably coincidental š
Format: Paperback 70 pages, colour interior, dimensions: A5 (5.83 x 8.27 in / 148 x 210 mm), vegan graphic novel, suitable for ages 8 and up.
Ā£4.00in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from international printer lulu.com
Comments from the web:
āWhoa, this is soā¦
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Here’s a fun book of wacky, irreverent poems for just Ā£2.50!!! š
HUMANS ARE NOT OMNIVORES![poems your teacher might not like] is a compilation of 26 wacky, fun and irreverent poems inspired by the wonderful Spike Milliganās Silly Verse for kids.
Encouraging children to think for themselves and question everything, these funny rhymes are just the thing for little individuals. Complete with messy black and white illustrations.
Format: Paperback 42 pages, black and white interior, dimensions: Pocket Book (4.25 x 6.875 in / 108 x 175 mm), funny vegan poems, suitable for all ages ā would make a good Christmas stocking-filler š
Ā£2.50 in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from international printer lulu.com
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vegan poems, vegan childrenās poems, vegan childrenās book, vegan, books, animals, animal rights,
Check out our new books site! I’ll reblog a new book post every day š Have a great day!
What would happen if the animals got organised? What if the persecutors got what was coming to them? What if the natural world fought back? This, in a nutshell, is what Maddicts is about. Well, itās part of what Maddicts is about, but we donāt want to give too much away.
Maddicts is a dark satirical thriller; a graphic novel set in 2027.
Youāll gasp.
Youāll laugh.
Youāll dread 2027.
Recommended for readers over 12 years.
Format: Paperback 98 pages, black and white interior, dimensions: A5 (5.83 x 8.27 in / 148 x 210 mm), vegan graphic novel, suitable for ages 12 to over 21.
Ā£3.00in UK. Prices may vary depending on where itās printed.
Ships worldwide from international printer lulu.com
Comments from the web:
āSuperb story, great. Very funny and interesting. How cool!! Really enjoyed this šā ā rick203
āI didnāt think I would like this genre atā¦
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A message from Shireen of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK:
Dear Members and Supporters,
We are delighted to be supporting World Plant Milk Day. It is today, August 22nd.
World Plant Milk DayĀ is an international day that celebrates plant-based alternatives to dairy milk. Founded by Robbie Lockie, Co-founder of Plant Based News, in 2017 and established as a partnership withĀ ProVegĀ in 2018, the campaign has attracted the attention of millions of people around the world and helped accelerate the transition from dairy milk to the rich variety of plant-based alternatives. In 2020,Ā Switch4GoodĀ joined to reach more people and further the idea that ‘The Future Is Dairy-Free’.
We have been working withĀ Eden Green PRĀ to get the message out to media and the wider public that dairy is not necessary in the diet, can cause adverse health effects, is destructive to the environment and is incredibly cruel to the animals.Ā Its continued promotion by Government excludes communities of colour who are more likely to to be lactose intolerant.Ā We have had coverage in the Mirror on SundayĀ andĀ Plant Based News.
The World Plant Milk DayĀ websiteĀ has some wonderful resources andĀ articlesĀ from myself, team member Dr Leila Dehghan and our International board member Brenda Davis RD.Ā
You will have read the incrediblyĀ misleading stories in the media funded by the dairy industry who are trying to promote cow’s milk as more environmentally friendly than soya milk.Ā This is of course utter nonsense and based on flawed science.Ā Plant Based News have published an excellent rebuttal.Ā
Please support this excellent initiative by sharing the campaign and the 7 day dairy free challenge on social media, with friends, family and colleagues andĀ let’sĀ get dairy off the plate.
The future is dairy free!
Shireen
Thanks so much Shireen for this brilliant message.Ā We’d like to add that it’s worth bearing in mind that vegans don’t have to eat soya anyway.Ā We hardly ever do.Ā Miranda and I have completely given up any kind of milk (milk is for babies).Ā We drink water.Ā We drink fruit smoothies.Ā That’s it.Ā We get our protein from green leafies and beans and peas and lentils.Ā And we love those Linda McCartney pea protein sausages! š And vegetable burgers made out of actual vegetables! š So even when the whole world is vegan, there’s no need to worry about increased demand for soya products š
Have a great weekend! xx
I’m sure I must have told you that The Two Little Pigs is available in paperback but what’s new is that you can now get it in hardback!
This would make a beautiful vegan birthday present for a little one who likes stories about animals š
And with that we wish you many happy storytimes ā¤
The Two Little Pigs
is available in hardback for Ā£12.50,
*
in paperback for Ā£3.50,
*
and can be read for free right here š
Have a great day! š
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Prices correct at time of writing.
vegan, vegan storybook, vegan books, vegan children, vegan children’s books, juvenile fiction, vegan fiction, vegan rhyming story, books, stories, vegan children’s stories, animals, animal rights,
The Be The Future market is back!
Full of stalls selling exclusively vegan products – eg toiletries, make up, clothes, chocolates, food and drink, and of course VEGAN CHILDREN’S BOOKS!
The prices of our books range from Ā£2.50 to Ā£10
but they’re free to book fairies! š
So come on, spend Sunday with lots of other lovely vegans!
Head over to Stoke Newington and treat yourself!
Abney Public Hall, 73A Church Street, Stoke Newington, LONDON, N16 0AS
Sunday 16th August 2020
10 ’til 5
Click here for more info and how to get there
and go to @bethefuture_market on Instagram to see who’s going to be there š
See you soon! ā¤
Marvellous Mildred (whose first story you read last week) is part of our new comic:
Now available for the amazing price of
In it you’ll find Marvellous Mildred and the Girl Scout TwinsĀ ….
plus What me and Jude did while everyone else was at school, …
plus Sherman & Geynes (pretend detectives).Ā And that’s not all!
There are also puzzle pages!!!
So if you’re looking for something fun and creative for your 21st century kids,
Look no further than the B.O.T. comic
available from our little bookshop š
Suitable for readers aged 6 and up
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For the story from the beginning, click here š
Well done Mildred!
Mildred and friends will be back to rescue more animals in the future.
Make sure you follow the blog so that you don’t miss it š
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This comic was created with Comic Life byĀ Plasq
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vegan, vegan comic, animals, animal rights, animal rescue, cow, calf, cartoon, vegan childrenās story, vegan fiction, childrenās comic, vegan childrenās comic, vegan children
Oh no!Ā Will Mildred get Daisy out in time? š®
Or is the Flat-Capped Menace going to go back in and find them? š®
Find out tomorrow!
or read the rest of the storyĀ nowĀ š
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This comic was created with Comic Life byĀ Plasq
***
vegan, vegan comic, animals, animal rights, animal rescue, cow, calf, cartoon, vegan childrenās story, vegan fiction, childrenās comic, vegan childrenās comic, vegan children
Story continues from yesterday:
Come on Girl Scout Twins – think of something! š®
Come back tomorrow to see what they come up with
or read the rest of the story now š
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This comic was created with Comic Life byĀ Plasq
***
vegan, vegan comic, animals, animal rights, animal rescue, cow, calf, cartoon, vegan childrenās story, vegan fiction, childrenās comic, vegan childrenās comic, vegan children
Story continues from yesterday:
Yay!Ā Mildred’s going in!Ā Join us tomorrow to find out what happens,
or if you donāt want to wait, you canĀ read the whole story nowĀ š
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This comic was created with Comic Life byĀ Plasq
***
vegan, vegan comic, animals, animal rights, animal rescue, cow, calf, cartoon, vegan childrenās story, vegan fiction, childrenās comic, vegan childrenās comic, vegan children
Oh no!Ā Hurry Mildred!
Will they get there in time to save Daisy?
Join us tomorrow to see what happens next,
or if you don’t want to wait, you can read the whole story now š
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This comic was created with Comic Life by Plasq
***
vegan, vegan comic, animals, animal rights, animal rescue, cow, calf, cartoon, vegan children’s story, vegan fiction, children’s comic, vegan children’s comic, vegan children
We used to love the old Penelope Pitstop cartoons and Miranda thought it would be great fun to make something similar.
So she did! š
She made Marvellous Mildred and the Girl Scout Twins!
So, instead of the Ant Hill Mob:
there’s Marvellous Mildred and the Girl Scout Twins:
And instead of Penelope Pitstop being pursued by the Hooded Claw:
There’s Daisy Dewdrop:
being pursued by the Flat-Capped Menace:
This story’s got it all!
An evil villain with elaborate schemes and contraptions, the defenceless innocents on whom he preys, and the fearless protectors who outwit him in their daring rescues.
Don’t miss Marvellous Mildred and the Girl Scout Twins by Miranda Lemon.
Starts here on Monday! š
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vegan, vegan comic, children’s comic, cartoons, vintage cartoons, animals, animal rescue, humour, children’s story,
You know how frustrating it is when you’re doing your best to avoid plastic but even the glass bottle of organic vegetable oil has a plastic insert, plastic lid and sometimes even a plastic neck-sleeve?Ā Well, after spending half an hour trying to cut off this evil neck sleeve the other day I decided, I’m putting my foot down!Ā I am not buying bottles like this ever again!Ā “But what about cake?” argued my alter ego, “how will you make cake without vegetable oil?”
This is how:
All you need is
The sugar is plastic-free too if you get it from a zero-waste filling station or buy Silver Spoon British Sugar (made from home grown sugar beet) which is always wrapped in paper.
First mash the bananas with a fork
Then preheat the oven to 160Ā° C
Then add half a mug of sugar to the bananas and mix well.Ā This will magically make the bananas very runny.
When the sugar and bananas are thoroughly combined, add one and a half mugs full of self raising flour and mix well.
Ā 
Ā Ā 
(NB there’s a lot of mixture in that bowl because I doubled the ingredients to make two cakes)
Now you should have a thick, moist cake mixture, ready to put in the tin.
(If You Care parchment paper is unbleached and totally chlorine-free (TCF) greaseproof paper which can be found at most good health food shops)
Line a loaf tin with some eco-friendly greaseproof paperĀ and fill it with your cake mixture.
Put it in the middle of the oven and bake for one and a quarter hours (75 minutes).Ā Carefully remove and insert a sharp knife to test.Ā If the knife comes out clean, it’s done, if it has wet mixture on it, put the cake back in the oven for a few more minutes.
When it’s ready, take it out of the tin and cool it on a wire rack.
Use a serrated knife to cut it as it’ll be crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Absolutely scrumptious š
No plastic required š
Source:Ā I got this recipe years ago from a brilliant homemade book called Grime and Nourishment, (NB this book is not suitable for children).
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vegan, vegan cake, cake recipe, plastic-free, zero waste, nutrition, health, environment,
Here is a wonderful educational colouring book:Ā Colour By Nutrients.
ItĀ is at once a resource for artistic indulgence and an educational tool.Ā Divided into chapters of different vitamins and minerals, the book illustrates which foods contain significant amounts of each.Ā The authors are happy for teachers and parents to photocopy the colouring pages for use in the classroom.Ā All in all a delightful way to learn about nutrition.
This 120-page book is approximately 19 x 25 cm.
You can buy it here, it’s not expensive š
Or if you’d rather get the e-version and copy or print the pages yourself, it’s free to download here:Ā Colour By Nutrients pdfĀ
We think that learning about good nutrition to build a strong immune system is more important than ever, so we’re thrilled to be able to do this.
Stay well.Ā Stay clean.Ā Stay compassionate ā¤
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vegan, plant-based, vegan children, nutrition, school, home-education,
When There Were Witches continues from yesterday:
***
The twins stayed up half the night changing the colour of everything in the house. They put different coloured floorboards in every room, with ceilings to match. They made the roof tiles blue to match the sky, and the outside walls green to match the grass. They changed the colours of their clothes and their bed sheets and both umbrellas. They tried to change their hair colours but that didnāt work. Their hair was essential to who they were. Bertha was red, Brynja was yellow. Nothing could change that.
A little after 4am they collapsed on Brynjaās bed, exhausted and happy.
āI see why you like doing it.ā Bertha smiled, āIt feels really nice.ā
āReallyĀ nice,ā agreed Brynja, ābut youāre right, it is a bit frivolous.ā They both laughed. āTomorrow, we should do spells from the Garden chapter!ā
*
By the anniversary of their motherās departure, the twins were not only proficient at many of the spells in the book, they had learned to make up their own. They wrote a spell to do the dishes, another to sweep the floor. They used magic to plant seeds and water them. They used magic to pick the fruit. They even used magic to cook the dinner. Whatever needed to be done when they didnāt feel like doing it, was done with magic. That left them with a lot of time on their hands.
āIām bored,ā said Brynja.
āDo some painting. Itās fun!ā Bertha was painting a portrait of one of their frequent visitors, a pig called Alfred. āAlfred. Alfred, tt-tt-tt ā look at me please darling, Iām trying to do your eyes.ā
Brynja scrunched up her nose. āNaa. I donāt see the point. I could do it better with magic.ā
āWell it doesnāt have to be perfect. In fact I think itās nicer if ā¦ā
āCircumlinisti stibio verus Alfred!ā
Alfred vanished.
Bertha gasped. āAlfred! ā¦ Where did he go?ā
āHere he is!ā Brynja, grinning, held up a beautifully framed painting of Alfred which was faultlessly realistic.
Bertha was stunned. āThatās amaz-ing ā¦ did he just blink?ā Her sister laughed. āIs that Alfred? Did you turn him into a painting?!ā Bertha did not think it was funny. āChange him back! Youāre frightening him!ā
āHeās fine.ā
āChange him back! Now!ā
Brynja muttered a few more words in Latin and Alfred was back on the armchair momentarily before dropping to the floor and leaving the house.
āHow could you do that?ā Bertha was really angry.
āHeāll be back tomorrow, you can finish your painting then.ā
āI donāt care about the painting! How could you do that to Alfred? He must have been petrified! How would you like it if ā¦?ā
āOh will you, chill, out!ā
Bertha glared.
āI didnāt hurt him. He probably doesnāt even have any memory of it. Heās fine!ā Brynja left the room and slammed the door behind her.
The following morning at breakfast the atmosphere was still frosty. Both witches ate their toast in silence.
āRefresh!ā Bertha opened the window.
āClausa fenestrae.ā Brynja closed it.
Bertha scowled. āYouāre such a ā¦ witch!ā
āHa! Good one!ā
Bertha took another bite of toast and tried to take the high road. But the low road beckoned. āWhatās with the Latin all of a sudden? Youāre such a show off!ā
Brynja smiled coldly. āJust wanted a new challenge I guess, since Iāve mastered the magic.ā There was a wicked glint in her eye as she slowly pushed the toast rack across the table. āYou can have this, I donāt want any more,ā and she left the room.
They didnāt speak to each other for the rest of the day. The next morning Brynja slept in so Bertha had breakfast on her own. Brynja had hers a couple of hours later which meant they werenāt ready for lunch at the same time, or dinner. The distance between them expanded. Eventually, almost a week after the painting incident, Alfred came back to see Bertha.
She could tell right away that he was troubled and, with a swift and gentle magic word, āSpeak,ā she enabled him to tell her exactly what was on his mind. He warned her that Brynja was upsetting the balance of nature. For her own amusement, she had taken possession of the forest and filled it with plants and animals who didnāt belong there, forcing out those who had always called it home. He feared for the future and told her what she already knew ā that Brynja must be stopped.
Bertha finally understood why her mother had kept the spell book from them. Magic had made Brynja arrogant and selfish. She had separated herself from nature and the other beings with whom she shared the world. Magic had made her think she was better than everyone else. But what was more worrying was that Bertha had not been sent the pain when Brynja broke the law. The one law,Ā do naught to others which, if done to thee, would cause thee pain, did not apply to witches.
Bertha rushed upstairs to find the spell book and turned straight to the last chapter: Discipline Spells. There was the spell Ermendrud had taught them,Ā To Punish A Law Breaker, and one other āĀ A Last Resort. The spellās introduction explained that a witch without self-control was the most dangerous threat a world could face and must be stopped at all costs. Bertha was sickened by detailed descriptions of horrors which had happened on other worlds where errant witches had gone unchecked. Only she could protect her world from such an outcome.
With heavy heart she collected the ingredients needed for the spell: a lock of Brynjaās hair from Motherās locket, and a black rose. Then she went to find her sister.
Brynja was in the meadow, using magic to make a herd of deer run races for her amusement.
āPlease donāt do that,ā Bertha tried one more time to appeal to her sisterās better nature.
Brynja turned and scowled. āI want to do it, so I will!ā
Bertha was sad. āWhy are you doing this? You never used to be like this. Magicās made you mean.ā
āWhat do you know about magic? Youāve only just dipped your toe in the water. If you embraced it like I have youād know how small your life is.ā
āMy life is full. Itās balanced. Yours is dangerous.Ā YouĀ are dangerous, and if you donāt stop now, Iāll be forced to stop you.ā
āWill you?ā Brynja asked with a smirk.
āYes,ā said Bertha sadly, āif you wonāt stop now Iāll stop you permanently.ā
Brynja threw back her head and laughed. āIām bored of listening to you now,ā and, with a flourish, āSilence!ā
In the second before Brynjaās spell hit her, Bertha rubbed a handful of her own hair against the black rose behind her back and whispered the magic word, āSacrifice!ā A moment later she was nothing but a scattering of poppy seeds in the grass.
āNooo!ā Brynjaās heart-rending cry filled the sky. āBertha! Come back! Iām sorry! I didnāt mean to do it!ā She dropped to her knees and sobbed. āPlease Bertha, please come back. Iāll be good ā I promise! Pleease Bertha, please come back!ā With her prayer left unanswered, she tried desperately to resurrect Bertha with magic. āVeni domum! Come back! Revive! Resurrect! Revivesco!ā
Bertha, unable to bring herself to take her sisterās life, had sacrificed herself in a way that she hoped would fill Brynja with such regret that she would, ever after, restrain her own excessive and frivolous use of magic. What she didnāt anticipate was just how damaging that regret would be.
Thinking that her own selfish and unnecessary abuse of magic had killed her sister, Brynja tore into her house in a violent rage againstĀ allĀ magic. Unable to find the spell book where sheād left it, she commanded it to appear before her.
āEgo legere magicae ex hoc mundo!ā In that moment the spell book was banished and with it all of Brynjaās magic.
She still feels the pain every time someone breaks the law, but she canāt cast the spell to punish them.Ā So the world has been left to the mercy of people who no longer fear the wrath of a benevolent witch and often donāt take care to do as they would be done by.Ā Iām sure you know what kind of a world that is.
A sad ending š¦ I’m sorry,
but if you want a happy ending check out the other stories on the fairy tales page š
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vegan, vegan fairy tale, vegan story, vegan children’s story, juvenile fiction,
When There Were Witches continues from yesterday:
In the subsequent weeks a few more people broke the law, and each time, Brynja cast the spell to punish them. Before long the whole world knew that Brynja was as powerful as her mother and they took care not to break the law.
After six months of no one breaking the law, Brynja missed the euphoria that came with casting a spell.
āMaybe I should cast a different spell,ā she wondered aloud.
āWhy?ā asked Bertha.
āMaybe something needs fixing. Or improving.ā
Bertha shook her head. āYou know what Mother used to say ā you canāt improve on nature.ā
āWell,ā Brynja felt mischievous, āmaybeĀ IĀ can.ā
Bertha raised her eyebrows. āMother couldnāt butĀ youĀ can?ā
Brynja grinned. āIāve found Motherās spell book.ā
āYou have?ā asked Bertha eagerly. āNo, I donāt think you should use it. I donāt think she wanted us to ā¦ I mean, she never showed it to us when she was here.ā
āYou canāt draw any conclusions from that. Maybe she just didnāt get around to it.ā
She should have known Bertha wouldnāt be onboard. Bertha liked to play it safe. Bertha had no sense of adventure. What did Bertha know? She wasnāt even a real witch. You couldnāt call yourself a witch if you were too scared to cast a spell. Brynja wasnāt scared. Brynja was powerful. Brynja couldĀ definitelyĀ improve on nature!
When Bertha went outside to pick the apples, Brynja fetched the spell book, went into her bedroom and locked the door. She sat on the floor behind her bed and began leafing through the book. It was divided into sections. Colour Spells, Garden Spells, Healing Spells, Mood Spells and Discipline Spells. She decided to start at the beginning and successfully turned her fingernails green and her Spider Plant blue. They were only little spells so they didnāt give her quite the exhilaration she was looking for, but it was a nice little buzz. Next she decided to try something more challenging ā changing the colour of her eyes.
She collected the necessary ingredients: a pinch of salt, a handful of earth, a single mint leaf and, since she wanted her eyes to be gold like her motherās, two dandelion blooms. She put them all in the granite mortar and pounded them with the pestle. Then she scooped up the mixture with wet hands and smeared it around her neck.
Brynja laughed. āYuck. Yuck yuck yuck yuck!ā She took care not to drip any of the muddy sludge on the book as she read the spell.
āI pick this colour from this bloom
To be my eyesā new bright costume.
From birth was green behind my sight
Now make gold while day becomes night.ā
She closed her eyes and waited for the buzz, but none came. She went to the mirror and met the same green eyes she always met. In a rage of disappointment she picked up the pestle and threw it across the room, smashing the pink rose vase and spilling its contents onto the floor. Brynja let out a furious squeal and stomped into the bathroom to wash her neck.
That evening at supper, she was less than talkative.
āDāyou want some more pie?ā asked Bertha.
Brynja shook her head.
āAll the more for me!ā Bertha grinned as she cut another slice. āThe apples are so good this year!ā
āMm.ā
āBrynja?ā
āWhat?ā
āWhatās the matter?ā
āNothing.ā
āSomethingās put you in a bad mood.ā
āFine. Iām in a bad mood.ā Brynja continued to push her half-eaten pie around the plate.
Bertha finished her pie and proceeded to clear the table. āAre you going to eat that?ā
Brynja sighed and leaned back in her chair. āNo, you can take it.ā She looked grumpily at Bertha and pushed the plate towards her.
āThank you.ā Bertha paused to look at her sister.
āWhat?ā
āYour eyes. Theyāre not green anymore.ā
āTheyāre not?ā Brynja was excited. āWhat colour are they?ā
Bertha peered a little closer. āTheyāre pinkish ā¦ with gold around the edges. No, hang on, the gold is spreading.ā Brynja tried not to blink. āThe gold is nearly covering ā¦. now theyāre completely gold! Wow! Your eyes are just like Motherās! I wonder if mine will change too!ā She hurried to the bathroom to look in the mirror.
Brynja grinned. A new tingling sensation in her toes rose through her body. Through the window she noticed the red and orange sky. The sun had just set. Day was slipping into night and it reminded her of the words of the spell āĀ while day becomes night. Thatās why the colour didnāt change right away. It needed the sunset to finish the spell. The spell had worked!
Bertha came back into the room a little disappointed. āMy eyes are still blue.ā
Brynja smiled. āI can make them gold if you like. Or yellow or purple or any colour you want.ā
āYouĀ did it? With a spell?ā
āYes,ā Brynja was glowing. āDonāt look so shocked. I am a witch after all. You should try it.ā
āYouāre not supposed to use magic for frivolous things.ā
āThen why is there a section in the book for colour spells?ā Brynja was determined not to let her sister spoil it.
āI donāt know. Maybe for things that need to be changed like ā¦ erm,ā
āChanging the colour of your fingernails?ā She held up her hands to show her green nails. āOr maybe changing the colour of a plant?ā
āYou changed a plant?ā
āYeah. My Spider Plantās blue now. It was easy.ā
āHow many spells have you done?ā
āDāyou want to see my Spider Plant?ā
Bertha smiled nervously. āErm, okay.ā
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Fairy Tale concludes tomorrow, but if you don’t want to wait you can read the whole story here š
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Eye illustration by Daniel Hannah of Pixabay
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vegan fairy tale
A long long time ago, long before you or I, or our great grandparents, were born, the world was ruled by a powerful witch called Ermendrud.
Ermendrud was respected and feared because she saw everything and punished those who disobeyed her law. There was only one. For a whole millennium only one was needed. No one broke it. Well, one or two did, at the beginning, but when people saw what happened to them, they were careful, very very careful, not to make the same mistake.
So life in those days was very harmonious. There were no wars. There was no murder. There was no stealing. There was only co-operation, and kindness, and health and happiness.
After a thousand years of being quite content to live alone, Ermendrud decided she wanted baby. So she went out into the poppy field to look for the tallest poppy. She found two that were very tall, more than a head taller than the rest. A red one and a yellow one. She watched them for several minutes but it was impossible to be sure which was the tallest, swaying in the wind as they were. Finally she settled on the red one, for red was her favourite colour. She placed a lock of her hair inside it, folded the petals on top and sealed it with a kiss.
The following morning, as soon as the sun rose, Ermendrud hurried back to the poppy field where she found not one, but two babies. They were both girls. One had bright red hair, the other’s was golden yellow. Ermendrud realised that some of her hair must have blown onto the yellow poppy after she left, and she was very happy it had.
She bent down to kiss the red haired baby. āWelcome to the world baby Bertha,ā she said. Then she kissed the yellow haired baby. āWelcome to the world baby Brynja.ā
The little witch twins grew up happy and strong until, on their sixteenth birthday, their mother called them to her.
āThis world is yours now, my loves,ā she told them, āwatch it carefully and remember the spell. My time is done.ā
Tears pricked their eyes but they didn’t argue. They knew that if their mother said something was true, then it was. Ermendrud faded away in her sleep that night, leaving nothing behind but a handful of poppy seeds.
Autumn came and went. Winter settled in and seemed to last forever. The young witches, mired in grief, were not keeping an eye on the world. One day they were both hit with a short sharp pain between the eyes.
āAaaagh!ā Bertha rubbed her finger over the skin above her nose, āWhat was that?ā
āThe sharp pain!ā yelled Brynja, jumping to her feet, āsomeone’s broken the law!ā
āOh no! What do we do?ā
āThe spell! Mother said we have to do the spell!ā
āBut we’ve never done it before! I thought we’d be able to watch Mother do it …ā
āWell no one broke the law while Mother was here, but now she’s gone they think they can get away with it. We’ve got to show them they can’t!ā
āI don’t know …ā
āYes you do! She taught us a hundred times! We have to do it! If we don’t do it in the next four minutes it’ll be too late.ā
Brynja rushed to her mother’s room for the ingredients. Bertha waited. Brynja went to the stream behind the house. Bertha followed. Brynja sprinkled lavender into the water, held a seed of Black-eyed Susan in each hand, and recited the spell.
āThere is one who did not heed
The law of good and of good deed.
They broke the law, did something bad,
Selfish, cruel or making sad.
So find the one who did offend
And make their ill deed twist and bend
Back on them so they will feel it,
What they gave they now receive it.ā
Brynja dropped the seeds into the water and looked at Bertha.Ā āDid it work? D’you think it worked?ā
Bertha scanned the sky. āI can’t see a rainbow.ā She turned back to Brynja and shook her head.
Three and a half minutes had passed since the pain.
āYour hair!ā Bertha pointed frantically, āyou forgot your hair!ā She grabbed the scissors from her apron pocket and passed them to Brynja.
Brynja cut a curl from her beautiful yellow hair and dropped it into the stream. A rainbow formed over the water for a few seconds, and then dissolved.
āYou did it!ā cried Bertha.
Brynja’s face flushed and she closed her eyes. She felt vibrant. Full of energy. Wide awake.
She smiled at her sister. āYes I did.ā
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Story continues tomorrow but if you don’t want to wait you can read the whole fairy tale here now š
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Flower illustrations by Owantana of Pixabay, Poppies illustration by GreissDesign of Pixabay
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vegan fairy tale
Reflecto Girl #7 is now available in paperback!
And not only does it have a great story,
there’s the added bonus of a yummy cake recipe at the end š
Get yours now while stocks last! š
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vegan comics, vegan storybooks, vegan children’s books, animal rights comic,
You may remember we sprouted some apple seeds in 2014 …
And they grew and grew and grew š
and grew š
And look at them now! (6ft gardener included for scale)
This one is the tallest and would be much taller but we cut it back each winter to keep it manageable.
***
This one is the most flourishing because it hasn’t suffered with aphids like the others have.
***
This one is making a comeback after ant and aphid infestations, I’ll tell you why in a minute.
***
And this little fella has struggled from the get-go but he’s hanging in there thanks to …
Yay!Ā The ladybirds have arrived!Ā And now there’s not an aphid to be seen! š
Our apple trees are over six years old – how time flies!
Maybe in another four we’ll get some apples š
Have a great day!
It’s easy to feel hopeless with the state of the world as it is.Ā Every year it gets hotter, animal suffering increases, and the powers that be do nothing to address it.Ā In fact they continue to subsidise it.
But then something comes along to really lift your spirits.
Refarm’d is a new plant-based drink subscription service, sourced lovingly from ex-dairy farmers.
They say:
WE HAVE THIS CRAZY IDEA
We want to turn all dairy farms into animal sanctuaries and we need you to convince these farmers to join the movement.Ā
We work with farmers to transition from milk production to focus on producing plant based drinks and convert their farmland into an animal sanctuary.
We believe that by uniting together with farmers and providing them with the tools they need to move away from the dairy trade, weāre offering a viable new opportunity for their businesses to be part of the growing plant based movement.
We will assist the ex-dairy farms to sustainably and locally source the ingredients to produce plant based drinks on their farms. The farmersā land will be converted into an animal sanctuary for their cattle that are no longer being used for dairy farming.
Show your interest (no payment, no commitment) in buying fresh plant-based drinks from them and let us do the rest!
As much as the animal agriculture is terrible on multiple aspects, – [the animal suffering, the environmental destruction, the damage to human health] –Ā we cannot forget the farmers in these industries as well.
We believe the big majority of farmers are good people, that do care for their animals, but have just grown in an environment that normalizes animal exploitation so it has become a part of their identity, making it hard to take a step back and make changes.
The industry is in danger and most big companies have noticed it and adapt to the new market in order to survive. Small companies, family businesses however are the ones suffering the most. Lack of money, lack of time and lack of information make it hard on them to go in the right direction. The pressure, the insecurity as well as the very low buying prices (often selling for less than production costs) make for very uncomfortable living conditions.
We want to include helping the farmers in our mission to create the future of farming.
***
ANIMAL SANCTUARY
Farms are actually ideal places to become an animal sanctuary. They already have the land, the animals and the people that care for them [they wouldn’t be short of volunteers – I’d love to help look after the cows!]. No need to move animals, they can stay as a herd, nor to use more resources like land to create a new sanctuary.
Farmers joining our program have to give up any form of animal exploitation totally and to fully transition to an animal sanctuary.
Animals are put under legal protection and farmers under contract.Ā Regular inspections and veterinary checks are performed to make sure of the animals’ well being.
The sanctuary is not working with donations.Ā Instead, a part of the plant-based drinks price is dedicated to sustain these animals.
********
So what Refarm’d need is enough people to tell them they’re interested so that they can go to the farmers and say – look, if you convert to plant-milk production, we’ve got the market ready and waiting for you.Ā It’s scary for farmers to take the plunge, they need to know they can make a living from plant milk.
They need us to tell them “If you make it, we will buy.”
So go on, get over to Refarm’d and tell them you’re interested (there’s a button to click if you scroll down the homepage).Ā Then you fill in a short questionnaire.Ā It asks you what country and town you live in, and how much milk you would want to buy per week, and whether you would want it delivered, or whether you’d pick it up from the farm.Ā Added bonus: it comes in refillable glass bottles!Ā NB VERY IMPORTANT:Ā when filling in the questionnaire you have to click NEXT and it takes you to what looks like a blank page, but it isn’t blank.Ā You have to scroll up to find a couple more questions including name and email address and you can leave a comment or ask a question.Ā Make sure you finish it otherwise they won’t be able to get back to you š
This is truly awesome!Ā Please share far and wide!
Save the cows,
the gentle, beautiful cows.
***
vegan for the animals
vegan for the planet
vegan for the humans
vegan for the farmers
EU must help animal farmers transition to plant-crop farming to benefit from plant-based boom, experts tell MEPs
(An article from the Humane Society International/Europe, 6 March 2019)
Brussels ā European Union policy makers are being urged to help farmers transition away from animal agriculture and towards plant-crop farming in order to capitalise on the growing trend in plant-based eating.Ā Speaking at an event this week at the European Parliament organised by Humane Society International/Europe, farmers, ecologists and academics agreed there is an urgent need for the EU to support transition farming to help farmers adapt and seize the economic opportunity of consumer diets shifting away from meat, dairy and eggs.
A major report from the Rise Foundation recently warned that Europeās meat and dairy production must be halved by 2050 in recognition of its significant contribution to environmental degradation such as greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. The EU currently raises 9 billion farm animals for food each year ā with more than 360 million of these animals spending all or part of their lives in intensive cage systems ā and globally the figure is an estimated 82 billion animals.
Oxford Universityās Dr Marco Springmann, and Harvard Universityās Dr Helen Harwatt were joined at the Brussels symposium event by ecologist and rewilding expert Alan Watson Featherstone, and Swedish farmer Adam Arnesson who is transitioning his pig farm to grow oats for a plant-milk company.Ā Policy makers were also treated to Europeās first public screening of BAFTA 2019 award winning short film 73 Cows about British cattle farmers Jay and Katja Wilde who sent their herd to a sanctuary and switched to crop cultivation instead.
Alexandra Clark, HSI/Europeās food policy consultant, said
āEuropean consumers are more aware than ever of the animal welfare and environmental impacts of meat, dairy and egg production.Ā The current level of animal production is simply unsustainable, and the continued growth of plant-based alternatives is inevitable.Ā This presents Europeās farmers with an exciting opportunity to meet this changing demand by transitioning away from industrial animal agriculture to plant-crop production.Ā With the current reform of the EUās agricultural policy, MEPs have a clear chance to assist farmers in those transition efforts by shifting subsidies away from propping up industrial animal production, and instead supporting farmers switch to fruit, vegetables, fungi, grains and leguminous crops that are growing in demand from an increasingly plant-based public.ā
The EU is currently reforming its Common Agricultural Policy, with a crucial vote planned in the Agriculture Committee in early April. Dr Helen Harwatt from Harvard University believes this is a major opportunity for EU policymakers to take leadership in animal to plant protein agricultural shifts.
Dr Harwatt said:
āRepurposing portions of agricultural land to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will be crucial for limiting warming to 1.5Ā°C.Ā In turn, restoring this land to its natural habitat opens the door for reintroducing animal species, which would help toward tackling the wildlife crisis.Ā Animal to plant protein shifts are essential and policy makers must ensure that policies and support are put in place to help farmers make this transitionā
Swedish farmer Adam Arnesson has shifted his farm production from solely animal-based to the cultivation of multiple crops for human consumption including oats for oat milk production.Ā In doing so he has doubled the number of people his output feeds annually and halved the climate impact per calorie.
Farmers Jay and Katja Wilde, who star in Alex Lockwoodās 73 Cows short film, were keen for MEPs to understand that the pressure and fear for the future that many animal farmers feel, could be alleviated if support existed to help them āplant for the planetā.
Speaking at the EU Parliament screening of 73 Cows, Jay Wilde said:
āWe are thrilled that our film has come to the European Parliament where we hope it inspires politicians to vote for a better future for both farmers and animals. Giving our cows to a sanctuary to live out their years in a safe haven was the best decision of our lives, it became the only decision when sending them to the abattoir was no longer something I could live with.Ā But itās been a very scary journey too because youāre stepping into the unknown.Ā This shift in farming isnāt just a personal choice, its necessary to protect the environment, so if there was financial and practical support to help farmers like me plant for the planet, it would make life so much easier.ā
Spanish MEP Florent Marcellesi said
āWe need to leave behind our unsustainable farming model and animal-based diets. Instead, we should turn as soon as possible to ecologic plant-based ones and build a farming model which is sustainable, healthy and respectful to animal welfare.ā
Italian MEP Eleonora Evi said
āClimate change is here, itās already happening.Ā For our sake but also for the sake of every other species on this planet, we need to take action to mitigate its effects by adopting an āall hands on deckā approach.Ā This means opening up the dialogue to different stakeholders.Ā The agriculture sector has one of the highest levels of emissions, and therefore must become part of the solution.Ā The transition to sustainable production methods and re-naturalization of agricultural areas must inevitably be considered.ā
Finnish MEP Sirpa PietikƤinen said
āIf everyone would shift their diets towards plant-based, it would be beneficial for public health, animal welfare, biodiversity and climate.ā
Facts:
I ain’t eatin’ no beef!
‘Cause you know that I’m a vegan!
I ain’t eatin’ no beef!
Compassion’s what I believe in.
I ain’t eatin’ no beef!
‘Cause you know that I’m a vegan!
I ain’t eatin’ no beef!
No my food was never screamin’
***
I ain’t eatin’ no beef!
No pork, no fish, no chicken,
Now people think I’m trippin’
‘Cause
I ain’t eatin’ no dairy, no eggs,
But I stay well fed off the fruits and the veg
‘Cause
I care about the animals and the environment
I care about my health, if it ain’t vegan I ain’t buyin’ it.
I care about the planet, if it dies then we gon’ die with it.
People hating veganism without even trying it.
It is not a diet, if you think it is then you are wrong,
It’s a way of living where we’re choosing to reduce the harm
That we cause to others, not only those in the human form.
‘Cause humane slaughter’s about as real as a unicorn.
But if a unicorn was real he’d be hunted and then killed
By people so they could steal
The horn from his head.
The food that you’re fed
Isn’t food, it’s an animal who’s born to be dead.
Bred to be murdered
Just for a burger.
When you order meat, pain and suffering’s what they serve ya.
Dairy’s no better, actually it may be worse.
Go vegan but first go and do your research.
***
I ain’t eatin’ no beef!
‘Cause you know that I’m a vegan!
I ain’t eatin’ no beef!
Compassion’s what I believe in.
I ain’t eatin’ no beef!
‘Cause you know that I’m a vegan!
I ain’t eatin’ no beef!
No my food was never screamin’
Don’t forget to let us know if you want to share some vegan storybooks š
Help us out – put some of our books on shelves in your town.Ā Could ya?Ā ItĀ won’tĀ costĀ youĀ nuthin’Ā š Ā 
We like to leave our books wherever we think children might find them – in libraries, charity shops, cafes, railway stations, doctors’ waiting rooms.Ā We leave them in charity shops so children can buy them for pocket money prices, but when we leave them on bookshelves in libraries, or cafes, or anywhere else they won’t be sold, we put a book fairy sticker on them.
WHAT IS A BOOK FAIRY?
Book fairies are people who, when theyāve finished reading a good book, pass it on to the next person.Ā They pop a book fairy sticker on it,Ā and hide it in public to be found.
We’re stealthy.Ā None of the books we leave have the V-word on them.Ā They’re just colourful storybooks and comics which we hope children will see and want.
Sadly the libraries are still closed but we do have a little Book Exchange in an old phone box where we can leave books.Ā So I was thinking, maybe you have something like that in your area.Ā And maybe if we sent you some books you’d leave them on a shelf for children to find. š
Will you help us?Ā Do you have a local book exchange or anywhere that would be ideal to leave books for children to find?Ā We’ll send you them for free of course (for as long as funds last).Ā If you can help, please contact us privately on the form below.Ā Help us to inspire a vegan future.
For the animals.
Ā Thank you so much ā¤
vegan, animals, animal rights, vegan stories, vegan-friendly stories, children, vegan children, vegan books, vegan children’s books, vegan comics
