Moss Family Books

The Shark and His Pet Boy is a collection of stories and poems spanning a range of topis from Sharks to Pirates to Brothers and Sisters who can't seem to get along. There are stories for both boys and girls, whether their interests like in an alligator named Allison who refuses to eat anything but ice cream or a boy who falls asleep and dreams he is a train. 

Elementary and Middle Schools are using The Shark and His Pet Boy to teach creative writing and the difference between poetry and prose. Scroll down to see a sample from "The Shark and His Pet Boy". 

The Battle Of Breakfast Brigade

Breakfast had started when Max came downstairs.

It was already well underway.

His twin sisters looked up from their plates and they sneered,

“You shouldn’t have slept in today.”

“We’ve eaten the bacon, we’ve eaten the eggs,

And all of the donuts are gone.”

The girls were laughing as Max got cross,

He couldn’t stand Laverne and Lashaun.

He didn’t know if they were just teasing

Of if they had really eaten all the food.

He knew that he had to get something to eat.

Max couldn’t just sit there and brood.

“Well what is left I can have for breakfast?

What have you left me to eat?”

Laverne laughed as she pointed to Rex

“Would you like one of his dog treats?”

“Or maybe some of Grandpa’s bran flakes,

Or some left over beets from last night.”

Lashaun laughed and said to her twin,

“No, dog food suits him just right!”

Max started to smolder as he looked at the girls,

“You better be glad there’s no eggs.

If we had some I’d take them out of the carton,

And crack them over your heads!”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Lashaun exclaimed

And she looked to her sister for help.

“You’d be in big trouble if you did that,

So stop it or we’ll make you yelp!”

“Oh I’m just getting started” Max continued,

“First I would tie you up with the bacon.

Then I would hold trial and find you both guilty,

And my breakfast would soon be retaken!”

“Well we would break out of jail” came Laverne’s response,

“We would eat our way out of the ropes.

And we would fight back with the food that we have.

Our attack would dash all your hopes!”

“We would send a barrage of donuts and biscuits,

And if that didn’t stop your advance,

We would charge you with shields made out of pancakes,

And a sausage in place of a lance!”

Max’s reply caught them off guard,

“You would never get past my wall.

I’d make it of waffles and peanut butter,

I would stack it all ten feet tall!”

“Then from inside my castle I would fire my cannons,

Loaded with scrambled eggs.

You would get trapped in my moat full of jelly,

Which is deeper then both your legs!”

The girls though for a moment and a smile crossed their faces,

“We would first climb up the sides,

Using grappling hooks made out of croissants,

And then we would turn the tides!”

“We would launch an offensive that would start with French toast,

And you would get covered in syrup.

Then we would pelt you with cereal, oatmeal, and grits,

You’ll be so buried you can’t even burp!”

“Then it would be time for my counter attack”

Max said with a devilish grin.

“My armies of pastries would come to my aid,

And my victory would begin!”

“Legions of bear claws, sticky buns, and tarts,

Would leap into the fray.

Cinnamon rolls, crepes, and a danish,

Would take YOUR victory away!”

“And finally a barrage of fresh cut fruit,

Would return you back to your senses.

You will realize that I am the King of Breakfast

When the foods assist my defenses!”

The girls looked beaten when Mom walked in,

With a platter fit for a king,

The Battle of Breakfast Brigade was over,

And for the girls defeat started to sting.

For on that platter was bacon and eggs,

Donuts, biscuits, and gravy.

Max looked at his sisters and gave them a smile

And said “Well you certainly fought bravely.”

Max decided that the right thing to do,

Was to put away all of his spite.

He gestured to the food at the table,

“I’m sure you have built up an appetite”

“After such a hard battle that you both almost won,

Now the peace talks can begin.

To show my good faith and that we can be friends;

Won’t you both dig in?”

So the brother and sisters were friends again,

After all, what could they say.

Brothers and sisters have to be friends forever,

And a new battle would start the next day!