Kathy's Kindness
Number of illustrations needed for this story: 13


I want to tell you a wonderful little story about a girl named Kathy. She was a very happy girl. She lived in a little house with her father and mother. Her grandmother lived there with them too.

For a long time everything was happy. But one very sad day, Kathy’s parents went out into the woods, and I don’t know what happened, but it was something terrible, and both of her parents died. That made Kathy so sad. She cried and cried. And of course Grandmother was sad too, because Kathy’s father had been Grandmother’s son. So they were both very sad for a long time.

After a while though, Kathy started to be happy again. See, when things like that happen, it makes everyone sad, but they don’t usually stay so sad forever. They learn to be happy again. Kathy and her grandmother were still sad about Father and Mother, but they learned to live a happy life anyway, and to be glad about other things.

Kathy was a very kind girl. You probably noticed that this story is about Kathy’s kindness. Well, she was very kind. She helped Grandmother a lot, and she liked to do the things that were too hard for Grandmother. Because see, Grandmother was old, and she was not as strong as she used to be. So Kathy cheerfully helped her with the things that needed done.

One day, Kathy received a letter. It was from her rich uncle in Germany. That was a country far away, way across the ocean. In the letter she read, “Dear Kathy, I am very sorry that your parents died. I hope you are getting along OK. I wanted to write and tell you that I would like to have you come and live in my big house. You would have nice children to play with, and so many nice things. Your aunt would love to have you come too, and we have all decided to invite you to come live with us. I think it would make you very happy. Love, your dear uncle, Fred.”

Kathy thought about this letter a lot. She was lonely sometimes, because she did not have any sisters or brothers to play with. She also did not have a lot of dresses and jewelry, like her uncle would be able to give her. She and Grandmother were very poor now, because Father could not work for them anymore. The way they stayed alive was that they took in other people’s sewing, and they would sew the things for the people. Then the people would pay them. But they didn’t get paid very much, and so they could not buy very many nice things. Kathy thought and thought, and it seemed to her that it would be very nice to go and live with her uncle and aunt and cousins.

But then, Kathy thought of something else. If she went away, Grandmother would be all alone. She was too old to make such a long trip across the ocean, and Kathy would have to leave her behind. Then Grandmother would have to do all the work alone. There would be nobody to help her. There would also be nobody to keep her company, and to sing with her.

So do you know what Kathy decided? She decided not to go live in Germany. That was very sweet of her, and so unselfish, because she really did want to go. But she was kind, and she cared about her grandmother. So she wrote to her uncle and she said, “Thank-you, dear uncle, for being so kind to me. I cannot come though. I love Grandmother too much, and I will stay here to take care of her. Love, Kathy."

And that is just what Kathy did. She just kept on being kind and sweet and helping her grandmother. She was such a dear and kind girl. For a good many years, she lived with Grandmother. By and by, Grandmother got older, and she became weaker and weaker. But Kathy kept taking care of her and loving her.

One sad day, Grandmother died. She was a very old lady, and it was time for her to die. Of course Kathy cried, but she was happy too. Do you know why? It is because she was so glad that she had not gone away and left Grandmother to die alone. She was glad that she had stayed and helped her.

By this time, Kathy was not just a girl anymore. She had turned into a lovely young lady. Now she was lonely, and so she went across the ocean to live with her uncle. There in Germany, she met a very nice man. After a while, they got married. They were very happy, and Yahweh gave them some really sweet little children.

Kathy and her husband decided that they wanted to teach their children to love their parents and grandparents just like Kathy had, and to always gladly help them. And so that’s what they tried to do. And I think that their children learned to be just as kind as Kathy had been. Don’t you think so?

Someday, when Kathy became an old grandmother, do you think that her granddaughter helped her and took care of her?




Illustration Ideas
Here the story will be repeated, broke down with suggestions for illustrations. You do not necessarily have to follow these suggestions, but be sure to read over this section before you begin drawing your illustrations.


Don't hesitate to simplify the illustration ideas for very little artists. Please encourage children to do their very best, according to their individual abilities, but remember that we want "Thou Hast Ordained Praise" to be an opportunity for all ages, and we do not expect "perfect pictures". It is highly encouraged that children of all ages get involved.

There are several illustration ideas given for each page. These are here for you to choose from, or perhaps you will want to come up with your own ideas. You should do at least one illustration for each page. If you want to combine several ideas in one illustration, or if you want to do two illustrations for some or all of the pages, that is fine too. Be creative!

You may prefer having your children each illustrate their own book. If you want to have your children illustrate a book together, that is perfectly fine too. Since each page can have as many as two illustrations, it is an option to have an older child and a younger child both draw an illustration for the same page.


I want to tell you a wonderful little story about a girl named Kathy. She was a very happy girl. She lived in a little house with her father and mother. Her grandmother lived there with them too.

Illustration ideas: 1) Kathy with her parents and grandmother 2) Kathy beside a little house 3) An easy picture for a little artist could just be Kathy's happy smiling face.


For a long time everything was happy. But one very sad day, Kathy’s parents went out into the woods, and I don’t know what happened, but it was something terrible, and both of her parents died. That made Kathy so sad. She cried and cried. And of course Grandmother was sad too, because Kathy’s father had been Grandmother’s son. So they were both very sad for a long time.

Illustration ideas: 1) a grave 2) two coffins, with Father and Mother in them 3) Kathy and Grandmother crying


After a while though, Kathy started to be happy again. See, when things like that happen, it makes everyone sad, but they don’t usually stay so sad forever. They learn to be happy again. Kathy and her grandmother were still sad about Father and Mother, but they learned to live a happy life anyway, and to be glad about other things.

Illustration ideas: 1) Kathy and Grandmother hugging each other 2) Kathy and Grandmother holding hands


Kathy was a very kind girl. You probably noticed that this story is about Kathy’s kindness. Well, she was very kind. She helped Grandmother a lot, and she liked to do the things that were too hard for Grandmother. Because see, Grandmother was old, and she was not as strong as she used to be. So Kathy cheerfully helped her with the things that needed done.

Illustration ideas: 1) Grandmother sitting on a chair, and Kathy churning butter, or sweeping, or some other chore 2) Grandmother could be sewing in the picture. 3) Kathy out at the well drawing water up.


One day, Kathy received a letter. It was from her rich uncle in Germany. That was a country far away, way across the ocean. In the letter she read, “Dear Kathy, I am very sorry that your parents died. I hope you are getting along OK. I wanted to write and tell you that I would like to have you come and live in my big house. You would have nice children to play with, and so many nice things. Your aunt would love to have you come too, and we have all decided to invite you to come live with us. I think it would make you very happy. Love, your dear uncle, Fred.”

Illustration ideas: 1) Kathy reading a letter 2) Grandmother handing an envelope to Kathy


Kathy thought about this letter a lot. She was lonely sometimes, because she did not have any sisters or brothers to play with. She also did not have a lot of dresses and jewelry, like her uncle would be able to give her. She and Grandmother were very poor now, because Father could not work for them anymore. The way they stayed alive was that they took in other people’s sewing, and they would sew the things for the people. Then the people would pay them. But they didn’t get paid very much, and so they could not buy very many nice things. Kathy thought and thought, and it seemed to her that it would be very nice to go and live with her uncle and aunt and cousins.

Illustration ideas: This would be a good page for two pictures. 1) Kathy with thinking bubbles, showing pictures of other children, of nice dresses, and of jewelry 2) Grandmother and Kathy sewing together.


But then, Kathy thought of something else. If she went away, Grandmother would be all alone. She was too old to make such a long trip across the ocean, and Kathy would have to leave her behind. Then Grandmother would have to do all the work alone. There would be nobody to help her. There would also be nobody to keep her company, and to sing with her.

Illustration ideas: This would be another good page for two pictures. 1) a ship with Kathy sailing in it across the ocean, waving goodbye 2) Kathy with thinking bubbles, showing pictures of Grandmother kneading bread, churning butter, hanging laundry, and/or drawing water from the well


So do you know what Kathy decided? She decided not to go live in Germany. That was very sweet of her, and so unselfish, because she really did want to go. But she was kind, and she cared about her grandmother. So she wrote to her uncle and she said, “Thank-you, dear uncle, for being so kind to me. I cannot come though. I love Grandmother too much, and I will stay here to take care of her. Love, Kathy."

Illustration ideas: 1) Kathy writing a letter


And that is just what Kathy did. She just kept on being kind and sweet and helping her grandmother. She was such a dear and kind girl. For a good many years, she lived with Grandmother. By and by, Grandmother got older, and she became weaker and weaker. But Kathy kept taking care of her and loving her.

Illustration ideas: (A good many years have passed by, so Kathy is growing older. This picture could show her being maybe in her teens. This, of course, depends on the age and skill of the artist. I am just inserting this note here to remind you that Kathy would be growing up.) 1) Kathy tying Grandmother's shoes 2) Kathy doing Grandmother's hair 3) Kathy giving Grandmother some food


One sad day, Grandmother died. She was a very old lady, and it was time for her to die. Of course Kathy cried, but she was happy too. Do you know why? It is because she was so glad that she had not gone away and left Grandmother to die alone. She was glad that she had stayed and helped her.

Illustration ideas: 1) Grandmother in a coffin 2) Kathy crying 3) These two could be combined in one picture possibly. 4) A little artist could just do Kathy's face with tears


By this time, Kathy was not just a girl anymore. She had turned into a lovely young lady. Now she was lonely, and so she went across the ocean to live with her uncle. There in Germany, she met a very nice man. After a while, they got married. They were very happy, and Yahweh gave them some really sweet little children.

Illustration ideas: 1) Kathy sailing across the ocean 2) Kathy's uncle hugging her 3) Kathy getting married 4) Kathy and her husband with their little children


Kathy and her husband decided that they wanted to teach their children to love their parents and grandparents just like Kathy had, and to always gladly help them. And so that’s what they tried to do. And I think that their children learned to be just as kind as Kathy had been. Don’t you think so?

Illustration ideas: 1) Kathy and her husband with their children 2) Kathy and her husband doing some work with their children


Someday, when Kathy became an old grandmother, do you think that her granddaughter helped her and took care of her?

Illustration ideas: 1) Kathy in a rocking chair, with a grandaughter bringing her a cup of tea


This book, once it is completed, will actually be a 32-page book. This is the minimum amount of pages we can do for a perfect-bound book. We aim to stick with the smallest number of pages possible, to make it financially easy for you to be able to get copies of your finished book.