OR SEE THE GERBIL BOOK DESTROYING
TIMELAPSE ON YOUTUBE HERE
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The Happy Endings Foundation (THEF) believes children's books should only have happy endings. It urges parents to buy positive books for their children.
THEF was originally founded in 2000 by Adrienne Small after she read the first book in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket to her daughter. As well as making her feel thoroughly miserable, Mrs Small noticed her daughter seemed to take a more negative approach to life. Sadly, this situation worsened substantially, as her daughter subsequently read all 13 books in the series.
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Mrs Small has now left her career as a tax inspector to
focus on THEF full-time. She plans to rewrite all 13
Lemony Snicket books to give them happy endings. Her
versions will be published on-line - watch this website!
Members of THEF committee will also be making audio
versions of the books available as downloads so children
will be able to listen to them on their MP3 players.
*****AT THE HAPPY ENDINGS FOUNDATION OUR AIMS ARE ******
- To eradicate sad thoughts from all literature
- To make people smile a little more often
- To encourage authors to write more uplifting books for children
- To highlight the dangers of reading sad books
- To unite parents of a similar thinking and create a force with which to be reckoned
- To protect the next generation of readers.
- And, above all, to ensure the longevity of HAPPY ENDINGS (that means "to make sure happy endings are around for a long time")
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******* JOIN US *******
If you would like to join our campaign or set up a local support group, send an email to: happy@thehappyendingsfoundation.org
We'll send you a Happy Pack to give you all the information you need to put a smile on your face.
We have support groups throughout the UK who regularly meet to further the cause or simply for a social.
Groups are located in:
Glasgow
Newcastle
Manchester
Leeds
Birmingham |
Bristol
Cardiff
Oxford
Plymouth
London
Norwich |
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Open any newspaper, watch TV or listen to the news on the radio and we'll guarantee you'll feel miserable after listening to the headlines. So we are thinking about setting up a new daily paper that only brings the positive side of news stories. We'd like to find out whether people would buy such a paper. Please take part in our poll by clicking on one of the buttons below.
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***MYSPACE***
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***HAPPY CAM***
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***REPORT A BOOK***
Let us know which bad books you'd
like to see burnt.
eg. Lemony Snicket - Vol 1, Vol 4
The Unofficial Biography
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IMPORTANT: Ongoing...
As many of you are aware, the first three Lemony Snicket books have been made into a film which is also available on DVD. If you find someone you know has a copy of the DVD, try explaining your concerns to them. If they seem unaffected by what you have to say, then simply hide the DVD where they are unlikely to find it for sometime. |
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******THE HAPPY ENDINGS FOUNDATION RECOMMENDS***** |
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1.
Pollyanna works her magic and brings out the best in everyone. The little girl transforms the inhabitants of her joyless community and even brings love into the life of her maiden aunt.
Tragedy strikes when Pollyanna has a terrible accident which leaves her paralysed. Suddenly, it is her aunt who has the chance to give something back and to turn her own life around.
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2.
A boy's dream comes true when his snowman comes to life and whisks him away into the night. Aswell as meeting Father Christmas, he flies round the world, but all good things come to an end and the snowman melts. Although sad, the boy has a scarf to remember the adventure.
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3.
Down at Uncle Quentin's, strange things happen to Julian, Dick, Anne, George (a girl) and Timmy (her dog). Twenty-one books track adventures on Kirren Island to murky moors. All good fun, lots of excitement and a great way to relive one's childhood too!
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4.
A-hoy there shipmates - the classic tale of pirates and buried treasure was encouraging swashbuckling decades before Johnny Depp made his debut as Jack Sparrow. Long John Silver, Ben Gunn and Cabin Boy Jim are just three memorable characters from this tale of the high seas.
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5.
Recently-orphaned Torak with his wolf cub chum, who is also an orphan, fight a demon bear and solve riddles to save the world.
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6.
Despite being an orphan and a homeless, only child, Dan still finds plenty to smile about. His diet of worms and left-overs from the local fast-food joint leaves a little to be desired. However, he finds a winning lottery ticket and everything is alright.
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7.
Eating a bar of chocolate will never be the same having read this book. Rags to riches for young Charlie whose sensitive approach to life and others wins over the heart of eccentric Willy Wonka and earns himself the chocolate factory to boot.
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8.
In traditional Seuss style, silly rhymes make this a delightful read as Sam-I-am tries to persuade a grump to at least try green eggs and ham.
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9.
Minutes before the earth is blown into total destruction, Arthur Dent is whisked on an inter-galactic adventure to discover the meaning of life.
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10.
100-acre wood is filled with talking animals that should be an inherent part of childhood. Eeyore, the miserable donkey, discovers that being miserable doesn't pay whilst Pooh & Piglet find joy in everything.
*With thanks to HEF book committee for their recommendations
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**** HAPPIEST MOMENTS ****
Share yours with us...
My happiest moment was when I woke up
all snuggly in my bed - it was a very sunny
day and my cat looked at me as if to say
"The world is a beautiful place and you are
a beautiful happy person without a care in
the world." I cried I was so happy.
Jane Tanner - Aberystwyth
I used to love staying in my Nan's static
seaside caravan. We used to run through the
dunes and jump from great heights.
Sarah Greenlaw - Cheltenham
Building a dam in the stream in my friends
garden. It took us all summer but we made
an amazing paddling pool - we had such
fun.
Peter Fredericks - Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Send us your happy moment to
happy@thehappyendingsfoundation.org -
and a picture too - and we'll happily
post it on our site. |
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**** HAPPY DAYS OUT ****
- Cadbury World, Birmingham
- London Zoo
- Twinlakes, Melton Mowbray
- Eastnor Castle, Ledbury
- Slimbridge Wildfowl Sanctuary
- Woolacombe Beach
- National Railway Museum, York
- Eureka, Halifax
- Monster hunting at Loch Ness
- Crabbing in Wells, Norfolk
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**** HAPPY SONGS CHART****
1."Lovely Day" – Bill Withers
2."Wake Up" - Boo Radleys
3."Walking on Sunshine" - Katrina and the
Waves
4."Holiday" - Madonna
5."Favourite Things" – Julie Andrews
"Sound of Music" |
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"THEF really helped me. I was caught in a trap
of reading books that, although very
entertaining, left my life tainted with
unhappiness and complicated emotions."
"The Happy Endings Foundation made my experience at school brilliant, everyone was always happy!"
"Thanks to THEF, I can now sleep with the light
off and never feel scared."
"It's really helped with my job. My outlook has completely changed and I always feel positive."
"THEF has really made all the difference to my life, it's amazing how kind and loving people can be."
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******COMING UP ON THEF'S CALENDAR***** |
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BACK TO SCHOOL
Now is the time to speak to your school librarian and ensure that bad books are banned.
Why not start a petition amongst fellow parents asking them to remove the Lemony Snicket series for a start.
We've created a simple template below for you to download and print together with some simple posters to put in public places.
1ST SEPTEMBER
The THEF will be hosting a mid-summers' picnic in the grounds of Hyde Park where we shall play especially devised ‘grinning games' to spread joy and laughter. Everybody is welcome so why not invite your nearest and dearest and come along for the day to spend some quality time with friends and family. The day is free but there is just one request - bring a happy book to read aloud to the group. So please come along and brighten your day.
8TH SEPTEMBER
Spread a Smile sponsorship day. Collect 50p from everyone you make smile and all money collected will be donated to the THEF to continue our worthy cause. We want to help everyone have a happy ending.
Further details will be published on this site nearer the time.
W/C 10TH SEPTEMBER
Story-telling Workshop
Why not learn from a pro how to inspire your children at bedtime. Learn how to bring all their favourite literary characters to life that will have them smiling in their sleep! Friend of THEF, Chloe, will run a free workshop in Central London covering the art of reading out loud, animating characters, creating a positive atmosphere and ensuring children go to sleep with happy thoughts.
31ST OCTOBER
We shall still be having a party but instead of going 'trick or treating' we will be going 'fun & greeting'. Children will be encouraged to knock on someone's door and offer a smile as well as reciting wonderful words to uplift the soul. We will be handing out fairy cakes and other homemade sweeties and showing goodwill to all. We will be spreading happy thoughts and feelings across the country in a rebellion against the witchery and horror of Halloween.
We want to take the darkness of the night and fill it with new light. |
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5th November
We will be holding our annual Bad Book Bonfire and Fun Fireworks Party on the common in Richmond upon Thames - bring along an unhappy book to burn and we'll be judging the Lemony Snicket Guy competition on the night.
THEF ANNUAL FUNSTER
As a reward for all the THEF hard work there will be an opportunity to meet and greet fellow members and enjoy a finger buffet, bouncy castle and entertainment by The Happy Trio. This event is not just for adults, it is very important we all involve our families and children in the plight to rid the world of unhappy endings. Details TBC.
12TH NOVEMBER
Plucky Picket
We will meet at Storrington village hall to pick up placards and catch the coach to London. Our target bookshops will be advised en route. All of you know the drill; only 2 protesters at a time in each shop with the rest outside marching in a circle and telling knock knock jokes. Let's hope this is as successful as last year.
20TH NOVEMBER
Meeting at No.10
After a successful meeting with the Education Secretary last year, our petition has come on in leaps and bounds. We have had a THEF crusade campaigning round the country and aim to have over 60 local education authorities signed up to the THEF, agreeing to replace all the sad books with those with happy endings very soon! The benefits will be clear to see - an atmosphere that is fun, thoughtful and inspired. Due to our huge success we are going back to No.10 to try and ban unhappy endings once and for all. With your support we could get all unhappy books removed from all primary educational facilities across the country. Happier children make for happier lives, so please do come along and show your support for this worthy cause. Remember, sad books are bad books.
All are welcome at the above events. If you are unable to attend then why not continue our fight against sadness by organising your own event? For example, how about:
Take a trip to an unhappy place and plant a flower or a tree to bring it to life .
A smile-a-thon
A sponsored chuckle
Or hold your very own Tickle-A-Moody-Person Week |
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