Five Year Old’s Adventure Story Teaches about the Hazards of Lying
Joshua L. Mask is a creative high-spirited six year old growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana. You’d never guess that he’s a published author.
Last year, his parents took him to the county fair, where Josh won a stuffed animal dragon by tossing an impossibly small ring over the neck of a Coke bottle. This victory prompted him to make up the story of Griffin – a dragon.
The story was so fun and memorable that his parents enlisted a children’s book illustrator to create a book titled Griffin the Dragon and the Jump House.
Griffin is a large purple and green dragon, Jackson a gray, black striped hyena and their good buddy Cattails a 10-year-old boy lived in a comfortable neighborhood near a medium sized city. The three enjoyed the type of friendship boys that age typically enjoy.
They lived close to each other and decided one Saturday morning to venture down a dirt road farther out of town. They were finally going to the ‘forbidden’ JUMP HOUSE!
Only when they get to Cattails house, they find that he has left without them. And instead of telling his parents the truth, they tell a lie about having seen him. He wouldn’t go into the forbidden Jump House without them, would he?
They head to the Jump House and are met by a sneaky Wizard, who connives them into taking a romp on the trampoline to go searching for Cattails. Boom! They are transported to an alternative universe, a place called Mad Planet.
Will they be able to get home? Will they be able to save Cattails?
This delightful story captures the friendship and close ties of comrades facing trouble of their own making. The inviting colorful illustrations are engrossing and enjoyable.
The friends take home a valuable lesson about going into strange houses and telling parents the truth.
Griffin the Dragon and the Jump House
Joshua L. Mask and Ken Mask
Illustrations by Curtis Pierre
Available in e book editions.
About the authors and illustrator
Joshua Mask is a ‘Katrina baby.’ He was born December 21, 2005, four months after the family was forced to leave New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He is now six years old and lives with his parents: Ken and Lesley Mask in Lafayette, Louisiana. Ken is a physician and Lesley is a pharmacist.
Curtis Pierre, founder of Casa Samba (a New Orleans based Brazilian cultural organization), is a drummer, artist and accomplished multi-performer doing extraordinary things around the world.
What People Are Saying
“George Bernard Shaw said: “You see things and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were, and I say, ‘Why Not?’” Truer words could not describe the journey this young lad, Joshua L. Mask takes us on. You share his joy of imagination in the most simple and immediate way. Dream and wonder in this most singular act of fantasy!”
-Wendell Pierce
“As we continue to grow, we continue to learn, especially from our young, innocent and passionate writers. This young author demonstrates a need for both young and ones of a certain age to think outside the box and put their imaginations into action. He is both motivating and inspiring!”
-James “Big Game” Worthy
