Category Archives: Rhymes For Kids

Tony Funderburk’s rhymes and reasons to help you understand the power of God’s love. For kids from 1 to 101.

Writing For Kids At The Day By Day Cafe

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There’s a very special eatin’ establishment…I’ll call it the Day By Day Cafe…where a kid can order his own breakfast, sit in a comfortable chair, and feel just right.

Writer singer, Tony Funderburk, is writing for kids at the Day By Day Cafe.

Does this cafe really exist? Is it just a figment of my nostalgic imagination? I think maybe it still does exist in living color. In fact, maybe there’s a chain of the Day By Day Cafe restaurants all across America. Maybe you’ve been to one. Or maybe you’ve always wished you could visit one and see what those other lucky people are doing in there.

You can order up an orange juice
Order up some toast.
You can order up the sandwich
That you really like most.
You can order up a root beer
And drink it right away…
At the Day By Day Cafe.

You can have a bowl of cereal
And not a thing more.
You can order watermelon, and
Eat it off the floor.
Get all your favorite loony tunes
And let ’em all play…
At the Day By Day Cafe.

You can order up some breakfast
And order up some lunch.
You can order up tortilla chips,
And have a light brunch.
You never have to leave this place.
The owners let you stay
At the Day By Day Cafe.

Stay tuned,
Tony Funderburk, THE writer-singer-illustrator for kids and life in Denver talks about his first 7 ebooks for kids.

P.S.  Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

It’s true…you never can tell who you might run into as you’re going about your day and your errands and your routine. But since so much of what we do can, in fact, become a routine, we humans have a tendency to get in a rut. We let down our guard. We might not dress up to go out. Or clean up before we clamor through the day.

That’s not so bad. None of us can look or be our tip-top best every minute of every day. But worse than looking less than our best, we might not remember to think of others. We might let ourselves be cranky…or even downright mean.

But we should be on guard.

Because you never can tell who you might meet. Or who might need your help. Or who might have a favor to ask. Or who might introduce you to someone else.

I started out writing something, a few minutes ago, that I thought was going to be something other than what it turned out to be. But in the rainbow halls of my imagination…as I got about three lines into it, it went a whole different direction. And it proved to me once again that you never can tell…

Tinkling trinkets twinkled through the tiny town.
Lots of lemon drops were lofted by a clown.
And the muffins made with mandarin were sweet…
As the fireworks and fireflies lit up the street.

With one glance a glad glissando glided by…
And a perfect pizzicato pierced the sky…
You might ask where was this wonderment beheld…
I won’t tell you, and I cannot be compelled.

‘Less, of course, you’d share the shelter of your shade
With the people passing by in the parade.
Then I’d treat you to the treasures tendered there
As you aided an archangel unaware.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Today I have a morning story for kids about a morning story for kids. Yep, sometimes when I’m writing for kids, I like to take them to places inside of other places. Something inside something else becomes a third thing. And the third thing is almost always more interesting and fun.

Are you with me? Does it sound silly, loopy, wacky, and zany? Good. Then, I’m on the right track. Without further ado, here’s the story…

Aunt Louise read a morning story for kids.

She started out by taking smiling bids.
“Whoever smiles the best,” she’d say,
“Will have their favorite read today.”
And every kid beamed out their smiling bids.

Aunt Louise picked Jacob’s ducky smile.
She said, “You quack me up with your duck style…
So, what would you like read today?
What story’s in your head today?”
And Jacob paused to think for just a while.

“How ’bout the story ’bout those crazy ducks
Who wear hardhats and drive around in trucks?”
Yeah, Jacob likes the silly stuff.
He never seems to get enough.
His favorite book is one called “Ducks Deluxe”.

So Aunt Louise began to read the book,
And “once upon a duck” was all it took
For all the kids to laugh out loud
As much as Aunt Louise allowed…
While Jacob made his dopey ducky look.

Well, Aunt Louise thought it was funny too.
She said, “Hey kids, here’s something we can do.
We’ll have some reading fun today,
And after we are done today,
We’ll go and see the ducks out at the zoo.”

So Aunt Louise began to read again,
And all the kids let all the words sink in.
They knew that they would go and see
The duck and bear and chimpanzee…
And all because of Jacob and his grin.

Your email address is all it takes to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. It comes directly to your inbox so you spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy.

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Right This Minute

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Right this minute ask yourself this question…

“Am I doing what I’m doing right now because it makes me happy…or am I doing what I’m doing because I’d like to help someone else be happy.”

Either one is OK, but it’s really so much better and so much fun to help someone else. If you only look at what makes you happy everyday, you can become selfish. And being selfish means you’ll spend even more time on what makes you happy everyday. And then you’re stuck in a circle that’s like a clock…it goes ’round and ’round but never gets anywhere.

Now…right this minute…or right after you read the short poem below, go find someone who needs a smile. And give them two or three smiles. If you do, they might even give you one or two back. And that makes a circle that looks like a wheel…it spins ’round and ’round and goes wherever you steer. So, steer clear.

This Minute Is

This minute is your minute.
Go ahead and jump in it.
One sparkle and one twinkle
One snowflake and one sprinkle.

Be sunny and be cheerful.
Skip worried and skip fearful.
Keep smiling and keep living.
This minute is for giving.

Your email address is all it takes to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. It comes directly to your inbox so you spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy.

Stay tuned,
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Mother's Day 2013

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Happy Mother’s Day 2013

to all of you ladies who “took one for the team” as you…

withstood the months of pregnancy

withstood the pains of childbirth

fed your babies when they cried at 3 a.m.

fixed “boo boos”

kissed away pain

hugged away frowns

cooked breakfasts, made lunches, and prepared dinners

washed clothes even after laundry was all done

taught truth, hope, and love…and readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic

fought tangled hair, torn pants, and missing shoestrings

remembered birthdays with just the right proportion of chocolate icing to vanilla ice cream

listened to stories of triumph, tragedy, and utter despair (mostly from teenage girls)

made or bought costumes for every goofy event imaginable

went to plays, sporting events, and music presentations…cheering for that one child who was obviously the natural born talent

brought the “something borrowed” or “something blue” to the bride-to-be just at the right time

danced the mother/son dance with the groom who had been her dragonslayer only “weeks ago” it seems

made special homemade desserts for the kids and grandkids when they came over for Thanksgiving

brought an elegant grace to the process of aging

made us believe there’s a forever, a God who loves us, and a knowledge that we’ll have eternity in paradise

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Saturday Gladder Day

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When I was a kid, Saturday meant one of two things: cartoons…or going to work with my Dad on his milk route. Well, to be clear, I didn’t have to go to work with my Dad until I was about 12 and up. So cartoons were the Saturday morning routine until then. But after about my 12th birthday, my brother and I were required to work on alternate Saturday’s in those early, early morning hours of a milkman.

Tony Funderburk's writing for kids includes Saturday morning cartoons and ridin' with the milkman.

At the time, like any typical kid, I didn’t really want to go do the milk route on those dark, early morning shifts. I figured I was missing out on all the fun all those other kids were getting to do while I was walking gallons of milk, pounds of butter, and sour cream to the doors of scores of houses. Ironically, after the fog lifted (from my eyes and from those south Texas roads), I actually enjoyed the day hanging out with my Dad. It was just the getting up at 3:00 a.m. I dreaded each week.

It’s funny how time can so drastically skew your perspective. My Dad passed away a little over 27 years ago. He was 7 years younger than I am now, and he endured 9 years of “terminal kidney failure” before relenting his life. So, I can see through the eyes of maturity that each day is a gift from God. And each day each one of us is given choices…happy or sad…serve or be served…truth or lies. I choose life, happiness, and truth. It’s the only way to make…

Saturday Gladder Day

Throw the gloomy out today and just be glad today.
Saturday’s the very best day that we’ve had today.
You could choose to have a frown and make a sadder day
Or set free your smile and have a gladder Saturday.

As for me, I’m thankful there’s a shiny sun today…
Even if I find out I’m the only one today.
All my needs are served up on a silver platter day…
And that’s how I know I’ll have a gladder Saturday.

Stay tuned,
Tony Funderburk, THE writer-singer-illustrator for kids and life in Denver talks about his first 7 ebooks for kids.

P.S.  Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
Get my Podcast
Circle me on Google +
Like my fan page on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Watch my videos on YouTube

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Whether you’re 3 or 300, you should never give up on your ability to dream the dreams that could help others.

You’re a wonderful design…a unique creation of God. You’re not exactly like any of the other 7 billion people on the Earth. So, whether you’re sleeping or awake, your dreams won’t be exactly like anyone else’s either.

Of course, sometimes we dream the dreams our minds put together from a mish-mash of things we did during the day. They don’t make any sense. They’re just for fun. If you’ve ever dreamed about flying high above the trees or clouds, you know what I mean. In real life you can’t do that, but in your dreams it’s so much fun.

Other times you might find yourself sitting in the shade of your favorite tree just thinking. Those are times when you can dream impossible things…and then use your wonderful brain to think of ways to make those dreams come true. Many famous inventors had some of their best thoughts under a shade tree, or in a swing, or sitting at a desk with their eyes closed. Just remember, when you take the time to daydream, you should also take the time to write down your best ideas. You might not use them right away, but you can never tell when they’ll come in real handy.

I wrote a special poem to dreamers today…because I woke up this morning after one of those silly kinds of dreams. I hope these rhymes encourage you to dream the dreams that can only come from inside your special mind.

Dream The Dreams

Waking up from silly dreams
Isn’t silly as it seems
Because dreamers are what makes the world go ’round.
With those pictures in your head
As you rise up out of bed
You might find the thing that needed to be found.
You might dream of flying cars
That go cruising through the stars,
Then design a brand new turbo rocket ship.
You might wake up from your sleep
With an awesome way to keep
People safer when they’re going on a trip.
What if you could dream a dream
That, to some, could sound extreme.
But your idea helped to ease a lot of pain?
Well, put on your dreaming hat
‘Cause we need more dreams like that,
And they’re waiting to be dreamed inside your brain.
If you’re eager to create,
And you find you just can’t wait,
And your dreams are overflowing from your ears,
Take a breath and write ’em down,
With a smile and not a frown.
Then your dreams become ideas you’ll have for years.
When you dream, don’t think it’s odd.
Dreams are thoughtful gifts from God.
They can help to give your weary mind some rest.
So relax and dream away.
Every day’s a brand new day
To begin to dream the dreams that you dream best.

© 2013 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can help me spread the Word…

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional
(emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers