Jugate conmigo - revival (TV show proposal)

Mr Yankelevich:

We are writing this letter as a response to your advertisement looking for new ideas for a teenagers T.V show.

Taking into account the characteristics and interests of teenagers nowadays, we are pleased to present you our idea about the revival of one of the most famous entertaining  T.V programme of the nineties in Argentina: “Jugate Conmigo”

This show, which will be broadcast weekly, will include different sections in which participants, arranged in two teams, will have to demonstrate their abilities in singing, dancing, acting and playing games. The winner will get a Prize: a trip to Brazil.

As regards singing and dancing, participants will have to recreate a video clips from pop artists chosen by the opposite team.

As for acting, a few members from each team will pick a card where they will find the explanation of the situation they will act out.

Each of the previously mentioned performances will be judged by four celebrities, all of whom have great knowledge about acting, dancing and singing.

Concerning the game section, it will include some ball games, such as “Football Tennis”, general knowledge games such as quizzes, action games such as paintball wars.

We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

We can be contacted at the above address.

Let’s Learn Some Stuff Down the Road

by Julián Riobó

Children have everything to learn. Kids need to be educated with certain values and manners which will help them become civilised human beings as they grow up. As a kid myself, I thought that everything that would make me laugh was correct, even if that meant another person’s shame or worse, pain. Did not all of us rejoice at someone else falling onto the floor at least once because we thought it was funny? I will leave that to your conscience.

Having said that, there are many ways of educating children, and stories written for them can always come in handy. Not only do they provide a kid with entertainment, but also with some didactic elements which, in some cases, prove amazingly interesting for them. Many didactic texts show children how and why to follow adult rules. These texts operate under the premise that rules are for the child's own good. These rules need to be explicitly stated so as not to confuse children. Down the Road, a children’s story by Celia Berridge, might constitute a clear instance of this.

The little girl and her mum, the most important characters in the story, go for a walk down the road. The infant is visiting a friend and on her way all her adventure begins. She leaves her house, gets on her pram and learns a lot of new things about the world in which she lives. Simple rules which are new for her are shown in the story. “The red light tells the cars to stop. Our light turns green. Now we can cross safely”. Children, after reading the story, may associate this with real life next time they see the light turning green on the traffic lights. Moreover, their reaction might even be deduced as they would probably say something like: “Mummy, the light is green. We can cross. Like in the story!”

If we look up the word didactic in the dictionary, one of the definitions will probably read: intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment. Undoubtedly, Down the Road, does honour to that definition of the word. The inquisitive little girl points her pudgy finger at everything she sees looking for an explanation. She spots dustmen, men fixing and paving the roads and a fire engine and its siren sounding. She learns that each of them plays a different role in society. The fine drawings do not fail to show what these people are doing, making it even easier for a child to picture them performing their actions.

It can be stated that, Down the Road, might very well be included as an example of what it is didactic and amusing for a child. As mentioned before, this type of stories can be extremely useful for children to start acquiring some basic knowledge of the world that surrounds them. Simple rules that are for their own good are explained pleasantly, which is the right thing to do when it comes to addressing children.

Sid, the Science Kid

Julián M. Riobó & Marina Amartino

“Science is the desire to know causes” (William Hazlitt, English essayist)

This quote describes with simplicity what science is about: the desire to know causes. Now, is it necessary to be a professional scientist to wonder about the world in which we live? Undoubtedly, it is not. Children constitute the embodiment of that desire to know causes. In fact, this has been a relevant topic for psychological research throughout history. According to Erikson, a famous German developmental psychologist and psychoanalist, children during preschool years experience a sense of initiative that makes them explore the world around them. At the same time, it fosters the development of basic educational skills and learning competence. This appears to have been perfectly understood by the creators of “Sid, the science kid”. Combining good content about science and great songs, this TV programme is an appealing approach for young children to have their first encounter with science.  

In each episode of “Sid the science kid”, Sid, the main character, deals with a particular scientific concept, such as what vaccination is about, why the water boils or even how it is that trees are so essential in the cycle of life. Naturally, the list goes on. As mentioned before, in one of the episodes the “science kid” explains why vaccination is not a bad thing in a very simple way. “You get one shot, it hurts just a little bit, you create anti-bodies and stay healthy for a long time”.

The use of catchy songs, whose lyrics are linked entirely to the subject in question, makes the episode more pleasant and engrossing when it comes to children. After putting forward all the reasons why vaccination does not have to be something to be afraid of, Sid wraps up this episode by conveying a message with a concise phrase that goes: “Don’t forget! When you think like a scientist, getting a vaccination is a really good thing. And I think like a scientist because I’m Sid, the science kid!”  

On the other hand, Sid asks questions aiming at finding out explanations for everything that goes on around him. One of the most exciting areas for Sid to dispel his doubts is the “super laboratory”, the   place where he and his little chums investigate and explore, and above all, the place where they have fun and learn at the same time.  The comprehensibility with which scientific facts are explained make children find this TV programme a very interesting way of clarifying their own queries and have a closer contact with science from a very early age.   

Sir Cyril Herman Hinshelwood, English chemist Nobel Prize 1956, once said that science is an imaginative adventure of the mind seeking truth in a world of mystery. “Sid, the Science Kid” shows that “investigation, exploration and discovery” are the necessary steps to seek some truth and to shed light in the world of mystery that surrounds children. What is more, it also demonstrates that learning about science may perfectly go hand in hand with amusement and adventure.

Hello, House! (review by Julián Riobó)

Linda Hayward, Lynn Musinger (illustrator)

Publisher: Random House Trade

Hello, House! is the story of a sly rabbit that uses his wits to triumph over a not particularly clever wolf that wants to catch him. This lovely and funny tale takes place in the middle of the woods, where the little rabbit lives in a cosy house with his family. Linda Hayward, the author, and Lynn Musinger, with his utterly charming illustrations, show how intelligence prevails over physical strength with an engaging story for children between four and eight years of age

Hello, House! has a mixture of humour and didactic elements. The shrewd little rabbit using all his cleverness in order to get rid of the foolish wolf makes up a gripping story. Children are bound to have much fun when they see the way this naive-looking rabbit can make a fool of the big, hairy wolf. “Brer Wolf is bigger. But Brer Rabbit is a whole lot smarter”. The wolf spends his days trying to catch the little rabbit without any success since he sees himself outwitted by his “prey”. The author conveys a message that tells children that using their intelligence is much more important than using physical strength.

The little rabbit plays tricks on the wolf which make him feel silly and inferior. He places figures made of straw resembling rabbits in the woods with the purpose of making a fool of the unintelligent wolf. The main part of the story begins when the whole rabbit family goes out on a picnic. Brer Wolf is determined to take advantange of this situation and he has a plan that is likely to lead him to success for once and for all. But will he be clever enough to carry it out?

Undoubtedly, a perfect story to keep children amused as well as teach them a lesson. The tale will not disappoint them. Containing wonderful drawings and a hugely enjoyable story, this tale will surely fascinate any child. Highly recommended for kids between the ages of four and eight.

Plan B: A hungry decision

Once upon a time a big colony of Red Ants was getting ready for the winter season. They had to collect food and keep it in a big store-room.

Little Red Ant was supervising the operation. He asked Big Red Head, his right hand, to go upstairs and have a look at the garden. “Sir, we’re fucked! Big Black Bottoms got ahead of us. They took all the food”, said Big Red Head. “God damn those fat asses! Time for plan B has come. Start immediately”, answered Little Red Ant.

Big Red Head was worried. He thought plan B was wrong. “But sir, are you sure? Don’t you think it’s a bit too soon?”, asked Big Red Head. “What’s wrong with that?”, said Little Red Ant, “it makes room for new people”. “To the retirement house!”, he ordered.

Exquisite cadaver

Caroline hid behind the oak tree, but her shadow could be seen projected on the field. Therefore the criminal saw her spying on the murder that was taking place and realized she could reveal the truth.

Caroline suddenly burst into tears because she could recognize the man. He was her beloved husband. The closer the man was to her, the more astonished she felt since she could not believe what she was seeing. She felt extremely disappointed.

The criminal was decided to put an end to that situation shutting the witness´ mouth for ever but when he faced her everything changed and she went away without saying a word. 

And she went away without saying a word, after finding her Duckling playing happily in the water.

The beautiful Mother Duck was in the lake enjoying a warm and sunny day with her five yellow Ducklings when one of them disappeared.

“Oh, my God! One of my babies is missing!”, said the Mother.

“Oh, my God! One of us is missing!”, said the Ducklings.

Then they began to look for him. They looked under the Big Tree where they use to play. But he wasn’t there. They looked behind the Old Rock. But he wasn’t there. They looked in Mr. Turtle’s house. But he wasn’t there. They looked in the Three Little Pigs’ house. But he wasn’t there. They looked in The Smurfs’ Village... But he wasn’t there.

The Sun  was going down and Mother Duck was very sad and the Ducklings were crying. So, they came back to the lake... and saw the little Duckling was having a bath at home. Bob Marley was on, and the duck was feeling so relaxed that he thought, “I wonder why the room looks so foggy. It´s almost like being in heaven.”

The little duckling used to take that kind of baths frequently. It helped him forget that everyone consider him the ugly one of the family. He didn’t have any friends, so he usually talked and reflected upon things with his inner duck. It brought peace and comfort to his life.

All of a sudden his mother entered the room and screamed at him, “Stop smoking that shit”, to what the little duckling answered, “I tried to give up smoking weed many times, but the truth is I like it too much," Caroline wrote in her private diary. She started using grass some years ago, in those times she could afford it, but nowadays it is too expensive and she is unemployed. She decided to grow her own plants so she moved to the countryside where legislation is not a matter of concern. Caroline’s friends were so excited to smoke her plants that they would stay with her for ever. On the other hand, her family tried to change Caroline’s mind, and warned her about ending up in jail.

One night, Caroline was relaxing at home when she started listening strange noises, as if someone was forcing the locks, outside, near the gate. Since Caroline had been smoking all day, her blood pressure increased and her heart bits grew faster and faster. Adrenaline ran through her blood stream and desperation took over her. Unable to think clearly she went out through the kitchen door to the garden and got into the oak wood.

“Caroline is not in the house, let’s search the garden”. 

“Look this is legal evidence, let’s confiscate it.”

“She can’t be that far, search the wood”

Caroline ran as far as leopard, sweating and trembling. She looked in her pockets for one last joint. 

The invulnerable oak started firmly among the trees. Caroline went straight towards it, with the lighter ready in her hand. She fell on her knees and lit her precious, mind blogging ciggy.

An aromatic thick, grey smoke filtered through the branches of the oak as the silver moon rays reflected in the mist.

“That’s smell, let’s go right there”

Caroline hid behind the oak tree but her shadow could be seen projected on the field.

Flash fiction

Teacher: You’ll have a zero. Student: Pity you won’t be able to write it.

A priest in need is a kid in danger.

Rastafarian Airlines: take a trip to paradise.

People getting married. Lawyers delivering pamphlets.
(M. A., Natalia Brucciamonti, Camila Chaves, Cintia López, Julián Riobó, Gonzalo Viola)

Growing inside me after such desperate wait.
(Valeria Niell, Nadina González, Gisela Méndez)

Come back. You forgot your life.
(Gisela Méndez)

-“You take it. I’m totally lost!... I can’t read it” –“It’s upside-down”
(Valeria Niell)

Five minutes to evacuate… Get your ticket ready. No ticket, no life.

Can I live in your bubble? Mine is leaking air.

Be clear when you order. Mine was delivered with blue eyes.
(Julieta Acevedo, Gabriela Belitzky, Marisa Gallardo, Betina Ricchezza)

Son: Don’t cry, I’ll be your angel.
(Nadina González)