A story for Annie
est. December 2007
Cover: a father and daughter hold hands on a hilltop with a red dog, bird and flower
scroll to begin
Download the PDF
For Annie
Merry Christmas!
Love, Dad
December 25, 2007
Annie waving
Annie was a sweet girl who loved to run and play. She also loved to ask questions — but she did not always understand the answers.
— 1 —
Daddy on a bench while Annie stands on the hill
One day, Annie and her Daddy went to the park.
Daddy sat on the bench — but Annie wanted to run, and play, and ask questions.
— 2 —
IThe Dog
Annie meets a big red dog
While Annie played she saw a big, furry, red dog. She was so curious she skipped right over to talk to him.
AnnieWhy are you here?
DogI am here to run. I am here to bark. I am here to play.
Annie talks with the red dog again
Annie did not understand.
AnnieWhy don't you meow like a cat? Why don't you fly like a bird?
DogBecause that's not why I'm here.
… and he ran, and he barked, and he played.
— 3 —
IIThe Flower
Annie slides down and finds a pink flower
Annie ran to play on the slide. When she slid to the ground, she found a pretty pink flower.
AnnieWhy are you here?
FlowerI am here to grow. I am here to smell sweet. I am here to reach for the sun.
Annie sits on the slide looking at the smiling flower
Annie did not understand.
AnnieWhy don't you hop like a bunny? Why don't you climb like a monkey?
FlowerBecause that's not why I'm here.
… and it smiled in the sunshine, and it did smell sweet.
— 4 —
IIIThe Bird
Annie climbs the jungle bars as a blue bird lands
Annie ran off to climb the jungle bars. As she climbed, a little blue bird landed on the bar.
AnnieWhy are you here?
BirdI am here to sing. I am here to fly. I am here to build a nest for my eggs.
Annie hangs from the bar near the blue bird
Annie did not understand.
AnnieWhy don't you bark like a dog? Why don't you smell sweet like a flower?
BirdBecause that's not why I'm here.
… and she flew to her nest to sing a sweet song.
— 5 —
IVWhy Am I Here?
Annie finds her Daddy and asks why she is here
Annie jumped down and found her Daddy. He was not on the bench. It was time to go home.
AnnieWhy am I here?
DaddyYou are here to live, and to love, and to ask questions.
Annie and Daddy talk on the hill
Annie did not understand.
AnnieIf I am here to ask questions, why don't I understand?
DaddyBecause that's not why you're here.
— 6 —
Annie and Daddy walk home together at sunset
The dog barked, and the flower grew, and the bird sang — and Daddy held Annie's hand as they walked home together.
— 7 —
The End
Written and illustrated by Adam Brown for his daughter, Annie.
Originally a hand-drawn picture book, Christmas 2007.
Re-bound as a graphic novel — same drawings, same heart.
Download the PDF