cover
High above the sparkling blue sea near the Rock of Gibraltar, Violet sits in Pink Airplane's open cockpit, bomber jacket and cap ruffling in bright mid-morning sun. She grins forward, one hand on the yoke, waves glinting far below.
There once was a girl named Violet Who dreamed she was a pilot With a very pretty pink airplane. And she flew up high over the trees, And she flew far, far, far across the big wide seas, And landed in the beautiful country of Spain.
On a sunny afternoon along Old Town Gibraltar’s cobblestone street, Violet pauses between tall, brightly painted buildings. Walter stands beside a fancy shop doorway, tipping his black top hat and waving one wing, silver vest catching the light.
First, she flew south to the Rock of Gibraltar Where she met a nice penguin whose name was Walter, And who was standing at the door Of very fancy dancing clothes store.
Inside a glittering dress boutique lit by crystal chandeliers, Violet walks down a central aisle in a white dress and shoes, smiling, eyes wide with wonder. Rows of red, blue and pink gowns shimmer on racks rising behind her.
So Violet went inside to look around. There were so many pretty things she found, But she couldn’t decide which ones to choose.
In the store’s mirrored fitting area under warm spotlights, Violet twirls before a tall mirror wearing a bright pink flamenco dress with white hearts, pink sparkling shoes, bronze castanets raised mid-click. Beside her, Walter claps happily, black cane tucked under one wing.
Then with a smile, she bought some clanging castanets, A pretty pink and white polka-heart dress, And a pair of very sparkling dancing shoes.
On a mosaic-tiled bench in Barcelona’s outdoor Park Guell under golden afternoon light, Violet relaxes in a light-pink dress and pink sandals, licking a tall strawberry ice-cream cone. Kaleidoscopic lizard sculptures and distant singing birds decorate the sunny background.
Next, she flew to the wonderful city of Barcelona Where she bought herself a delicious ice cream-a cone-a, And then sat down to take a rest.
At dusk beside Barcelona’s outdoor Fountain of Lights, Violet stands in her light pink dress and pink sandals, with her hands raised high, smiling, eyes shining as multicolored water jets arc behind her, glowing pink, blue, green and purple. Colorful kites flutter overhead, one special pink one, against an amber sky turning to twilight.
Afterwards, she went to the Fountain of Lights Where she saw the magic colored waters and lots of pretty paper kites, She liked the pink one best.
On a sunny morning airfield tarmac, Purple Squid, in his white and purple gas attendant jacket and cap, holds a fuel hose, topping up Pink Airplane's fuel tank. Violet, in her bomber jacket and cap, is thoughtfully studying a map.
Next she flew to Madrid Where she met a giant purple squid Who filled her empty airplane tank with gasoline.
In Madrid’s bustling Puerta del Sol under bright midday sun, Violet in her pink flamenco dress clutching castanets weaves through lively crowds. A tall polar bear, Antonine, wearing a blue top hat and waistcoat greets her warmly, paw raised in welcome.
And while she was there She met a tall white dancing bear Whose name was Antonine.
Inside a warmly lit Madrid tapas bar, Violet happily twirls beside Antonine across the tiled floor, her pink dress flaring as bronze castanets click mid-dance. A seated guitar player strums flamenco chords nearby, patrons clapping rhythmically around small wooden tables.
So they went to a famous Tapas bar Where they were known for really great flamenco guitar, And they both danced until their faces turned the color of tangerine.
At sunrise outside Madrid’s hangar, Violet stands atop Pink Airplane’s wing in her bomber jacket, both hands waving enthusiastically. On the tarmac below, Antonine smiles and lifts his blue-hatted paw in farewell, golden light casting long shadows behind them.
Now it was time for Violet to go home. No more time left for her in Spain to roam. So she jumped back into her pretty pink plane with a leap!
High noon, flying above the sea near the coast of Spain, Violet sits in the cockpit of Pink Airplane in her bomber jacket and cap, smiling and looking down at the distant boats that speckle the water far below.
Off she went high in the sky so blue And back, back, back over the wide ocean too.
Violet laying in her bed, in her white pajamas with pink hearts, dreaming of flying her Pink Airplane over the coast of Spain near the Rock of Gibraltar, moonlight shining in the window.
And finally, she said, As she landed in her bed, It think it’s time for me to go to sleep.