My Town written by Leigh Anne Florence and illustrated by Chris Ware

aren’t making a four-hour trip for dessert. We’re making Fulton County, but to travel to Fulton, or Hickman – our Chapter 2 it because it’ll be a chance for us to take another trip county seat, I must drive through the state of and learn more about . Besides, we love – and do it again to get home! It’s another unique thing “That’s the biggest bowl of banana pudding I’ve ever cruisin’ through the Commonwealth,” Dad said, winking. about our county. I love my town!” seen!” I exclaimed, my taste buds dancing. So here we were, at the 56th Annual Banana Festival in “Do bananas grow in Kentucky Bend?” I asked. “The brochure says it’s 1 ton! That’s 2,000 pounds!” Fulton, Kentucky - known as the Banana Capital of the “Though Fulton County is known for bananas, they’ve Mom informed. World – staring at the world’s largest bowl of banana never grown here,” Kaylee answered. “Around 1880, pudding. “It looks appealing,” Chloe said, making a pun. the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad developed refrigerated “Would you each like a bowl?” a voice asked. We cars. This allowed companies to ship tropical fruit. “If it wasn’t for you, Chloe, I’d have never answered the looked around and saw a lady wearing a bright yellow Fulton had a large railroad facility and was centrally question about what Uncle Bill was doing in the song dress and holding a large spoon. She was standing located between New Orleans and Canada. The United My Town– and we wouldn’t have won!” behind a humongous vat of pudding. Beside the Fruit Company, now Chiquita, shipped bananas from “You’re welcome, Woody,” Chloe sweetly answered. pudding were hundreds of bowls. She carefully served South America to New Orleans on 162-pound blocks “You should have seen your face when the D.J. asked each of us a bowl. We thanked her and handed her the of ice. Fulton had the only ice house between New how you liked banana pudding!” “Free Banana Pudding” vouchers we’d won. Orleans and Chicago, so the bananas could be re-iced “I liked your answer,” Mom added. “This is better than I expected,” I said, careful not to talk in Fulton. At one time, over 70% of the nation’s bananas “When Chester announced I’d answered the daily with my mouth full. passed through Fulton, making us the Banana Capital of the World.” As I listened, a fl y landed on my nose. trivia question correctly, I hoped I’d won a trip to Magic “Terrifi c. I’m Kaylee, by the way. Is this your fi rst time at Playland. I was surprised when he asked if I liked the Twin Cities Banana Festival.” “Shoo, fl y,” I said, but the pesky thing wouldn’t budge. I banana pudding.” felt a sneeze developing. “Twin Cities?” I repeated. “I like bananas a whole bunch,” I answered, live on the “A…A…A… “Fulton, Kentucky is on the Kentucky-Tennessee state radio. line,” she explained. “One block over is South Fulton, “Sneeze into your arm, Woody,” Mom instructed. “You’ve won the My Town Prize Package,” Chester Tennessee. They’re separate states but work together I put my nose deep in the crook of my elbow, away from explained, once he stopped laughing at my answer. to promote growth, so they’re called the Twin Cities. the food. “If you’re from Kentucky, you know there are festivals This festival is our biggest event. It includes a parade, “A-CHOO!” across the state throughout the year. The My Town live music, and a greased pig contest.” Prize Package will provide selected treats for you and A deafening crash occurred seconds after I sneezed! Noticing the pudding line was long, Chloe and I offered your family at several upcoming festivals. The fi rst to help. festival is The Banana Festival in Fulton, Kentucky. You Be sure to visit www.thewoodybooks.com for and your family will enjoy free banana pudding.” “If you’ll hand me the bowls to fi ll, that’d help,” Kaylee information on other festivals. replied. “Kentucky and food are two of my family’s favorite things!” I announced. Immediately we began passing bowls to Kaylee. “Excellent! You can pick up the prize package at the “Do you live in Fulton County?” Mom asked, as front desk. Enjoy – and let us know which festival you she and Dad helped pass out pudding. liked best,” Chester added before hanging up. “Yes ma’am,” Kaylee replied, Once I hung up, Chloe was searching for Fulton in our proudly. “I’m one of about 18 Kentucky map. It was in the bottom left corner of the people who live in Kentucky state. Bend. The Bend is an exclave – or portion of a peninsula – that’s “I guess it’s silly to drive that far for free banana surrounded by and pudding,” I said, trying to contain my disappointment. Tennessee. It was created by the “Ordinarily I would agree, son,” Dad replied, “but we . The Bend is in

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K e n E n o c h M a s o n r y • B r ic k , B lo c k & S t o n e L a y in g 270-392-1868 MY TOWN CHAPTER 2 ACTIVITIES

Woody’s Word Search Circle the words listed at the bottom that are found in Chapter 2.

W S O F R D M F D N O K J E X V T E E Y A G I O E A A J L H H P W S V I D T O W H X I K M E Z G T K O L I S F F G P A N Z G Z I A U L D O S Y S T I C E C N V F P R I Z E J O D U A E S I A G N I D D U P U B X R N V E L S U K K S T Z T L I P S P W I K H E U W U S H O W K P A I Q T N I I D N E B R X M A D F S T I N M R D P U Y D I Q M G U C L C D N X D T W N Q J W C L M H A K N T G Z A P P N K E J B E J L X L H T D S W Y H D D O J P X C S V K D D D

BEND CITIES FESTIVAL FULTON KENTUCKY PRIZE PUDDING RADIO SNEEZE SOUTH TWIN

WOODY’S JOKE OF THE WEEK

What did the nut say when it sneezed?

CASHEW

QUESTIONS & ACTIVITIES

For Questions 1-4, you will need a Kentucky map.

1. Open your Kentucky map and locate the following: 1) Fulton, KY (Hint: Woody describes the location in Chapter 2.) 2) Hickman, KY* 3) South Fulton, TN

*Hickman is a town located in Fulton County. In fact, it’s the county seat of Fulton County. Hickman is also a county in Kentucky. Hickman County is directly to the north of Fulton County. Clinton is the county seat of Hickman County.

2. Describe Hickman’s location in relation to Fulton. Is it north, south, east or west? What about South Fulton, TN? It is north, south, east or west of Fulton, KY?

3. Now that you’ve located Hickman, Kentucky, look to the west of Hickman to find Kentucky Bend. You should see the following: 1) The Mississippi River surrounding the Bend 2) State of Missouri 3) State of Tennessee

4. What town in Tennessee is closest to the Bend? What town in Missouri is closest to the Bend?

5. In Question 2, it notes that Hickman is the county seat of Fulton County and that Clinton is the county seat of Hickman County. What is a county seat? What is the county seat of your county?

6. Do you know all the festivals that are in your county? Using the internet or newspaper, research to find out all the ones your county has. Are any of them in the fall? Have you been to any festivals? If so, which one? What did you like about that festival?

7. After The Banana Festival, Woody and Chloe learned how to make Banana Pudding. Here is the recipe:

MY TOWN BANANA PUDDING

Ingredients (things you will need) • 1 box of Vanilla Woofers Wafers • 1 container of thawed frozen whipped topping • 1 small box of vanilla instant pudding (plus the milk you need for the pudding) • a few ripe bananas Tools and Appliances • at least 1 adult to help oversee the process • bowl and spoon to make the pudding • kitchen knife (NOT a sharp knife) and cutting board to cut the bananas • bowl for the banana pudding • plastic wrap to put on top of pudding • a refrigerator to keep the My Town Banana Pudding cold • dog to lick up any crumbs (if you don’t have a dog, a broom or vacuum cleaner will work) Directions

1) Make the vanilla pudding just like it says on the box. 2) Cut up bananas. 3) Mix the bananas into the pudding mix. 4) Now we’re ready to put it all together. Using the bowl you’ve chosen, put down Vanilla Woofers Wafers, pour the pudding mixture over the wafers, now put the whipped topping on. If you really want to be creative, you can add something on top of the whipped topping like crushed cookies or even sprinkles. 5) Enjoy this treat with your family and friends – and try not to sneeze on it.

EMAIL WOODY

Email Woody at [email protected] and tell him about the following things:

1. Festivals in your county. Be sure to include the date and location of the festival. Also, let Woody know about festivals you’ve attended and what you liked best about it. 2. How the MY TOWN BANANA PUDDING turned out.

Check your email for a response from Woody and check Woody’s website and his facebook at www.facebook.com/woodykywiener to see the emails he received. CUT & PASTE

If your newspaper provided a scrapbook, make sure you cut out this week’s chapter and paste it in the scrapbook. If they didn’t, make your own scrapbook. Once you’ve collected all 10 chapters, you will have your very own Woody book! Are Woody and Chloe coming to your town soon? If so, bring your scrapbook for the pups to sign!

More of MY TOWN Wondering about a festival that hasn’t appeared in the newspaper? Fortunately for us Kentuckians, there are countless festivals every weekend throughout the state. Unfortunately, however, we couldn’t feature them all in the newspaper. Therefore, we are dedicating Woody’s blog to Kentucky festivals. Visit www.thewoodybooks.wordpress.com for more information.

DON’T FORGET TO… • Click on the podcast link and listen to Woody read Chapter 2. • Check back next week to read Chapter 3 of My Town! • Visit Woody and Chloe at their online doghouse – www.thewoodybooks.com and their facebook page – www.facebook.com/woodykywiener.

Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!