Esther J. Ending

Esther J. Ending

Esther J. Ending

Esther J. Ending's Children Books, for the approximate ages 3-7 and 7-12

Ending started writing at a young age, entertaining friends with stories she also illustrated. Motherhood has rekindled this passion, resulting in the books below. Though she hasn’t as of yet approached publishers or agents for these works, the positive response from her daughter and friends has sparked consideration. Ending welcomes collaboration with other illustrators, emphasizing her role as a writer first and foremost. All stories are available in English, Dutch and Spanish.

Dragon Can't Sleep (ages 3-7)

In 'Dragon Can't Sleep,' the theme of fear unfolds in a whimsical tale where a dragon is kept awake by a frightened giant running circles around his castle. Intrigued, the dragon takes flight to investigate and discovers a cascade of comical events. The giant is fleeing from a spider, the spider is evading a little princess, the princess is escaping monsters, the monsters are running from a wolf, and the wolf is convinced he's being pursued by a tiger, which turns out to be the giant's docile cat.


The story concludes with everyone, having conquered their irrational fears, finally drifting off to sleep. 'Dragon Can't Sleep' offers a heartwarming and humorous exploration of overcoming fears and finding tranquillity in unexpected ways.

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In this riveting and wickedly humorous time-travel series, young orphan Bobbie dreams of becoming an inventor. Unbeknownst to her, she is the daughter of none other than Leonardo da Vinci, the genius who invented a time travel machine back in 1482. An unfortunate accident has sent his baby daughter into the future – our world today. Since then, Leonardo has been desperately searching for her in a bewildering modern world where no one recognizes his true identity, forcing him to live as a homeless man.


Their long-awaited reunion is tainted when they discover they are being pursued by aliens with sinister plans to take over the world. These extraterrestrial beings aim to incapacitate humans with 'The Illness of Nothing', turning them into servile simpletons. Inventors, especially Leonardo and Bobbie, top their target list. To thwart this ghastly plan, father and daughter, accompanied by their opinionated canine sidekick, Lili,  embark on a time-travel adventure through various eras, from the Romans to the Egyptians, in search of 'The Stone of Something' —  the key to the illness's antidote.


The inspiration for this series came from Ending’s own child, who, at the age of six, yearned for history lessons not yet covered in school. Bobbie and her father’s historical escapades offer an enthralling and educational experience, presenting history basics in a most captivating manner.

 

The series, now three books strong, has been an instant hit with readers of all ages,  who liken the writing style to Roald Dahl – bold, exciting, eccentric and wildly funny.


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How I saved the world from an alien invasion with my father Leonardo da Vinci (ages 7-12)

Sheeposaurus (ages 3-7)

A lovable sheep aspires to become the world's most fearsome creature. Disguised as a T-rex, it attempts to spook a scientist but instead gets launched into space on a rocket. Upon landing on a distant planet, the sheep is hailed as a fearsome deity by awe-struck dinosaurs who have never seen anything as white and woolly. However, despite its newfound dreaded acclaim, the sheep realizes that it can be lonely at the top, yearning to return home

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In this endearing and humorous tale of a witch family, two young sisters share their observations about their mother’s seemingly inexplicable fits of anger that occur like clockwork once a month. They suspect it might have something to do with the moon. Despite their best efforts to lift her spirits, their attempts result in unintended consequences. Whether it's baking a cake (that plunges the kitchen into absolute mayhem), creating an impressive painting (on the living room wall), or picking flowers (from their mother's own garden), their endeavours keep falling short. At the close of the story we find that although there's still no resolution, it's (always) only a short matter of time before their mother is her happy, loving self again.


This imaginative narrative not only resonates with parents who may draw parallels to the monthly cycle but also highlights the transient nature of strong emotions in general – something children themselves are familiar with.

Once a month our mum is very angry (ages 3-7)

The Enchanted Christmas Stocking (ages 3-7)

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A day before Christmas, a young girl is dismayed to discover that her Christmas stocking has mysteriously vanished. Fearful that Santa Claus won’t know where to leave her presents, she resolves to track it down. Assisted by an absent-minded witch who, in a delightful twist, flies a mop instead of a broom, she sets off on a breathtaking journey to Sockland, a fantastical realm where disgruntled socks find refuge. Incidentally, Sockland also holds the key to unravelling the age-old mystery of disappearing socks!


Transversing past Penland and Hairbandland and encountering captivating creatures along the way, they finally reach their destination. Yet, to their surprise, the stocking has fallen in love, and adamantly refuses to come home. It appears that even the most cherished possessions sometimes have a heart of their own…


‘The Enchanted Stocking' is a bewitching story of love, adventure, and the mesmerizing mysteries that make Christmas so wondrously magical.

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The Golden Unicorn (in a tiny, pink, porcelain teapot) (ages 5-10)

In this thought-provoking fable, tranquillity on a peaceful farm is disrupted when a goat takes possession of a piece of land, constructing a fence around it under the claim of divine guidance from a golden unicorn encountered in a visionary dream. The enigmatic unicorn purportedly resides within a tiny, pink porcelain teapot soaring high in the sky – too high and too minuscule to be discerned by the naked eye. According to the goat, this unicorn is the universal boss of all bosses, and its will must be abided. Though initially captivated by the goat's tale, the farm animals become wary as, with each passing day, the goat expands his fenced territory.


A twist ensues when a llama, too, erects a fence around a parcel of land, guided not by a golden unicorn but by a paper donkey nestled in a diminutive coffee pot. According to the llama, this paper donkey ranks higher than the unicorn, although the unicorn cannot know this due to the minuteness and altitude of his coffee pot. The goat reacts with fury, leaving the other animals bewildered. Confusion deepens when the llama, following another vision, declares she no longer requires fencing, as the paper donkey has conveyed that all the land belongs to her, stretching to the horizon and beyond…


Drawing inspiration from the philosophical musings of thinkers like Russell and Rousseau, this narrative delves into the illusion of possession, raising intriguing questions and echoing Rousseau's sentiment: “Civilization began when one man fenced a piece of land and claimed it as his own – and found people crazy enough to believe him.”


While Ending has made illustrations for this tale, she welcomes collaboration with other illustrators for this story as well as other projects.

 

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The Greener Grass and Other Stories (age 5-10)

In this captivating collection of stories, we encounter a curious cow convinced the grass is greener next door, an imaginative little girl who believes her granddad was a princess, a mischievous boy who "acquires" a chicken for a pet, a witch who purchases a painting that mysteriously comes to life, and a devious fart that aspires to smell up the world entire, among many others.


Catering to various preferences, some short stories are perfect for tired kids needing a quick bedtime escape, while others provide longer narratives for unhurried reading. True to Ending's style, each story unfolds with its own unique charm, immersing readers in a world of imagination, laughter, and unexpected twists.

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