Once upon a time, there was a boy named Little Craig Robinson. In his town, all the kids were different in many ways, but they all wanted the same amazing bike. It was bright yellow, just like a lemon popsicle, and had 10 speeds! Craig had been dreaming about this bike ever since he saw it in the store window.
Craig worked hard, doing chores and homework, until his mom finally said, “Let’s go buy that bike!”
With his new bike, Craig zoomed through his neighborhood in Chicago, heading to Rainbow Beach. He felt so proud as he rode past people flying kites and swimming. Craig even reached the ice cream stand first and asked for a double scoop of chocolate brownie ice cream.
But just as he was about to enjoy his treat, a tall police officer in a blue shirt stopped him. “Not so fast,” the officer said. “I’m going to have to take that bike.”
Craig was confused and worried. “Why are you taking my bike?” he asked. The officer said it was reported stolen. Craig tried to explain, “I didn’t steal it. I just bought it.” But the officer didn’t believe him and took the bike away.
Craig felt sad as he rode in the police car back home. He ran to his mom, hoping she could help. She talked to the officer, and after a while, he returned Craig’s bike.
Craig and his mom went to the park to enjoy some ice cream. His mom asked, “What do you see out there?” Craig saw kids playing together. “That’s right,” she said. “But some people only see differences, like the color of their skin. That’s called racism, and it’s why the officer thought you stole your bike.”
Craig was puzzled because the officer looked like him. His mom explained, “Even people who look like you can treat you unfairly. But remember, no one can make you feel bad if you feel good about yourself.”
Craig felt better knowing that as long as he believed in himself, he could overcome anything. “Can I go for one more ride, Mom?” he asked. “All right, one more!” she replied.
This story is true! It happened to me when I was a young boy in Chicago. I learned that even when things are tough, you can learn and grow. My mom always helped me see the good in every situation. Remember, if you feel good about yourself, no one can make you feel bad.
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Bike Adventure Drawing: Draw a picture of your dream bike. Think about what color it would be, how many speeds it might have, and any special features you would like it to have. Share your drawing with a friend or family member and explain why you chose those features.
Neighborhood Exploration: Go for a walk or a bike ride in your neighborhood with a grown-up. Look around and observe the different activities people are doing, like flying kites or playing in the park. Write down or draw three things you see that make you happy and share them with your class.
Feel Good Journal: Start a journal where you write or draw about things that make you feel good about yourself. Each day, add one thing that you did well or something that made you happy. At the end of the week, share one entry with a friend or family member and talk about why it made you feel good.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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**[Music]**
**The Yellow Bike**
A little Craig book about rising above.
This is a story about Little Craig Robinson. In his town, kids came in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. But even though they were different, every kid in Craig’s Town wanted the same exact bike. It was shiny, it was a 10-speed, and it was as yellow as a lemon popsicle. Craig had wanted it ever since he saw it in the window display at the local department store.
After lots of asking, lots of chores, and lots of homework, Mom finally said, “Let’s go buy that bike!”
**[Music]**
**[Applause]**
All the kids in Chicago raced to Rainbow Beach. Craig soared past the kite flyers and swimmers. Craig was so proud of his new bike. He rolled all the way to the ice cream stand, where he was first in line. “One double scoop chocolate brownie ice cream, please,” he coolly asked the ice cream man. But before he got his ice cream, a tall police officer stepped right in front of Craig. His shirt was a brilliant shade of blue.
“Not so fast,” the policeman said. “I’m going to have to take that bike.”
Craig looked at his new bike shining in the Rainbow Beach sun. “Why are you taking my bike?” Craig asked in a panic.
“Because this bike was reported stolen,” the officer replied roughly.
“Oh, I didn’t steal it. I just bought it for me,” Craig told the truth. The policeman was already packing his bike into the trunk of the car. “I know you stole it, kid. I’ll drive you home, and we can talk to your mom. Get in.”
Oh man, Craig’s little heart sank as he climbed into the back of the police car. When they finally pulled up, Craig ran to find Mom. She would know what to do. “What is going on here?” she asked. “He thinks I stole my new bike,” Craig said. Her face turned a bright shade of red. He had never seen Mom look quite like that before.
“Go on inside, Craig.” Craig watched from his bedroom window as Mom spoke to the policeman. She waved her finger, shook her head, and put her hands on her hips. Finally, he lifted Craig’s bike out of the trunk, placed it on the lawn, and drove away.
Mom called for Craig to come out and get his bike. He leaped out the front door. “How about I tell you over ice cream?”
“One double scoop chocolate brownie ice cream, actually make that two!”
Mom and Craig sat in the park. Tasty ice cream made Craig feel better. “What do you see out there?” Mom asked.
“Some kids playing together,” Craig answered.
“That’s right, Craig. But some people would only see the differences between those kids. They are different shapes and sizes, but the color of their skin is different too. Because of your skin color, people aren’t always going to be nice to you. They may call you names or treat you differently. They may even think they’re better than you. That’s called racism, and it’s why the policeman thought you stole your bike.”
“But the policeman had the same color skin as I do. Why would he treat me differently?”
“Prejudice can take all shapes and sizes, Craig. Even people who look like you may still treat you unfairly.” Suddenly, Craig’s ice cream didn’t taste as sweet.
“But remember, Craig,” Mom reassured him, “no one can make you feel bad if you feel good about yourself.”
“So if I feel good about me,” Craig wondered, “then it doesn’t matter what other people think of me?”
“That’s right,” Mom beamed. “You know who you are, Craig, and you sure look good right in that bike.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty fast too!” Mom drove home, and Craig saw his bike waiting for him on the front lawn, right where he left it. “One more ride, Mom, please!”
“All right, one more!”
**[Music]**
**[Applause]**
A note from Craig Robinson: What you just read is a true story that happened to me when I was a young boy growing up in Chicago. At that age, I was just learning how to deal with adversity. When kids were judgmental or mean, my parents would encourage me to put myself in their shoes and try to understand them. Sometimes people acted mean because they felt insecure. My mom would comfort me by saying, “No one can make you feel bad if you feel good about yourself.”
But the incident with the police officer felt different. When the officer wouldn’t believe me and accused me of stealing my own bike, I was heartbroken and confused. When Mom saw me crawling out of that police car, she could have assumed the worst and wondered what I did to get myself into trouble. Instead, she instantly came to my side and was there to help. She believed in me and stood up for me.
After the incident, Mom even went down to the police station, got the police officer to come back to our house, and he apologized to me for what he had done. It was an amazing display of standing up for what is right and actually affecting change.
In difficult situations, it can sometimes be hard to find silver linings. Mom always helped me see that even the hardest situation can be a chance to learn and grow.
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**[Music]**
Thank you!
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This version maintains the essence of the story while ensuring it’s appropriate for all audiences.
