From a Tiger Puppet to a Ministry

Writing has always been a big part of my life. One of my favorite projects has been the *River and Me* series, which I started with my beloved tiger puppet, River. What began as a childhood story at age seven has become a book series and now *River and Me Ministries* on YouTube. It's surreal to see my character River grow alongside me, turning into something so meaningful and faith-centered.

I couldn’t have made it this far without the incredible support of my family. My dad has been my biggest help from the start—he published my very first book when I was just 15, helping me see the possibilities of sharing my stories with the world. Since then, he’s continued to encourage me and support my vision for the *River and Me* series and the YouTube channel. His dedication to helping me bring my dreams to life has been a huge blessing, making this journey all the more special.

It amazes me to think that what started as a simple idea with a tiger puppet has grown into a ministry. God truly has the power to take even the smallest ideas and turn them into something big, something that can reach others in meaningful ways. River reminds me that God can use anything—no matter how small or humble—to make an impact.

My dad and I have been working really hard on the River and Me Ministries YouTube channel.

Please check it out and subscribe

Tiger River's mini stories: River's Surprise Birthday Party

It's River's birthday today!
Breana's mom bought
Breana a tiger puppet stuffed animal
from Cranker Barrel 21 years ago when Breana was five.
Since then Breana has written dozens of River stories and published four storybooks on Amazon.
Wish River a happy birthday by subscribing to River and Me Ministries. Link in bio

And you can also wish him a happy birthday by buying a book on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and search Breana Pope. Then find a River and Me book you would like to have. Thank you so much for supporting River and Me Ministries! God bless. Or as River would say:
"Keep smiling and keep shining God's Love!"

Here's a little story I put together in honor of River's Birthday.

River's Surprise Birthday Party

It was a warm, sunny day in the jungle, and River the Tiger was enjoying a peaceful stroll along the familiar paths he loved so much. Today felt like any other day—except, there was something different in the air. He couldn't quite put his paw on it, but he shrugged it off, figuring it was just the breeze rustling the leaves.

Meanwhile, Gail was busy at her house, putting the final touches on a special surprise for River. She had spent days planning a birthday party and had invited all of River’s friends—Alisha the tiger, Monkey, and Wolfy. And Gail's friends- Little Robin and Little Lori. The house was decorated from top to bottom with bright banners, colorful balloons, and a huge sign that read, "Happy Birthday, River!"

Everyone had arrived early, hiding behind furniture, under tables, and behind curtains, eager to surprise their favorite tiger friend. Monkey, of course, had a hard time staying still, giggling and bouncing around in excitement. The snacks were laid out, the cake was in place, and everyone was ready for the big moment.

As River padded closer to Gail’s house, he noticed that all the windows were shut, which was unusual for such a lovely day. “That’s odd,” he thought, but being the curious tiger he was, River decided to investigate.

He stepped up to the door, and as soon as he pushed it open— **“SURPRISE!”** —The entire room was filled with cheers.

“Happy Birthday, River!” everyone shouted, jumping out from their hiding spots.

River froze, wide-eyed and stunned. For a moment, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The room was filled with all of his friends, smiling and cheering just for him. Gail, Alisha, Monkey, and Wolfy were all there, beaming with excitement. The walls were covered in decorations, and right in the middle of the room was a huge cake shaped like a jungle.

River’s heart filled with joy. “You all did this... for me?”

“Of course we did!” Gail said, walking up to him with a huge smile. “We wanted to make sure your birthday was unforgettable.”

Monkey somersaulted across the room, unable to contain his excitement. “Yeah! We’ve been waiting all day to surprise you!”

Wolfy wagged his tail, howling happily, “Now it’s time to party!”

River was so overwhelmed with happiness that his tail started moving back and forth. “This is amazing! I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Gail said, placing a birthday hat on River’s head. “Just enjoy yourself!”

And that’s exactly what River did. They played games, like pin the tail on the tiger, and they danced to River's favorite music. They laughed, ate cake, and even sang a special birthday song that Gail had made up just for River. Every moment was filled with love, laughter, and the warmth of friendship.

As the sun set and the party came to a close, River looked around at all his friends. He realized that this surprise wasn’t just about the balloons or the cake—it was about how much his friends cared for him.

“This has been the best birthday ever,” River said, smiling contentedly. “I’m so blessed to have all of you in my life.”

Gail and the others gathered around for a big group hug, and together they all shouted, “Happy Birthday, River!”

And as River stood there, surrounded by his friends, he knew that this day would be one he’d remember forever.

That night, when River said his bedtime prayers, he thanked God for each one of his special friends. He truly felt blessed.

River fell asleep with a heart full of joy, knowing he would never forget this perfect day.

Tiger River's mini stories: River Goes to the Library

One sunny afternoon, Tiger River went to the library with his best friend, Gail. River had never been to the library before, and as soon as they walked in, he stopped in his tracks, his eyes growing wide.

“Wow, Gail! Look at all these books! There are SO many!” River said excitedly, his tail swishing back and fourth with excitement.

Gail giggled and put her finger to her lips. “Shh, River. We have to be quiet in the library. You’re not supposed to talk loudly here.”

River’s eyes widened even more as he nodded quickly. “Oh, okay. I’ll be quiet,” he whispered back, trying hard to keep his voice down.

“Come on, let’s go to the kids' section,” Gail said, grabbing River’s paw and leading him toward a corner filled with bright, colorful bookshelves.

When they got there, River’s jaw dropped. The kids' section was full of books with colorful covers, fun illustrations, and comfy couches to sit on. River’s heart raced with excitement. He had no idea there could be so many books all in one place.

“Look at all these books!” River whispered to Gail. “Which one do we read first?”

Gail smiled at how eager River was. “Well, let’s take a look,” she said, pointing to a shelf full of books about animals. River’s eyes went straight to a book with a big bear on the front.

“What’s this book about?” River asked, staring at the cover.

“That’s a book about bears,” Gail explained. “See the bear on the front? It’s all about how bears live, what they eat, and their cubs.”

River nodded, already amazed by how much there was to learn. But then something caught his eye, and he gasped so loudly that a few other kids turned to look.

“Look, Gail! Look!” River pointed excitedly at another book on the shelf. “That book has a tiger on the cover! Just like me!”

Gail chuckled. “Yep, that’s a book all about tigers,” she said. “It tells you everything about how tigers live in the wild.”

“Can I have it?” River asked, clutching the book like it was a precious treasure.

Gail smiled and shook her head. “You can’t keep the books from the library, but you can borrow them if you have a library card.”

River smiled eye to eye. “I want a library card too!”

“Well, you can use mine for now,” Gail said, pulling her card out of her pocket and handing it to River. His paws were a bit too big for the small card, but he held it carefully.

“Thank you SO much, Gail!” River said, practically bouncing with joy.

“You’re welcome! Now, let’s pick out five books to take home,” Gail said, glancing at the shelves. “I’ll pick two, and you can pick three.”

River’s eyes darted around, trying to take in all the options. After a few minutes, he proudly held up three books. “I want these!” he said. “A book about tigers, a book about dogs, and a book about kids!”

“Great choices!” Gail said, adding her two picks. “I’ve got two ‘Boxcar Children’ books. We’ll have plenty to read!”

River and Gail carried their books over to a small table where they laid them out in a neat pile. River looked down at his stack, his tail swishing back and forth with excitement.

“Let’s read the titles,” Gail said, pointing to River’s first book. “This one is *The Tale of Two Tigers*,” she read aloud. “And this one is *Biscuit*—that’s the dog book. And the last one is *Dick and Jane*. They’re fun stories about kids.”

“I love all the books I picked!” River said happily. “Can we read them all when we get home?”

“Of course,” Gail said with a smile. “We’ll read them together.”

“I can’t wait!” River exclaimed, carefully picking up his three books while Gail carried hers. They walked together to the front desk, where River watched the librarian scan the books. Each time the scanner made a beep, River’s ears perked up, and his eyes sparkled.

“That is SO cool!” River whispered, watching the librarian scan the last book.

Once they checked out all their books, River and Gail headed home. As soon as they got home, they cozied up on the couch, and Gail began reading aloud from *The Tale of Two Tigers*. River listened intently, loving every word. After that, they read *Biscuit* and *Dick and Jane*. River’s heart was full of happiness as he snuggled up close to Gail.

“Thank you so much for taking me to the library, Gail!” River said, wrapping his arms around her in a big hug.

“You’re welcome, River. I’m so glad you had fun,” Gail said, hugging him back.

Tiger River's mini stories 2: River Goes To School

After River and Gail found River's missing shoe, it was finally time to head to school. 

River was excited but a little nervous too since this was his first time going to school with Gail.

Once they climbed onto the bus, River met Gail’s best friends, Little Robin and Little Lori. 

They were both really friendly and waved as River and Gail sat down behind them.

“Little Robin and Little Lori, this is River,” Gail introduced with a big smile. 

Little Lori's eyes lit up, and she squealed, “Aww, he’s so cute!”

“And he’s a tiger!” Little Robin added, clapping her hands in excitement. “Tigers are my favorite animal!”

“I like monkeys more,” Little Lori said with a grin. “But tigers are cool too.”

River smiled shyly and said, “I actually have a friend named Monkey—he’s really a monkey!”

Little Lori gasped. “That’s so cool!"

"You’re the cutest tiger ever," said Little Robin.

River blushed and thanked her.

“You’re going to love school,” Little Robin said as she brushed her blonde hair out of her face.

“I hope so!” River said, starting to feel more excited.

When they got to school, River couldn’t wait to learn new things. He spent the morning practicing counting to five and learning the first few letters of the alphabet. Little Lori even helped him tie his shoes, which made River feel proud.

Art class was River’s favorite part of the day. The teacher handed out paper, paints, and crayons, and River decided to paint a picture of the jungle where he grew up. His classmates gathered around, amazed by the tall trees, flowing rivers, and colorful animals he painted. Little Robin even drew a picture of a tiger, and Little Lori drew a playful monkey. River was so happy when the teacher put his jungle painting on the wall for everyone to see.

During show-and-tell, River felt a little nervous, but Gail whispered, “You’ve got this!” River stood up in front of the class and talked about his home in the jungle, describing the tall trees and the fun he had with his animal friends. Gail even pulled out a jungle book from her backpack to help him. Everyone listened closely, especially when River mentioned his best friend, Monkey. 

At recess, River explored the playground with Little Robin and Little Lori. At first, River wasn’t sure about the slides and swings, but his new friends encouraged him to try. He climbed up the slide and let out a joyful roar as he zoomed down, loving the fun. They spent the rest of recess playing tag and hide-and-seek, and River couldn’t stop smiling.

After recess, it was time for music class, and River discovered something new—he loved to sing! The teacher gave out instruments, and River tried the tambourine and drums. When the class started singing a song, River joined in, surprising everyone with his sweet voice. Soon, the whole class was singing together, and River felt like he belonged.

At snack time, River was curious about what everyone was eating. Gail shared her favorite snack—carrot sticks with hummus. River wasn’t sure at first, but after taking a bite, he decided it was delicious! The whole class laughed when River said the carrots reminded him of his friend Abby, the dog, who loves to eat carrots too.

In science class, they learned about different animals, and when the teacher talked about tigers, everyone looked at River. The teacher asked him if he knew a fun fact about tigers, and River proudly told the class that tigers love to swim. The other kids were surprised, and when the teacher added that tigers are the biggest of all big cats, everyone clapped for River. He felt like a star!

By the end of the day, River made lots of new friends.

River’s first day of school was a huge success! He learned so many new things, made great friends, and was already looking forward to tomorrow. Stay tuned for River’s next adventure when he and Gail visit the library!

Tiger River's mini stories 1: River's Missing Shoe

One day, little Tiger River was trying to find his shoe.

"Where is my shoe?" asked River, pacing around the room.

But no one was there to answer him. 

He was in Gail's room alone because Gail was in the kitchen, eating breakfast.

"Gail!" River yelled, his tiny tiger voice echoing through the house. "Do you know where my shoe is?"

Gail quickly ran into her room, wiping her hands on a napkin. "Did you look under the bed?" she asked.

River shook his head, his striped tail swishing back and forth. "No, I didn’t think of that."

"Then let’s look together," Gail said kindly. She got down on her knees and peeked under the bed. River followed, lying on his belly, his whiskers brushing the floor. They scanned the dark space under the bed, hoping to spot the missing shoe.

First, they found a stuffed bear that looked like it had been forgotten for a while. Then, they found a bouncing ball. A single old sock was next, but still no shoe.

"Maybe we should look somewhere else," Gail suggested, standing up and dusting off her knees.

River nodded and followed her as she led the way to her closet. "It might be in here!" Gail said, swinging open the closet doors.

River walked over and peered inside. He looked up at the shelves and down at the floor. They moved around boxes and clothes, but the shoe wasn’t hiding there either.

"Oh, where could it be?" River asked, his ears drooping in disappointment.

Feeling defeated, River sat down on the floor and put his paws into his hands, his small body shaking as he began to cry.

"Don’t cry, River," Gail said softly. She knelt down and hugged him tight. "We’ll find it."

River sniffled, rubbing his eyes with his paws, and hugged Gail back. Her hug made him feel a little better. "Let’s keep looking," she encouraged.

They moved into the living room next. Gail carefully checked the couch. "It’s not on the couch, not under it, either. It’s not by the lamp or the end table," she said.

River sniffled again, feeling frustrated. "Oh, where could it be?" he whined softly.

"Now, now," Gail said, gently scolding him. "No more whining, River. We’ll find your shoe. I know we will."

River took a deep breath, calming himself down as they walked into the kitchen. And that’s when River’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Look, Gail! There’s my shoe!" River shouted, hopping up and down with excitement. His missing shoe was right by the back door.

"You must’ve knocked off your shoe here when you came inside," Gail said, laughing. "Then you carried the other one with you into my room."

"Yes, that is what I did," said River. "That was silly of me. I should of left both shoes together."

River beamed as he slipped his shoe back on. "I found my shoe!" he cheered, his tail swishing happily behind him.

Gail smiled, watching her little tiger friend. "See, River? We just had to keep looking."

"You're right Gail. Thank you so much for helping me look," said River.

"You're welcome River." They hugged and then they got ready to go to school.

It was River's first day to go to school. So join River and Gail next time as we see how River's first day of school goes...