He was leaving. His meager belongings tucked into his backpack, Makoto slipped down the hall. The morning sun was creeping into the house. Shadows lingered in the living room like quiet storm clouds
...
[+]
Children's
Children's
The Starship of Random Acts of Sparkles
Cleo curled up on the rainbow-coloured beanbag next to her mom's desk. It had been bad enough when she had to go back to school to finish out the term after Dad's accident. But adding insult to
...
[+]
Children's
Pupthagoras the Wonder Dog
Pupthagoras Barkimedes Brown was no ordinary dog. He was a woofety wonder-mutt with intelligent eyes and a head full of amazing ideas. Even his fleas were clever.
While normal dogs ran around ... [+]
While normal dogs ran around ... [+]
Children's
Where do bugs go to read?
Leaving her parents behind the second they all arrived together, Lucy tiptoed through the aisles of books that filled her local library. She was determined to find what she had always heard was
...
[+]
Children's
Comfortable Otter
Tremaine was an otter who would do anything to be comfortable. He used fluffy cottonwood seeds to line his hole in the rocky river wall. When the river roared too loudly, he tucked wet leaves in his
...
[+]
Children's
Friendship & Family
2 min
The immortal grasshopper
The grasshopper hated winter. She could feel it approaching, with its gusts of cold air that left her continuously shivering, and knew there was nothing she could do about it.
The few insects she'd ... [+]
The few insects she'd ... [+]
Children's
Friendship & Family
2 min
Kite's Tale
Ever since his arrival on Molly's birthday, Kite had longed to feel the wind in his ribbons. But whenever Molly suggested taking him outside, Mummy had a reason to say no . . .
"It's too ... [+]
"It's too ... [+]
Children's
Friendship & Family
4 min
The Build-A-Friend
It was Saturday morning. Toby was playing with his friends.
Toby wanted to fly the kite but Majid wouldn't let go of the string. "It's mine."
"Yeeha!" Peter shouted. Toby put his hands to his ears ... [+]
Toby wanted to fly the kite but Majid wouldn't let go of the string. "It's mine."
"Yeeha!" Peter shouted. Toby put his hands to his ears ... [+]
Children's
Three Wishes
Three cats -- Rumkin, Mist, and Flop Ear -- followed Jenny along the rocky shore, dancing away from the incoming tide."This will make a good soup," said Jenny, dropping a glistening clump of sea moss
...
[+]
Children's
The Treehouse
My name is Zach, and I don't have a treehouse.
My new neighbor, Oliver, has an amazing treehouse built just for him. He's so lucky.
What I have is a stack of unread library books and a LOUD ... [+]
My new neighbor, Oliver, has an amazing treehouse built just for him. He's so lucky.
What I have is a stack of unread library books and a LOUD ... [+]
Children's
Ice Cream at Bedtime
Ice cream at bedtime,
Aunt Betty's the best!
She knows in the summer
it's hard to find rest
when faced with hot sheets,
hot pillows, hot bed,
no place cool enough
to lay a hot ... [+]
Aunt Betty's the best!
She knows in the summer
it's hard to find rest
when faced with hot sheets,
hot pillows, hot bed,
no place cool enough
to lay a hot ... [+]
Children's
Friendship & Family
3 min
The Cat Who Hated His Name
Kitsy Boo hated his name.
"Kitsyyyyyyyyyyy," his owner, Marguerite, would call. "Boooooooooooooo!"
Every time the shaky old voice called for him, the other neighborhood animals would laugh. ... [+]
"Kitsyyyyyyyyyyy," his owner, Marguerite, would call. "Boooooooooooooo!"
Every time the shaky old voice called for him, the other neighborhood animals would laugh. ... [+]
Children's
The New Kid
Phineas wished, for the two-thousand-three-hundred-and-twenty-third time, that he had a different name. His father was in the army, and the family moved fairly often. No, unfairly often. There was
...
[+]
Children's
Bronnie and the Great Green Two-Headed Plague Dragon
Bronagh's mother watched her toying with her food.
"Sit up straight, Bronnie," she chided, "and finish your dinner. Your father's ready to read you a story."
"I don't want to."
"Well, if you'd ... [+]
"Sit up straight, Bronnie," she chided, "and finish your dinner. Your father's ready to read you a story."
"I don't want to."
"Well, if you'd ... [+]
Children's
Finding Silver City
Sarah bounced as the SUV hit another rough patch on the dirt road into Silver City.
"Just look at this place!" her dad exclaimed, taking photos of one rundown building after another.
"You wanted ... [+]
"Just look at this place!" her dad exclaimed, taking photos of one rundown building after another.
"You wanted ... [+]
Children's
Theofina Freezes
Theofina's class had won a contest. The contest was for a special trip. They were going to go back to the time of the dinosaurs!
Theo was happy, excited, and worried. She wanted to be brave, but ... [+]
Theo was happy, excited, and worried. She wanted to be brave, but ... [+]
Children's
Whistle at First Light
There are mountains hidden downstairs
in my grandpa's country house
with craggy granite boulders
no bigger than a mouse.
Little trees of twigs and moss
hug miniature ravines,
where ... [+]
in my grandpa's country house
with craggy granite boulders
no bigger than a mouse.
Little trees of twigs and moss
hug miniature ravines,
where ... [+]
Children's
Noisy Night on Planet Purple Plum
SNORRRRR!
Jason sat up in his space bunk. What was that noise? It wasn't the wind. He'd heard and felt lots of Planet Purple Plum wind in the front yard that afternoon while Mia and he were ... [+]
Jason sat up in his space bunk. What was that noise? It wasn't the wind. He'd heard and felt lots of Planet Purple Plum wind in the front yard that afternoon while Mia and he were ... [+]