The sun was lowering itself slowly behind the trees, spilling its last golden rays across the dusty path. The fields lay quiet, except for the faint hum of crickets and the rustle of wheat swaying in the breeze. And there, upon that path, walked an old man. His shoulders were bent beneath the weight of […]
The Fox and the Grapes Again
The forest was alive that summer. Leaves rustled like gossiping villagers, birds rehearsed their melodies as if preparing for a grand concert, and the golden sun filtered through the trees, painting the ground in shifting patches of light. It was the kind of season when even the laziest creatures stirred with energy, when the streams […]
The Fisherman and the Mermaid
The sea is never quiet. Even on the calmest days, when the surface looks like glass stretched to the horizon, the water still murmurs. Waves shuffle against rocks, shells click and roll, and deep beneath, something always stirs. The fisherman knew this truth better than most, for the sea was his bread, his bed, and […]
The Thief and His Mother
The town was alive with the music of markets. Stalls clattered open one by one, merchants shouted prices over the hum of the crowd, and the scent of baked bread drifted through the air, mingling with the sharper tang of spices. Sunlight streamed through narrow alleys, flashing off brass pots and bright fabrics. It was […]
The Two Crabs
The sea was breathing. That’s what it always seemed like to the young crab—like a living creature, its chest rising and falling with the tide. In and out, in and out, the waves came, spilling across the sand in foamy laughter before pulling back with a gentle hiss. The morning sun was painting the water […]
Book Summary: The Islander by Cynthia Rylant
INSIDE THE STORY: A New Beginning on a Gray Island: After Daniel’s parents pass away, he’s sent to live with his grandfather on a remote, gray island off British Columbia. Picture a place so isolated it makes a hermit crab look like a social butterfly. Daniel’s new home is a cozy cottage surrounded by misty, […]
Book Summary: Hoot By Carl Hiaasen
INSIDE THE STORY: A New Kid in Town: Roy Eberhardt is not exactly thrilled about moving from the cool, crisp air of Montana to the steamy, unpredictable weather of Florida. As if the sweltering heat wasn’t enough, Roy quickly learns that his new school is full of bullies and awkward social situations. Just when he […]
Book Summary: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
INSIDE THE STORY: The Dream That Began It All: In the hilly, forested Ozarks, where the trees seem to whisper old secrets and the critters are always up to something, a young boy named Billy Colman is dreaming big. He’s not just daydreaming about comic book heroes or the latest gadgets; no, Billy’s heart is […]
Book Summary: The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
INSIDE THE STORY: A Trio of Adventurers: In a cozy Canadian town, three pets—Luath the Labrador, Tao the Siamese cat, and Bodger the bull terrier—are living their best lives with the Morrison family. Everything’s perfect until the Morrisons need to move temporarily to a distant city, leaving the pets in the care of the Hunters, […]
Book Summary: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
INSIDE THE STORY: Setting the Scene: Brian Robeson is deep in the wild, and by Chapter 6 of “Hatchet,” he’s in a bit of a pickle. With no time to waste, he knows he needs to build a shelter to keep himself safe from the elements. But before he can get his hands dirty with […]