7-9

In a quiet little town, tucked between two tall stone buildings, there was a small shop full of old mirrors. Most people passed it by without even noticing. The wooden sign above the door had faded, and vines had crept across its windows, casting greenish patterns on the dusty glass. But inside, the mirrors stood tall and still, each one different. Some were gold-framed with curling vines, others silver and shining like ice. Some were cracked, but still shimmered with something mysterious. ...

Dosi the Bully Once upon a time, in a lush green valley filled with ferns and towering trees, lived a big, grumpy Utahraptor named Dosi. Now, Dosi wasn’t just any Utahraptor. He was the biggest, baddest, and most, well, bullyish Utahraptor in the whole valley! He loved to show off his sharp claws and even sharper teeth, chasing smaller dinosaurs and scaring them half to death. Poor little Triceratops would tremble when Dosi puffed out his chest and let out a fearsome ROAR! ...

Once upon a time, in a quiet forest near the sea, there lived a very serious owl named Oliver and a cheerful, adventurous seagull named Sam. Oliver loved reading about treasure maps and faraway lands. Sam loved flying across the waves, feeling the wind lift his wings. One sunny morning, they sat together on a smooth rock by the shore, watching the waves roll in. “I have an idea,” said Oliver, his round golden eyes shining. “What if we start a business together? We’ll travel across the sea to a faraway island, sell beautiful seashells and shiny stones, and become rich!” ...

Deep down in the warm, sparkling waters of a sandy ocean bay, there lived a family of bright red hermit crabs. The mother crab, whose name was Constanza, was very proud indeed. She loved everything to be tidy, and proper, and just right. One bright morning, Constanza was sitting on top of a smooth piece of driftwood, watching her young son Oliver scurry across the sand. Oliver was having a wonderful time, chasing tiny bubbles and dodging the waving green seaweed. ...

The next morning, Daniel could hardly wait. He hurried through breakfast, tucked his kite under his arm, and dashed to the park. The sky was clear again, but today the wind was even stronger, whispering as if it was inviting the kite to climb higher than before. With his friends cheering, Daniel ran and let the string unroll, faster and faster, until the kite soared above the tallest trees, above the rooftops, almost brushing the drifting clouds. ...

Once upon a time, there was an ordinary boy named Daniel. He wasn’t the fastest runner in his class, or the best at football, or the loudest singer at school. But one thing he loved was making things with his hands. One Saturday morning, after carefully saving up for weeks, Daniel bought some sticks, string, and bright red paper. With a little glue and a lot of patience, he made a kite. ...

Once upon a time, deep in the rocky hills of a wild forest, there lived a wolf named Winston. Now, Winston was an ordinary-sized wolf. But he had an extraordinary imagination. One beautiful summer evening, Winston crawled out of his cosy stone lair. The air was cool, the first stars were beginning to twinkle, and Winston was in fine spirits indeed. He stretched his long legs, let out an enormous yawn, and noticed that his stomach was rumbling. He had an excellent appetite, and he was ready to go and hunt his dinner. ...

In Georgia, in the olden times, there lived a wise and noble woman, Queen Magdana, who ruled her rich green land justly. When her husband died, her son Rostomel became the sole love of her life. She loved him more than words can convey, and she watched fondly as the tender, callow youth grew into sturdy manhood. Nor was she the only one who thought him handsomer than all others. ...

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and felt how truly magical the moon is? We all know that when the Moon hangs in the black velvet darkness, its gentle silver light chases the shadows away, making the world feel safe and bright. But the Moon has a tough job. Every night, the Moon climbs higher and higher, becoming rounder and fuller until it’s a huge, magnificent circle of light: the beautiful Full Moon. It’s so proud, shining down on the sleeping world. ...

Long ago, so long ago that even the trees whisper it only in secret, the mice of a grand old farmhouse lived in fear every single day. They had warm burrows under the floorboards, and they loved to sneak out at night to nibble crumbs from the pantry or race across the moonlit kitchen tiles. But their joy was always short-lived, because there were cats. Big cats with bright eyes. Sneaky cats with velvet paws. Fast cats with claws as sharp as needles. And whenever a mouse ventured out, a cat might spring from the shadows! ...