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! ...
Once upon a time, in a busy meadow, there lived a very small ant. Though tiny, the ant had a heart full of courage. One hot summer’s day, the sun blazed so fiercely that the streams dried up, and the grass curled into brown wisps. The ant grew desperately thirsty. He scurried here and there, searching for even a drop of water. Scuttle-scuttle, scuttle-scuttle! He peered under leaves, checked between pebbles, and even climbed a tall stalk of wheat, but there was nothing. ...
Once upon a time, in the wide blue ocean, there lived a young shark named Sonny. Sonny was swift and strong and afraid of almost nothing — except one thing. He was terrified of Bella, the enormous blue whale who lived in the deep water beyond the reef. Bella was gentle and kind, but she was the size of a hillside, and that was quite enough for Sonny. Every day, Sonny swam among the coral reefs, exploring and playing with his friends. He loved discovering new things. But he never once went down into the deeper water where Bella lived. His friends told him again and again how kind she was, and every time, Sonny nodded politely and stayed exactly where he was. ...
Once upon a time, there lived a humped camel and a cunning jackal. The camel was a big, strong, and slow-moving creature with a gentle heart. The jackal, however, was small, sharp-witted, and always looking for an easy meal or a clever trick. Now, their homes were separated by a wide, gurgling river. The tastiest treats the jackal could imagine — sweet sugar cane, fresh fish, and crunchy crabs — grew on the other side. But the jackal hated the water! It would splash and bubble, and he simply could not swim across. ...
Once upon a time, in a wide green meadow, there lived a donkey. He was a simple, hardworking creature, but he often sighed and muttered to himself, “Why does no one take me seriously? Cows munch grass, sheep follow each other, and horses gallop fast, but me? Everyone laughs at my long ears and my loud hee-haw! I wish I could be respected, even feared!” One hot afternoon, while wandering near the forest, the donkey stumbled across something strange. Hanging on a low branch was the dried skin of a lion that hunters had left behind. The donkey’s eyes grew wide. ...
The deep sea is a place of eerie beauty. Sunlight barely penetrates, replaced by an eerie, bioluminescent glow. In this twilight zone lived Gus, a hagfish, his slime-covered body wriggling through the gloom. Gus, with his rows of sharp teeth and a penchant for burrowing into decaying flesh, was tired of his usual fare: whale fall. The constant feast on the rotting remains of a giant whale was starting to feel monotonous. He yearned for something more, something beyond the monotonous gloom. ...
Once upon a time, in a bustling forest of towering trees and bright green leaves, there lived three stag beetle brothers named Stew, Stan, and Spike. They were known throughout the undergrowth for two things: the great antlered mandibles they carried on their heads, and the bond between them, which nothing had ever managed to break. Wherever one went, the other two were rarely far behind. One sunny morning their mother called them to her side. ...
The reef was quiet the next morning. Manta and Sharky glided through the water, still uneasy from yesterday’s encounter with the strange floating bags. “I keep thinking about those creatures,” said Manta softly. “They weren’t food, but they almost killed you.” “I’ll never bite one again,” said Sharky, snapping his tail. “But they’re everywhere, drifting like ghosts.” As they rounded a rocky corner, they spotted something curious. A cloud of sand puffed from the seabed, poof, and a small shadow wriggled out. Eight little arms waved about like ribbons. ...