Animals

Once upon a time, deep in the middle of a warm, squelchy green marshland, there lived a great community of frogs. Now, these frogs had a wonderful life. They had no bosses, no rules, and no bedtime. They were completely free to govern themselves, which meant they spent their days swimming, catching juicy flies, and taking long naps on the lily pads. But all this freedom had spoiled them. Because they never had any real problems to solve, they grew incredibly bored. They did nothing all day but sit about puffing out their green throats and croaking in a grumpy, half-hearted way. ...

Once upon a time, in the deep blue ocean, there lived a small red fish named Finn. He was known for his bright red scales that shimmered in the water, much like the scarlet cloak worn by Red Riding Hood. Finn was a curious little fish who loved to explore the coral reefs and play among the seaweed. One day, Finn’s mother asked him to deliver a basket of kelp to his grandmother, who lived in a cave near the edge of the reef. Before Finn left, his mother warned him, “Be careful of the Shark Gang, Finn. They are tricky and dangerous. Stay close to the reef and don’t stray into the open waters.” ...

Aggie and the Alligator Gar One sunny afternoon, Aggie the alligator was flying her aeroplane high above the familiar swamp she used to call home. As she looked down at the winding rivers and clusters of trees, something unusual caught her eye. In the waters below was a creature she had never seen before. Its long, scaly body glistened in the sunlight, and its snout looked strikingly like hers, but this creature had no legs. It was swimming gracefully through the water, like a snake but much larger. ...

Aggie the Alligator and the Golden T-Rex Long ago, in the swamps of Florida, there lived an alligator named Aggie. Unlike other alligators, Aggie dreamt of flying in the skies. She tried many ways of learning to fly, but she just wasn’t able to soar into the skies like the birds do. So she did what humans do. She learned to fly an aeroplane! One day, after many flights over the swamps and nearby towns, Aggie decided to embark on her greatest adventure yet. She packed her plane with supplies and took off, soaring higher and farther than she ever had before. For days she flew over oceans, islands, and mountains, until she came upon a mysterious island surrounded by sparkling blue waters. ...

Once upon a time, deep in the swamps of Florida, there lived an alligator named Aggie. Aggie wasn’t like the other alligators. While they were happy swimming in the murky water or basking in the sun, Aggie spent her days gazing at the sky. “I want to fly,” she would say to anyone who’d listen. The other animals chuckled. “Alligators don’t fly, Aggie,” they said. But Aggie refused to give up. ...

Long, long ago, the ocean was full of magic, and the creatures of the sea were very different from the way they are today. In those ancient days, dolphins were the great helpers of the ocean. They were wonderfully friendly towards people, and whenever a ship got into trouble, the dolphins would rush to the rescue. One stormy afternoon, a grand Greek sailing ship bound for the famous city of Athens was caught in a tempest. The wind howled — WHOOSH! — and the great waves smashed against the wooden hull. Then, with a loud CRACK, the ship struck a hidden rock and began to sink, just off the coast near Piraeus, the busy port town where all the ships docked. ...

Once upon a time, on a busy little farm at the edge of a green valley, there lived a dog named Buster. Buster was small and furry and had a very big attitude. He loved chasing mice, barking at the post van, and finding the cosiest spots on the farm for long, lazy naps. One chilly afternoon, Buster went looking for somewhere warm to rest. He trotted into the big wooden barn and smelled something wonderful: fresh, sweet-smelling hay. ...

Once upon a time, during a long, hot summer, a cheerful grasshopper spent his days hopping through the fields, singing his favourite songs. He loved the warm sunshine, the sweet smell of the flowers, and the delicious taste of the juicy green leaves. All around him, he saw ants busily working. They were carrying heavy grains of wheat, tiny seeds, and other bits of food back to their anthill. “Why do you work so hard?” the grasshopper asked them, laughing. “The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and there’s plenty of food everywhere! Come and sing with me!” ...

A widow named Hong-Mo lived in a small house near the market. Every year, she raised hundreds of chickens to earn money for herself and her two children. Every day, the chickens walked to the nearby fields to look for food like bugs, rice, and green plants. The biggest chicken was called the king of the chickens because he was the strongest. He led the flock to new feeding places, and he crowed the loudest. None of the other chickens dared to argue with him. ...

Once upon a time, in the middle of a sunlit kitchen, a great glass jar of wild clover honey stood on the edge of a wooden table. The honey inside was thick and golden and sweeter than sugar, and it caught the light in a way that made the whole jar glow. Then a playful gust of wind came through the open window and caught the curtains. WHOOSH! The curtain swung forward, bumped the jar — and TILT… CRASH! ...