ROLF WAS ALMOST asleep when the Frisbee landed with a soft plop a few feet from his head. His eyelids twitched, then opened. He yawned, unimpressed. It was only a Frisbee—one of those new jobs that glows in the dark—but still just a Frisbee. It had p

“SPARKY! YOU BURNED a hole right through the curtains—again!” “Sorry, Mom. It was an accident.” Sheesh! Parents! Didn’t they remember how hard it was to learn to breathe fire? “We have a bigger problem than burnt curtains,” Dad announced, his binocul

LONG AGO IN Scandinavia, a princess grew up in a rugged coastal kingdom. Her mother died at the girl’s birth, but her father always loved her, and he raised her almost like a son—so instead of just the manners of a princess, she learned all the skill

Long ago, in a land far to the east, when camel caravans laden with enchanted rings and other costly goods roamed burning sandscapes, there reigned a sultan whose health was failing. He wasted away with no appetite, the luster of his eyes dimming wit

I’M SURPRISED TO see a black vehicle roll up the long, weedy gravel driveway. It had been years since anyone had come to the house. I lean into the window bay, straining to see more from my upstairs room, but the windows of the car are tinted so dark

One foot,two foot,three foot,four . . . That’s my speed,that’s it, no more. Moving a house takes lots of thought,And careful planning for each new spot,And constant watching to see the humps—And skillful steering to miss the bumps. Whether by shorter

1. Bowl-shaped depressions caused by impact 5. Protect, shelter, or conceal 9. Astronauts have walked _______ the Moon1o. Boise, _______ 11. Latin word for Moon 12. Estimated time of arrival (abbreviation) 13. Piece of broken pottery 15. _______, up,

A flying saucer came last night.It landed in the drive.I warned the crew, “My dad parks there.He’ll eat you all alive!” Dad pulled up bad-tempered,But his frown became a smileWhen he saw the flying saucer,And he said, “I like their style!” He then ad

AT THE FAR end of town, next to a dark forest, sits a dilapidated white house. Kids at my school call it the Spook House, which might be funny except this house is where I live with my mom and little brother, Andy. The house isn’t haunted, but the ou

AS I LEFT the stage after my audition, I could feel it. The power. The future. I knew that someday when celebrity magazines wrote about me, they would say this moment was when my rise to stardom began. My sister Diana’s ballet slippers pinched my fee

“MEATLOAF AGAIN?”I stare at the grayish glob my mom has plopped next to my broccoli and corn. “What do you mean? It’s been a whole week,” says my mom, continuing to serve the twins and herself. Right. A whole week. Here’s the thing—my mom knows how t

“EARTH TO KEVIN. Did you hear what I said?” The band director was looking right at me. So was everyone else. “Yes, ma’am. Robin broke her arm so you want me to do the solo at the concert.” “Right. You can choose what you want to play as long as it’s

Give me your tired, your spoiled, your rottenYour moldy morsels, long forgottenBrown bananas never baked into breadFeed to me instead Leave the fallen leaves to festerTo become their next ancestorMay withered weeds and wilted greens decayAnd join my

A DROP OF sweat trickled into the corner of Dimitry’s right eye. He blinked, but that only made it sting more. He wiped his eye against his shoulder, and the rough marble block he was carrying with Castor slipped sideways. The boys clutched it. “Care

Kadlin and her brother, Bjorn, are excited when their father’s longship appears on the horizon. He and his men have spent the winter a-viking, and now they are returning with much plunder. Kadlin can’t wait to share her secret with Father. In his abs

THERE ONCE WAS a rich merchant who had three sons. The eldest wished to see the world, so he set sail with a ship full of treasure. Not long into his journey he came to the land of a king whose daughter was so beautiful, he had locked her away like a

SUMIKO WORKED WITH her mother in their vegetable garden every day. The produce from their garden was sold at the farmer’s market. This is how they made their living. Sumiko’s job was to make sure the daikon radish plants were never too dry. Each day

1. Honey makers2. _______ roses twine up a trellis5. Scandinavian hero tales7. _______ bean10. Branch (abbreviation)11. Loud sound12. Clay flower _______13. Rural route (abbreviation)14. Plants that live for one growing season19. Opposite of off22. L

What greater goodThan to each other,To family, friends,Sister, Brother. To living thingsGreat and small,We heed the pleaOf duty’s call. We honor lifeAnd all it’s worthBy taking careOf Mother Earth. ■