m e , l i t t l e

e lco e s!
W n d h e r o i n
o e s a
r
He
No matter what your size,
stories can give you the courage
to face the BIGGEST challenges!
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 Read happily ever after...
Famous Fables Worlds of Wonder

The pea Blossom Nala and the Nanny Goat

6 30
Where do you think a tiny By Kathryn England. Milking a
pea will end up when it pops goat isn’t the easiest thing in
out of its pod? the world – as Nala discovers!

Around the World Tales Awesome Adventures

The Tiny Samurai The courage to care

Meet Issun-boshi –
a one-inch hero with
10
OUR COVER
When sickness strikes in
a Victorian manor house,
who will save the day? 35
giant-sized courage!
STORY!

Short Stories, Big Dreams Myths and Legends

The sheep factor! The eye of Odin

16 40
History repeats itself Wisdom comes at a
when Bo Peep takes price, even for the king
her lambs to a concert! of the Norse gods!

Storyteller’s Corner Storytime Playbox

How brer rabbit fooled Find out how to draw a

45
the elephant and the whale

18
sheep, make a cool rain
gauge, and complete a
You’ll love this classic tale quiz about this issue!
about a clever rabbit!

Favourite Fairy Tales Story Mac

The princess You’ll love the books we are

50
of the springs reviewing this month – they
A powerful giantess goes on
a quest to save her mother... 23 feature pirates, animals and
bright stars from history!

S
Do you know PA EE
GE 9!
how seeds grow?
 Famous Fables

The Pea Blossom

F ive little peas once lived together in a pod.
They were green, and the pod was green, too!
“If we are green, and the pod is green, then everything else
in the world must be green as well!” said one pea.

The others agreed, because they didn’t know any better!

At night, the green pod grew dark, and when the sun shone on it, it
became lighter. As time passed, the peas and the pod grew bigger, too.

“Will we sit here forever?” asked one. “I wonder what the world is like
outside this pod! What will happen to us when we leave it?”

The other peas muttered to each other, for they didn’t know what
awaited them in the world beyond.

As the weeks passed, the pod became yellow, and so did the peas.

“I suppose the whole world is now yellow!” said one pea, and they all agreed.
Then, there was a mighty jolt, as if someone had plucked the pod from the
plant on which it grew.
 “I suppose it will open, Moss and soil had gathered there,
and we will see the world!” and the tiny pea sank into them,
said a medium-sized pea. like a person into a soft mattress.

The smallest pea spoke.

“I wonder which of us will
That window belonged to a tiny
travel the furthest?”
apartment, and in it lived a kind
“What will happen, will happen!” woman and her young daughter.
said the largest pea. It thought The lady spent long hours cleaning
this sounded very wise indeed! other people’s houses and only
returned home in the evening.
There was a CRACK as the pod
broke open, and light flooded in! She was a loving mother and
took good care of her daughter.
The littlest pea was pinched
They spent as much time together
between a thumb and finger before
as they could.
being popped into a peashooter!
The girl had been ill for a long time
Before it knew what was happening,
and wasn’t able to play outside.
the vegetable found itself soaring
One day, she asked her mother,
through the air. It caught a glimpse
“What is that green thing growing
of people and streets and carriages…
on the window sill?”
Then it stopped, for it had been shot
up onto a window sill near the top The sun was shining, and the woman
of a tall building. could see the leaves of a little plant
through the glass.

7
 “Oh, it looks like a tiny pea plant!” One evening, when the lady
she said in astonishment. “How did came home, her daughter
it end up there?” called out to her.

Her daughter climbed of bed and “You must see this!” she gasped.
went over to look. She stared in “It’s the most wonderful thing!”
wonder at the little plant that had
A little flower had blossomed on
grown from a humble pea. The
the pea plant. It was a beautiful,
woman tied a piece of string to the
blushing pink! The mother noticed
window frame. “It will climb up it,
that her daughter’s cheeks were
to get closer to the sun!” she said.
now pink, too.
Every day, when her mother left for
“Nature has planted that pea,
work, the girl went to the window to
and made it grow and flourish!”
see how the pea plant was growing.
thought the mother. “Thank
As she watched in amazement, it
you, little plant, for bringing
grew taller, and new leaves sprouted
such joy to our home!”
to catch the sun.
The little pea was happy to
“What a lovely, healthy thing!” she
have brought happiness into
smiled. “When I sit in the sun and
their lives! It finally understood
watch it grow, I feel healthier, too!”
what its destiny was.
The girl did seem stronger and
happier than before!

8
You need to
know about... Amazing
They are baby
plants! Inside each
and every seed is a
part called the embryo Here are some fabulous facts about
.
If the conditions are rig the tiny things that plants grow from!
ht,
the embryo will begin to
Seeds come in different sizes! Some are
grow into a new plant.
tiny, like poppy seeds. The largest seed of all
Most seeds need air, w
ater is the rare double coconut, which can weigh up
and the right temperatu
re to 25kg and is bigger than your head! Like other
for this to happen.
coconuts, it can float and be carried to new
places by ocean currents.
There is a special p ed ! Many fruits contain
Some se ed s g et p o o
bank for seeds! d by a tasty outer layer
ar e surroun de
The Svalbard Global seeds which the
n animals eat the fruit,
Seed Vault in Norway called a pericarp. Whe
bodies and are pooped
stores seeds from mor
e seeds go through their
is m ea ns that the se eds will have some
than a million different out later. Th
!
plant varieties! They poo-fertiliser to grow in s,
e s ! N u ts , fruits, berrie
are kept frozen. If a any typ ontain
There are m pea pods) and grains all c
plant species is wiped cluding beans are
legumes (in s a n d c o c o a
out by a disaster, coffee bean without them
!
seeds, and b e b o rin g
seeds from the vault ltimes would
seeds. Mea
can be thawed out
and grown.
Seeds make up a lot of our diet!
We humans rely on grains like wheat, corn and
rice for much of our nutrition. Grains can be ground
up to make flour, which is then used to make bread,
cakes, pasta and other foods.

Tales for foodies!

To read more stories about tasty treats
from around the world, scan the QR code
to buy Storytime issues from our shop...
 Around the World Tales

The tiny
I t was a fine spring morning in Japan. A grey-haired
man and woman sat in their garden, admiring the
blossoms on the cherry trees.
“I am happy with our life,” the man said thoughtfully, “but I do wish
that we had a child to care for!”

“So do I!” sighed his wife.

That afternoon, the woman went to a shrine on a nearby mountain

and prayed to the spirits of that place.

“Please give us a child – no matter how small!” she begged.

Nine months later, she gave birth to a baby boy.

10
The man and the woman were very “My sword is too big
happy – but there was something for you,” the man told him,
unusual about their child. “so use this needle instead!”

“He is tiny!” gasped the man. He showed his son how to

strike and block with it, until
‘Never mind!” smiled the woman.
the lad was very skilled indeed!
“He is perfect just as he is, and I
love him dearly!”

They made him a bed in a sewing When he was eighteen years

box and fed him milk from an old, Issun-boshi bowed to his
eyedropper. As the years passed, parents and said, “It is time for
the boy learned to walk and talk, me to go out into the world
but he never grew taller than one and seek my fortune!”
sun (which is about an inch).
The boy put his needle-sword in
His parents called him Issun-boshi, his sash and carried a rice bowl
which meant ‘one-sun-boy’. to the bank of the river. He put it
in the water and stepped aboard
His father taught him how to speak
– it made a perfect boat for him!
politely, how to write with a little
brush, and how to defend himself. Issun-boshi waved goodbye to
his parents as he paddled away,
using a chopstick as an oar.

11
He was carried along by the current, After a long and dizzying voyage,
and waves threatened to flood his the rice bowl washed up beside
little vessel. But Issun-boshi expertly a beautiful garden.
piloted his craft, balancing on the
“What a lovely place!” thought
rim of the rice bowl!
Issun-boshi. He stepped ashore and
Just then, a large scaly head with wandered past trees and flowers
big, bulging eyes came out of the until he came to a grand house with
water beside him. an armoured guard at the door.

“Oh, a tasty little treat in a rice “What do you want, tiny one?”
bowl!” said the carp. “I’m going the guard asked him.
to have you for my lunch!”
Issun-boshi bowed politely. “I wish
Issun-boshi pulled out his needle to see the master of this house!”
and flourished it. he said in his high voice.

“I am no one’s lunch!” he said “The emperor’s chief minister is a

as he stared the fish in the eye. very busy man,” replied the guard,
“but I’m sure he will want to meet a
The carp was frightened and
boy who stands only one sun high!”
disappeared back into the river!
He took Issun-boshi to the office They played games in the palace
of the minister, who wore a tall and gardens and had great fun together.
expensive hat made of black silk.

“Welcome to my house!” the man

When summer came, the minister’s
said. “What can I do for you?”
daughter had to visit her aunt in
Issun-boshi bowed low and replied, a distant province. She invited
“I would like to serve a great lord Issun-boshi to come along with her!
like you. I can write with a brush Early one morning, the pair boarded
and defend myself with my needle!” a great ship and set sail.

The chief minister nodded. When they were far out at sea,
“And you are polite as well! a fierce storm struck the vessel.
I need a companion for my The two friends tried to hold on,
daughter, and you will be but they were washed overboard!
perfect for the job!”
The waves carried them to an
Issun-boshi was introduced to unknown island in the Pacific Ocean.
the minister’s daughter. She was The sand on the beach was black,
his age, and she giggled when and in the distance they could see
he bowed to her. They soon a castle with high walls.
became good friends.

!
IMAuGldIitNbeElikIeTif YOU
What wo h igh? Where
on e su n
were only p, what wo
uld
y o u s le e
would at challen
ges
r, a n d w h
you wea in your day-t
o-
u fa c e
would yo ou ld be some
h a t w
day life? W tiny?
thin g s ab out being
fun
13
A towering red-skinned figure “OW!” roared the oni. “You’ll
strode out of it. His footsteps were regret that, you pipsqueak!”
so heavy that the whole island
With that, the monster reached
shook! The creature had horns on
out his hand and managed to
his head and carried a huge golden
snatch up Issun-boshi. He popped
hammer. Issun-boshi knew he was
the little boy into his mouth and
a wicked ogre called an oni!
swallowed him whole!
“What have we here?” laughed
“That’s the end of you!” gloated
the red creature when he saw the
the oni. “Teensy creatures do
princess lying on the sand. “I will
not bother me in the slightest!”
take you prisoner, young lady!”
“That’s what you think!” yelled
“No, you won’t!” shouted Issun-boshi
Issun-boshi from inside the
as he drew his needle. He ran at
ogre’s belly.
the oni, yelling a battle cry. The
oni couldn’t see him at first. The tiny boy began jabbing
at the monster’s insides with
“Who said that?” he asked.
his needle, using every
The monster chuckled when he move his father had taught
spotted the tiny boy charging at him. The oni howled in pain.
him with a needle. He tried to grab He grabbed his stomach and
the lad, but Issun-boshi poked him. begged the boy to stop!
“I give up!” the creature yelled. “I wish to be normal height!”
He coughed Issun-boshi out and he decided.
fled back to his castle!
The minister’s daughter gave
The minister’s daughter knelt Issun-boshi a tap on the head
beside Issun-boshi and kissed with the golden hammer, and the
him on the head. boy found himself growing with
tremendous speed. In the blink
“Thank you for saving me!”
of an eye, he was six feet tall!
she smiled. “And look what
the frightful ogre left behind!” “That was amazing!” the girl
giggled. “Now, let’s get off
She held up the oni’s hammer.
this island!”
It glowed so brightly that Issun-
boshi knew it must be enchanted! They found a little rowing boat
on the shore and began paddling
“What do you wish for?” the girl
back to Japan.
asked with a grin.
Issun-boshi couldn’t wait to return
Issun-boshi thought for a moment.
home and show his beloved
Though it was good to be only one
parents how much he had
sun tall, he knew what he wanted.
grown while he was away!

15
 Short Stories, Big Dreams

The Sheep Factor!

B o Peep herded her little flock through the streets
of the city – but it wasn’t easy!
She was used to minding her sheep in the grassy fields of the countryside,
but here there were crowds and cars and traffic lights. Her lambs weren’t
paying attention, either, because they were very excited!

“I can’t believe we’re going to see Flossie U this evening!” bleated Lambert
as he looped a feather boa around his neck.

“Will she play ‘Wool U Dance With Me’?” asked Mint. She had dyed her
fleece pink and teased it into a crest on her head.

Bo Peep sighed as she herded her three lambs through the jostling crowds.
Ahead of them was a brightly lit building with glowing letters on the front:
‘FLOSSIE U: LIVE IN CONCERT!’

Once they got inside the big glass doors, the group went down a long corridor.
It was dark and noisy and filled with hundreds of humans and sheep that were
all chattering excitedly.

16
The crowd carried them along like As pulsing electronic music began
a flood, and Bo Peep and the lambs to play, Flossie U stepped up to
got separated in the confusion. the microphone.

“Mint? Lambert? Herb? Where did “Wool… U dance… with me?” she
you go?” the girl squeaked in panic. sang. The crowd went wild, and
Bo Peep couldn’t help joining in!
Bo Peep thought she heard them
in the distance. When Flossie’s backing dancers
came onstage, the girl noticed that
“Where are we?” asked Lambert.
three stood out. They were smaller
“Should we go through this
than the others and looked a bit
side door?” bleated Mint.
nervous! She recognised her
Bo Peep tried to stop, but the crowd mischievous little lambs up there –
pushed her out into the main theatre. one with pink wool, one in a feather
It was packed, and she couldn’t see boa and one in big glasses!
her little animals anywhere.
Mint, Lambert and Herb had been
She had lost her sheep! “Oh no!” watching videos of Flossie U for
wailed Bo Peep. “Not again!” weeks, so they knew all the moves…
and danced perfectly! When the
Just then, there was a humming song ended, the crowd cheered.
noise, and the crowd cheered.
Spotlights flickered, and a figure “ I wonder if that was their plan all
wearing a white dress and a cool along?” Bo Peep giggled. “This is
hat strode onto the stage. a show they will never forget!”

17
Storyteller’s Corner

How Brer Rabbit Fooled

The Elephant
and the Whale
“W hat a sunny day it is!” said Brer Rabbit.
“I think I’ll go to the beach!”
So he ran lippety-lippety-lippety
across fields and through fences
until he reached the sandy shore.

“I like this very much!” Brer Rabbit

said. “The lapping of the waves on
the beach is so restful!”

But his long ears twitched when

he heard another noise.

“It sounds like voices!” the bunny

muttered to himself. “How strange!”

Now, Brer Rabbit was a very curious

creature, so he ran lippety-lippety-
lippety across the sand to see
who was talking.

When he peeked out from behind

a bush, he saw Brer Elephant and
Brer Whale. They were speaking
to each other in their deep voices.
“You are the biggest animal in the The little rabbit hid the drum
ocean, and I am the biggest on in the bushes and took one end
the land!” Brer Elephant trumpeted of the rope to the field where
proudly. “We should divide up Brer Elephant was plucking leaves
the world between us. You take the from a tree and eating them.
seas, and I shall have the land!”
“What do you want?” asked the
“It’s a deal!” boomed Brer Whale. elephant, who had his mouth full.

With that, the whale paddled out “Oh, Brer Elephant, I have
to sea, and the elephant stomped a problem… and only a mighty
back inland. and magnificent creature like
you can help!”

Brer Elephant’s big ears twitched.

Brer Rabbit chuckled to himself.
He liked compliments!
“They won’t rule me!” he thought.
“I’ll play a trick on them to show “Well, I suppose I can help.
everyone how foolish they are...” What’s the problem?”

He went to the barn and came “My cow is stuck in the mud!”
out with a thick rope and a replied Brer Rabbit. “Do you
heavy metal drum. think you can pull her out?”

19
“I could pull out a dozen cows,” “Maybe I can be of assistance?”
boasted Brer Elephant, “so one he boomed. “I’m the mightiest
won’t be a problem!” creature in the ocean, you know!”

Brer Rabbit thanked the elephant. “Indeed you are!” Brer Rabbit
“I tied this rope to my cow’s collar,” agreed in a wheedling voice.
he said quickly. “You should start “Or perhaps in the whole world!”
pulling when I bang on my drum!”
This made the whale feel very full
The elephant agreed. Then, little of himself. He puffed a great cloud
Brer Rabbit ran lippety-lippety- of steam through his blowhole.
lippety to the beach with the
“Probably!” he laughed. “What
other end of the rope.
can I do to help you, little rabbit?”
“Woe is me!” he wailed. “I’m far
“I’ve tied a rope to my stuck cow!”
too weak to get my cow out of
lied the bunny. “Can you pull on
the mud!”
this rope when I bang my drum?”
Brer Whale heard his cry and
“Of course!” huffed Brer Whale.
heaved himself onto the beach
“I’ll have her free in a jiffy!”
with his fins.
Brer Rabbit couldn’t help giggling All the animals came to see
as he ran lippety-lippety-lippety what was going on, and they
back to the bush. When he banged were most amused to find the
on his drum, Brer Whale and Brer world’s greatest land animal and
Elephant began heaving on the greatest sea creature making fools
rope as hard as they could! of themselves in a tug-of-war!

“It must be a very big cow, or The two yanked and pulled with
a very deep mud-hole!” puffed all their might. The elephant felt
the elephant. He twisted the rope himself sliding bit by bit towards
around his trunk and dug his feet the seashore, while the whale
into the dirt, but nothing happened. was slowly tugged onto the beach.

“That cow isn’t budging!” squealed When they saw each other,
the whale as he paddled with his they gasped in surprise.
great flukes.
“You’re not a cow!” bellowed
The rope went taut and twanged Brer Elephant angrily.
as Brer Elephant and Brer Whale
pulled harder and harder.

21
“Neither are you!” squealed Brer Whale.

The other animals laughed as the two huge BUNNY HErO!

beasts realised that they had been tricked
Brer Rabbit appears
by Brer Rabbit. After seeing them make fools in many folk tales that have
of themselves, no creature would agree to been passed down from
being ruled over by the elephant or the whale! generation to generation
by African-Americans and
“That was great fun!” giggled Brer Rabbit African descendants in the
as he ran lippety-lippety-lippety back to Caribbean. Brer Rabbit
his burrow for a nap! uses his cleverness to
overcome challenges
or trick his opponents.
Many of his adventures
are collected in the book
Uncle Remus, compiled
by Joel Chandler Harris.

23
 Favourite Fairy Tales

The Princess
of the Springs
O nce upon a time, the Moon Giant fell in
love with the Giantess of the Great River.

The Moon Giant built her the most

beautiful palace the world had ever
seen. It was made of mother-of-pearl
that shimmered like rainbows, and
decorated with gold and silver
and precious stones.

The couple were happy in their new

home, and they soon had a daughter.
She was as swift and strong as the great
river, and as beautiful as the moonlight.

Her parents named her the Princess of

the Springs, and she ruled over all the
lakes and rivers of the world.

When she grew up, many giants

wanted to marry her, but the Princess
of the Springs was not interested.

“No, I am happy living in this palace

with my mother!” she would say.

23
One day, a new suitor came to They soon had a baby boy, who the
visit. The Giant of the Sun was tall Princess of the Springs loved more
and strong, and his hair glowed than life itself. When it was time for
like a flame! The Princess of the her to go and visit her mother, she
Springs was enchanted by his wanted to take the child with her.
fiery personality, and he fell in
“Oh no, you can’t!” thundered
love with her watery ways.
the Giant of the Sun. “Our son
The girl agreed to marry the Giant must stay here with me, so I
of the Sun – on one condition. know you will come back!”

“I will live with you for nine months The Princess of the Springs
of the year,” she told him firmly, begged and pleaded, to no
“but for three months, I will go and avail. In the end, she travelled
stay with my beloved mother!” to her mother’s palace alone, after
promising to return in three months.
Her will was as strong as a mighty
flowing river, so the Giant of the When she arrived, she found
Sun agreed. They were married in her old home empty. What
a great ceremony that went on for had happened to her beloved
seven days and seven nights. The mother? The princess wandered
music at the party was so loud that through the empty rooms decorated
it echoed across the land! with gold and silver and gems.
“Dearest mother!” she cried. She knocked on the door, and her
“Where are you hiding?” uncle’s bearded face peeked out.
There was no answer.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
So the Princess of the Springs
She curtseyed and said, “I have
went out looking for her.
come looking for my mother,
“O fishes of the river, have you the Giantess of the Great River.
seen my own dear mother?” she Have you seen her?”
cried, but the fishes did not reply.
“Yes, I have!” rumbled the Giant
“O sands of the sea, have you seen of the Great Wind. “She has been
my own dear mother?” The princess taken hostage by the Mountain
got no answer. Giant. But do not fear, for I will
help you free her!”
“O shells of the shore, have
you seen my own dear mother?” He summoned a whirlwind that
The only thing she heard was carried the two of them to the
the echo of her own voice. castle of the Mountain Giant.
While the Giant of the Great
Wind buffeted its walls with
The Princess of the Springs looked storms, the Princess of the Springs
for her mother for many months. quietly tunnelled into the dungeon
At long last, she came to the where her mother was being held.
house of her uncle, the Giant
of the Great Wind.

25
 he G ia n te s s of t he Great River was
T

SPOT IT!
Can you find all
these things in
the dungeon?
Tick them off
when you do!
g lad to se e h er courage
ous da hter!
ug

How many
burning torches
are in this scene?
Write your answer
in this circle!
Answer: There are eight burning torches!
The young lady wrapped her arms When the Giant of the Sun saw her,
around her mother, and a tornado he was so furious that flames burst
created by the Giant of the Great from his head. He clutched their son,
Wind carried them all the way back who was crying.
to their mother-of-pearl palace.
“You went away for many months!”
“I’m so happy to see you, my dear!” the giant yelled angrily. “There is no
the giantess told her daughter. place for you here!” The flames on
“But where is my grandson? his head grew so hot that the palace
I’ve been waiting to meet him!” began to catch fire.

The Princess of the Springs Their son wriggled out of his father’s
gasped. “Oh no!” she cried. grip and ran to his mother, the
“I have been gone for far too Princess of the Springs.
long… my husband and child
“Where have you been, mamma?”
must be wondering where I am!”
he cried. “You were away for so
She ran as fast as she could to long, I thought you were never
her husband’s golden palace. coming back!”
 The Princess of the Springs The Princess of the Springs took her
hugged her son tightly and child by the hand and led him to the
told him how sorry she was. castle of the Giantess of the Great
River, who was waiting for them.
She told him what had happened
to his grandmother, and how she The son of the Princess of the
had rescued her. The Princess of Springs grew up to be gentle
the Springs felt so upset that she and kind, and he became known
began to cry. as the Giant of the Rain. He sends
the showers that water the Earth
Her tears gushed from her eyes like
like his mother’s tears and warm
a river! They flowed in torrents from
it with the heat of the sun.
the palace of the Giant of the Sun
and extinguished the flames. The His gentle rain is a blessing to the
salty teardrops then flooded across Earth, for it makes beautiful things
the Earth! The seas rose and rivers blossom and grow!
burst their banks.

At long last, her tears stopped

and the sun shone on the land.

29
 Worlds of Wonder

By Kathryn England

N ala loved spending her school holidays on

Grandma’s little farm! The only problem was,
her granny caught a ‘tummy bug’. She was so sick,
she couldn’t get out of bed!
“Don’t worry,” Nala told her. “I’ll look after everything!” She knew how to feed
the animals – it was easy! The chickens and ducks had pellets. The horse
had oats. There was plenty of grass for the four sheep and the goat. The girl
topped up the water troughs, watered the vegetable garden and collected
eggs from the chicken coop.

30
“What a great help you are,” like she did with Grandma, but the
Grandma said when Nala brought animal just stood there.
her a bowl of soup for lunch.
“Come on, Nanny,” she said.
“It’s no trouble!” Nala smiled. “I’m milking you today. Grandma’s
sick, so we have to work together.”
“I’ll have to get up soon,” Grandma
sighed. “Nanny will need milking.” Nanny pointed her nose at the
But Nala thought that her granny house and bleated impatiently.
still looked pale and shaky… Her udder was full, and she moved
her hooves uncomfortably.
Nanny the goat had to be milked
every day. In fact, she would come Maybe I need to speak more firmly,
outside and bleat when it was time! Nala thought. “Now listen here,
Nanny. I want you to follow me
“I can do it!” Nala said confidently.
to the milking shed right now.”
She hadn’t tried milking yet, but she
had watched Grandma closely! Nanny trotted away across the yard.

“Hey, come back here!” Nala called.

When Nanny bleated to be Nanny stopped and turned around.

milked, Nala went out to see She didn’t like this little stranger.
her. She expected the goat to Grandma never yelled at her!
follow her to the milking shed

31
 Nala had a think. Maybe Nala threw the
she could entice Nanny clover down and
to the shed with food! stomped over to
She pulled up a big bunch of Grandma’s tool shed at the
clover and walked towards Nanny back of the house. “Aha!” she said
with her hand outstretched. Nala when she spied what she needed.
didn’t like the way Nanny stared at
While she was gone, Nanny
her with her funny horizontal irises.
had found the clover. She was
Would she butt her with her horns?
chewing a mouthful when Nala
The girl moved forward, ready to
came towards her with a rope,
bolt if Nanny charged.
One end was tied in a loop!
Nanny curled her top lip, stuck her When Nala flung the lasso,
long tongue out over her bottom Nanny dodged it easily.
teeth and moved her jaw sideways. After a dozen more tries, the
The noise she made sounded like girl finally dropped the loop
a rude snort. When Nala was two around the goat’s neck.
steps away, the goat skipped out
“Yes!” Nala squealed.
of reach. Nala moved towards her
again. She was a step away when Nanny was even more annoyed
Nanny trotted to the side. now. Where was her owner? She
looked towards the milking shed.

32
That was where her owner milked It clattered across the
her. If she waited there, Grandma yard as the goat trotted
might come…. away again.

Nanny trotted past Nala, pulling the The sun was going down,
rope through her hands so fast, she and Nala was getting upset.
nearly got rope burn. When they Her cheeks were red and her
arrived at the shed, Nanny stood ears felt as if they were burning
beside the milking stool. when she retrieved the bucket.

“I’m glad you’ve finally realised The girl glared at Nanny. She didn’t
who’s in charge,” Nala said as even like goat’s milk, but Grandma
she reached for the metal bucket. did – and there wasn’t enough for
her porridge tomorrow morning!
To Nanny’s dismay, Nala sat on
the stool her owner was meant to Nala didn’t want to tell Grandma
occupy. To show her disapproval, that a goat had got the better of her.
she kicked the bucket. Then, she had an idea...

33
Grandma was sick, so she hadn’t Nanny was in mid-bleat when she
changed into one of the floral saw a figure leave the house and
dresses she usually wore. Her walk towards the milking shed in
apron was hanging over the the dress, apron, straw hat and
back of a chair in the kitchen, wellies that Grandma always wore.
her wide-brimmed straw hat hung Her ears flicked and she gave a
on a hook near the front door, and little bleat. That must be Grandma,
her wellies were on the porch. ready to do the milking!

Grandma was napping in her Nala glanced over her shoulder

bed when Nala sneaked into to see Nanny trotting after her.
the house and gathered her This time, Nanny didn’t object
things. Then, she got changed… when she sat on the milking stool.

Nala quickly mastered the art

of milking Nanny. She pulled

S S U P !
DrE
on the goat’s teats, and creamy
s
o u p l e of item milk went into the bucket.
ing a c end an
d
Swapp h a f r i
ing wit ach The girl grinned. Nanny had nearly
of cloth r e s s i o ns of e
mp eat fun
!
doing i b e g r made a goat of her. But Nala had
an s
other c p l a y famou tricked her by putting on Grandma’s
n als o !
You ca f r o m stories dress, hat and apron – so now
ters
charac l y ou be?
Who w i l Nanny was the silly billy!

34
 Awesome Adventures

The Courage to Care

I n 1820, a little girl was born while her parents were
on holiday in Italy.

“What shall we call her?” William asked his wife as he held their child.

Fanny looked out of the window, and then at the baby. “We’re in the city
of Florence. It’s a pretty place, and I think ‘Florence’ is a lovely name!”
(Florence’s big sister, Parthenope, was also named after the place where
she was born.)

A little while later, the family returned to England. William was lucky
enough to have been given lots of money by his great-uncle, so they
could afford two big homes. Embley was in the south of England, and
that was where they spent the winter. But little Florence’s favourite home
was Lea Hurst. This towering brick manor house was in an area called
the Peak District, on the wild and beautiful moors.

Little Flo had dolls to play with (thirteen of them!) and lots
of pets. There was Peggie the pony, Peppercorn, Teazer
and Captain the hounds, and even a colour-changing
chameleon. She loved them all!

35
Florence and Parthenope’s dad Fanny was very concerned about
took care of their schooling. the health of her family and knew
“I’m going to teach you everything lots of remedies for different
I learned at university!” he told illnesses. She got many of them
them enthusiastically. “I will give from a big book called Practical
you the best education I can!” Suggestions Towards Alleviating
the Sufferings of the Sick. Florence
He taught his daughters about
read it, too, and found it fascinating.
chemistry, geography, history,
physics and languages. “It says that people recover better
if there is fresh air and sunlight,
Each day at breakfast, the girls
and plenty of peace and quiet!”
had to tell their dad what they had
she told Parthenope excitedly.
learned the previous day to show
Her sister just rolled her eyes.
they understood it all. Florence
soaked up knowledge like a Florence took notes about the
sponge and kept asking her health of people she knew:
father clever questions.
“Uncle Octavius’s lumbago
“She wants to know the why
is acting up! Father had another
and wherefore of everything!”
one of his teeth pulled, and
her sister would complain.
Mrs Gale’s leg is swelling!”

36
She wrote notebooks full of this “Many of them work at dangerous
sort of thing! jobs and find it hard to even afford
food. It’s our duty to help them
Florence also decided to be the
however we can!”
nurse of her baby cousin, William.
“His teeth are coming through!” Florence joined her mother
she would tell people. “Having as she visited the cottages of
a baby is a wonderful thing!” the poor folk who lived around
Lea Hurst. Their cold and damp
cottages were very different from
One day, Fanny took Florence her own grand home!
up to a high balcony at Lea Hurst.
She and her mother and sister took
From there, they could look across
packages of food and blankets
the countryside. The area used
to those who needed them most.
to be full of farms, but now it was
If somebody was ill, they would
dotted with lead mines, and she
arrange for a doctor to see them.
could see smoke from the smelters
where metal was melted down. Doing this work gave Florence
a sense of purpose! She knew
“In the little villages around here
that there was suffering in the
live people who aren’t as lucky
world, but she could help to
as us!” Fanny said seriously.
make things better.

37
By the time she was fifteen, But in the New Year, Florence
she would sometimes sneak out noticed that one of the servants
of the house at dinnertime so was pale and couldn’t stop
she could visit sick people in the coughing. “My body is all achy...
neighbourhood who needed care. and I’m sooo tired!” he moaned.
She kept detailed notes about
Then, more and more people got ill:
their symptoms and if they were
the gardener, the butler, and even
getting better or worse. “These
Florence’s parents. Soon, only the
will be helpful for the doctors!’
cook, Florence, and her little cousin
she told herself.
William weren’t sick.
In 1837, when Florence was sixteen,
A serious disease called influenza
she and her parents went to their
was sweeping through southern
house at Embley for the Christmas
England, and it had found its way
holidays. They had a lovely time
to Embley! It was a very unpleasant
celebrating (and giving presents to
illness that affected the nose,
needy people in nearby villages).
throat and lungs.

38
Florence found herself in a huge house
that was filled from cellar to rafters with
people who were sneezing, wheezing,
and too ill to even get out of bed. Luckily WHAT
for everyone, Florence was a young lady
who was ready for a challenge.
HAPPENED
She read up on the best treatments and NEXT....
then clattered up and down the stairs,
serving up senna tea, calomel and gruel A fter her experiences in the
influenza epidemic, Florence
Nightingale decided to become
to servants and family members alike!
a nurse. Her parents thought it
Florence kept notes about her patients’ wasn’t a ‘ladylike’ profession,
progress and which cures worked best. but Florence didn’t care.
She did her medical training in
When the worst of the flu was over, the girl
Germany and then managed
felt glad. All of the people she cared for the Institute for the Care of
had recovered – and it was a wonderful Sick Gentlewomen in London.
feeling. Through hard work and study, At the start of the Crimean
Florence had made a difference! War (1853-6), the conditions in
military hospitals were terrible
and many soldiers got ill.
Florence organised a group
of volunteer nurses and took
charge of the British hospital
at Scutari in 1854.
She improved the conditions
there and saved many lives.
This work made her famous,
and she was nicknamed ‘the
Lady with the Lamp’ for caring
for sick and wounded soldiers.
When Florence returned to the
UK, she set up the Nightingale
Training School to teach
student nurses and wrote a
popular book, Notes on Nursing.
She used statistics and medical
data to improve healthcare.
Florence’s achievements led
to her being called ‘the mother
of modern nursing’.
 Myths and Legends

The EYE OF ODIN

M any hundreds of years ago, the Norse peoples
worshipped a family of gods that lived in a great
golden hall called Valhalla. It was in the branches of
a tree so huge that stretched across the universe –
it was known as the World Tree!
The leader of the Norse gods was Odin, who was also named the All-Father.
He was very wise, and could do magic using powerful symbols called runes.

Odin’s servants were two clever ravens, whose names were Huginn and
Muninn. Each day, he would send them out across the world, and every
evening they would fly back to him and tell him what they had seen.

“What news do you bring?” he asked them one night as the moon soared
through the heavens.

40
“The giants are making weapons Anyone who drank from it would
in their forges!” croaked Huginn. gain a deeper understanding of
“They are preparing for a war the universe, but it was guarded
against the gods!” by the giant Mimir. He refused to
let anyone approach the well!
“The huge serpent whose body
encircles the world is tossing “I must go and bargain with this
and turning in his sleep!” cawed giant!” Odin decided. “I will drink
Muninn. “He is making the World from his well and gain its wisdom…
Tree itself shake. The end of the no matter what the cost!”
world is coming!”
Odin put on a traveller’s cloak
“These are troubling signs indeed!” and a broad-brimmed hat. Taking
Odin said gravely as he stroked up a gnarled staff, he set off on a
his grey beard. “I know much, but great journey down to the roots
I need more wisdom! Only a truly of the World Tree.
wise leader can bring peace in
Comets flew by him as he
such times...”
clambered down the trunk.
He had heard stories of a mysterious Fierce winds nearly blew
well that could be found among the him from its branches, and
roots of the World Tree. his fingers froze from the cold.

HOW TO SAY IT
In the Norse language, the World Tree
was named Yggdrasil. The monstrous
snake that encircled the Earth was
known as Jörmungandr and Odin’s
family of gods was called the Aesir.
Here is how to pronounce these names:
Yggdrasil: IG-dra-sil
Jörmungandr: YOR-mun-gandr
Aesir: EYE-sir
41
 But Odin gritted his teeth and “Yes, I certainly can –
kept climbing down until, at long but only if you will answer
last, he reached the bottom of three questions first!”
the massive tree.
Odin agreed, for he wanted
As he caught his breath, he to complete his quest.
noticed that someone was
“What river marks the border
watching him. It was a giant,
of the land of the Ice Giants?”
who was mounted on the back
the huge fellow asked.
of an enormous moose!
Odin snorted. “That’s easy –
“So, little Odin has come down
it’s the river Ifling!”
from his golden hall!” the giant
said mockingly. “What brings “What are the names of the horses
you to this place?” that drive the day and the night
across the sky?”
Odin did not like the giant’s tone
of voice, but he answered calmly. “Why, Skinfaxe and Hrimfaxe,
of course!”
“I am seeking the well of Mimir –
can you tell me where it is?” “And lastly,” said the giant, “where
will the last battle between the
The giant grinned.
gods and the giants take place?”

42
Odin knew that answer, too. “Welcome, Odin, lord of the Aesir!”
“It will be on the golden field Mimir said in a sing-song voice.
outside Valhalla! Now, tell me “You are worried that the end
where I might find Mimir’s well!” of the world is coming, and wish
to drink from my well!”
The giant gave him directions –
and a warning. “You should know “How did you know that?”
that Mimir will charge a heavy price gasped Odin.
to drink his water!” he whispered.
Mimir smiled. “I drink from this well
every day, so I know many things!”

Odin picked up his staff and “Let me drink from it too!” Odin
walked away without replying. cried. “I need great wisdom to lead
He scrambled across ice and snow the gods and protect the world!”
until at last he came to the place
The giant chuckled. “Wisdom
where a root of the World Tree went
comes at a price, so you must
into a deep well in the ground.
give up something in exchange.
It was guarded by a long-bearded Before you taste the waters of
giant whose eyes were as blue my well, you must give me…
and cold as the winter sky. one of your eyes!”
 Odin agreed, so the giant dipped a cup into the water and offered
it to him.

The god accepted it and gulped down the cool, clear liquid. As he
drank, new knowledge flooded through his mind. He suddenly knew
about the insects that crawled across the leaves of distant forests,
the stars in the heavens, and what the future held for every living thing.

Odin smiled as he tied a bandage around his head. With his

ravens perched on his shoulders, he began the long journey
back to Valhalla.

44
Storytime

Find Florence’s medicine, make your own cool rain gauge,

solve our clever quiz and learn how to draw a dancing sheep!

1 BALANCE
THE BEASTS
After the whale and the
Whale: 20 kg Fox: 3 kg
elephant had a tug-of-war,
the animals decided to Zebra: 5 kg
have more fun by riding
on a see-saw. But which
beasts should be on each
end so the weight on both
sides will be equal?
Use your maths skills
Elephant: 11 kg
Monkey: 2 kg
?
to work it out!
?
Rabbit: 1 kg

2 SPOT THE POTS

Florence’s medicine bottles
have gone missing! Can you
find all four pots hidden
on the Playbox pages?
Colour her pet chameleon
in any colours you like when
you uncover them all!
 Issun-boshi got his name because he was only
HOW
3 TALL? one sun tall… and a sun is almost exactly 3cm.
How tall would YOU be in sun?

To work out
how tall you are in sun, I AM
measure your height
in centimetres and SUN TALL!
divide it by three!

ASK A
GROW
4 MAKE A RAIN GAUGE!
Rain helps plants to grow! You can use this rain
gauge to measure how much rain falls each day...
N-UP!

• You will need a plastic two-litre bottle, scissors, a grown-up

(to help with the cutting), rolls of different-coloured sticky
tape, a measuring jug, a pencil and the record sheet you
can download by scanning the QR code below. 1000ml
• First, get your grown-up to cut off the top part of the bottle
to form a funnel. Then, put the funnel into the bottom part
of the bottle so it looks like the picture here! Use tape to
hold the pieces in place.
750ml
• Now it’s time to put markings on your gauge! Fill your measuring
jug to 250ml and pour it into your rain gauge. Mark this level with
a piece of coloured tape and label it as ‘250 ml’. 500ml
• Add another 250ml and mark that level with more tape, labelling
it as 500ml. Keep filling your gauge and labelling the 750ml and
1000m levels with coloured tape. 250ml
• Now empty out your rain gauge and find a good place to put it!
Somewhere in a garden away from trees and buildings would
be ideal. Check your rain gauge every day and record how
much water is in it on the downloaded record sheet before
emptying the water out and putting the gauge back in position.

Use the rain you collect to water your plants!

Download here!
TIP! Not wasting water is good for the planet.
 A

5 MILK
MATHS!
6 + 1 + ? = 13
Nala is adding up the
number of buckets of
+ + +
3 15
B C
milk she got from Nanny
on six days. She wrote
some of the numbers
? + ? + =
down on this grid, but
forgot to fill some of
+ + +
9 1 16
D
them in! Work out what
the missing numbers
should be for all of
+ + ? =
the sums to be correct!
= = =
19 15
E
?

WORD M T H E
6 WISDOM
Prove you are as wise as
Odin by making as many
N D F O
words as you can from
the letters in this square!
You get one point for each
V L E S
three-letter word, two points
for each four-letter word,
three points for each five-
E W K I
letter word, and so on.

Plants can grow A. A BEAN

QUICK from many
B. AN EGG
7 QUIZ!
different kinds
of seeds – but
which of these C. A PEA
is NOT a seed?
8 COOL CHARACTER QUIZ!
How well do you know the characters in this month’s stories?
They want to test you by asking tricky multiple-choice questions
about their tales...

How many lambs I went on a quest

do I have? to find…
A. 2 A. Gold
B. 3 B. Friends
C. 4 C. Wisdom

Being struck with a

hammer made me... My son brings you...

A. Smarter A. Rain

B. Smaller B. Sun

C. Taller C. Snow

I was named after a...

A. Flower In the story, I grew on a...
B. City A. Window sill
C. Bird B. Tree
C. Rock

I put on my
granny’s… I was outsmarted by a…
A. Glasses A. Fox
B. Dress B. Rabbit
C. Underpants C. Elephant
ANSWERS: 1. Balance the Beasts – the rabbit and the whale should go on one side of the see-saw, and all
the other animals should go on the other. 2. Spot the Pots – One is on page 46, two are on page 47 and one
is on page 48. 5. Milk Maths – A. 6, B. 4, C. 8, D. 6, E. 10. 7. Quick Quiz! – B. 7. Cool Character Quiz! –
Bo Peep: B, Issun-boshi: C, Florence: B, Nala: B, Odin: C, Princess of the Springs: A, Pea: A, Whale: B.
5
4
3 2 1
add some glamorous accessories and colour the creature in!
Follow these steps to draw a cool sheep! When it is finished,
DRAW A DANCING SHEEP! 9
 STORY MAGIC
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by Angela Vives (Thames & Hudson) tells the stories of fourteen exceptional
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DISCUSS YOUR ANSWERS!

COMPrEHENSION
STORY CLUB

What did people write about the

characters and plot? Did some
ACTIVITIES! members have different opinions?
When and where do your readers
How well does you group understand
think the story took place? Everyone
the stories you read in Story Club?
should try to give evidence from the
Scan the QR code to download copies
tale to back up their answers!
of our special Comprehension Sheet .
Give them to your friends before Can your group think of other tales
reading a story as a group... that had similar themes or morals?
FILL IN THE SHEET! Next time, find out how to get
After the tale is finished, it’s time for everyone involved – by reading
everyone to fill in their copy of the out loud! Until then, keep on
sheet. It asks them to identify the enjoying stories!
setting, plot, main characters and
theme. Don’t worry about getting the
load
‘right’ answers – the important thing is Down
!
that everybody records their own ideas! here