Around the World in Paper Boats
Around the World in Paper Boats — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
"Look, Elara, another wrinkle!" boomed Bram, his voice echoing across the cobblestone streets. Elara, perched on a rooftop, giggled. "That's no wrinkle, Bram! That's Old Man Fitzwilliam's garden!" she cried. The two friends often watched the sunrise from the highest points of their village, nestled on the back of the Great Slumbering Giant, marveling at the ever-changing landscape of wrinkles and folds that made up their world. "But the Giant hasn't moved in centuries!" Bram exclaimed, scratching his head.
Page 2
Later, rummaging through Old Man Fitzwilliam's abandoned cart, Elara unearthed a strange, tarnished compass. "What's this?" she wondered aloud, turning the compass over in her hands. Bram peered over her shoulder, his brow furrowed. "It's a world-compass, I think," he replied, squinting at the faded markings. "Fitzwilliam always said it pointed towards places beyond the Giant's back. He said it was a gift from a traveler, but he never dared to use it. It's said to lead to lands far away!"
Page 3
"Beyond the Giant's back?" Elara gasped, her eyes widening. "Do you think it's true, Bram?" Bram hesitated, glancing back at the familiar village. "Fitzwilliam always said, 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' Elara, Confucius, a very wise man, said that a long time ago, so maybe we take the first step?" A small, shy girl named Anya peeked out from behind a giant mushroom. "I know how to make paper boats!" she offered timidly. "My grandmother taught me. Perhaps we can use them to travel?"
Page 4
Soon, dozens of colorful paper boats bobbed in a small stream that trickled down one of the Giant's wrinkles. "Ready to set sail?" Elara asked, placing the compass carefully in her boat. Bram secured his own paper boat, laden with berries and dried meat. "But how will we know which way to go? This stream goes every which way!" Anya pointed at the compass. "The red part always points toward the edge. We must follow the water that flows in that direction!"
Page 5
The stream led them through a dark tunnel carved into the Giant's skin. "Brrr, it's cold!" Anya shivered, huddling deeper into her shawl. Elara, consulting the compass, noticed a faint glowing moss on the tunnel walls. "Look!" she exclaimed. "Did you know that some moss glows due to a chemical reaction called bioluminescence? Old Man Fitzwilliam told me that a long time ago!" The faint light revealed strange carvings in the stone — symbols none of them had ever seen before.
Page 6
Suddenly, the stream plunged over a steep waterfall, sending their paper boats spiraling downwards! "Aaaah!" Anya screamed. Elara grabbed for a dangling root, but it snapped in her hand. "The boats! The compass!" Bram cried, watching helplessly as their precious vessels disappeared into the mist below. They landed with a splash in a churning pool of water, separated from their boats and each other. "Now what will we do?" Anya cried, despair in her voice.
Page 7
Gasping for breath, Elara pulled Anya to the shore. "We have to find the boats!" she urged. Bram, shivering, pointed to a narrow ledge along the cliff face. "Maybe we can climb down there and find them," he suggested. "But it's too dangerous!" Anya protested. Elara gripped Anya's hand tightly. "Remember what you said about paper boats? You are so good at making them! That takes patience and ingenuity. Use that now, Anya! We can do this together!"
Page 8
Carefully, they edged along the ledge, the roar of the waterfall deafening. Suddenly, Anya gasped. "Look!" she cried, pointing to a small cove. There, nestled amongst the rocks, were their paper boats – and the compass! But a large, grumpy-looking river troll guarded the cove. "Those are my boats now!" the troll growled. Elara remembered the strange symbols from the tunnel. "Wait!" she shouted. "Those symbols...Old Man Fitzwilliam told me they mean 'gift'. The compass! It's a gift! So are our boats!" She held out the compass. "These aren't yours to take!"
Page 9
The troll, confused, scratched his head. "Gift?" he grumbled. "I don't understand gifts!" Anya stepped forward, holding out a beautifully folded paper crane she'd made from spare paper. "This is a gift," she said softly. "It means... friendship." The troll's grumpy face softened. He hesitantly took the paper crane, his eyes widening. "Friendship... I like friendship," he mumbled, handing back the boats. "You may pass."
Page 10
Back in their village, Elara, Bram, and Anya watched the sunset. "We sailed beyond the Giant's back!" Elara exclaimed, grinning. Bram nodded. "And we learned that even grumpy trolls like friendship." Anya smiled. "And that even the smallest gift can change the world," she whispered. "So, we can use that compass to discover more places, and more cultures, and make friends around the world... in paper boats!"
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)