Barry the Burrito's Backward Birthday

An illustrated stories story from Wonder Books — free to read, with narration.

Barry the Burrito's Backward Birthday — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Barry the Burrito's Backward Birthday — book cover — Wonder Books
Barry the Burrito's Backward Birthday — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

The forest floor hummed with hushed whispers as Professor Pip, a portly badger with spectacles perched on his nose, adjusted his tiny mortarboard.
The forest floor hummed with hushed whispers as Professor Pip, a portly badger with spectacles perched on his nose, adjusted his tiny mortarboard. "Hurry along, Barry!" he called, his voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. A small burrito, no bigger than a robin, scampered after him, clutching a miniature book titled 'Advanced Astrophysics for Appetizers.' "Coming, Professor!" Barry squeaked, nearly tripping over a rogue acorn.

The forest floor hummed with hushed whispers as Professor Pip, a portly badger with spectacles perched on his nose, adjusted his tiny mortarboard. "Hurry along, Barry!" he called, his voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. A small burrito, no bigger than a robin, scampered after him, clutching a miniature book titled 'Advanced Astrophysics for Appetizers.' "Coming, Professor!" Barry squeaked, nearly tripping over a rogue acorn.

Page 2

"We simply MUST find the legendary Chronometer Carrot before your birthday, Barry," Professor Pip declared, pausing beside a towering oak tree.
"We simply MUST find the legendary Chronometer Carrot before your birthday, Barry," Professor Pip declared, pausing beside a towering oak tree. "Otherwise, your birthday will be... backward!" Barry gasped, his tortilla shell paling. "Backward? What does that even mean?" Professor Pip adjusted his spectacles. "It means presents before breakfast, cake after bedtime, and... well, utter chaos!" Suddenly, Barry spotted something glinting beneath a mushroom.

"We simply MUST find the legendary Chronometer Carrot before your birthday, Barry," Professor Pip declared, pausing beside a towering oak tree. "Otherwise, your birthday will be... backward!" Barry gasped, his tortilla shell paling. "Backward? What does that even mean?" Professor Pip adjusted his spectacles. "It means presents before breakfast, cake after bedtime, and... well, utter chaos!" Suddenly, Barry spotted something glinting beneath a mushroom. He gasped, "Look, Professor!"

Page 3

Professor Pip bent down, examining the object. "An Astrolabe!" he exclaimed. "But what's it doing here?" Barry picked it up.
Professor Pip bent down, examining the object. "An Astrolabe!" he exclaimed. "But what's it doing here?" Barry picked it up. "The book said these can point to temporal anomalies," Barry said, quoting from his 'Advanced Astrophysics' text. "Perhaps it can lead us to the Chronometer Carrot!" Professor Pip stroked his chin thoughtfully. "As Helen Keller once said, 'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence'.

Professor Pip bent down, examining the object. "An Astrolabe!" he exclaimed. "But what's it doing here?" Barry picked it up. "The book said these can point to temporal anomalies," Barry said, quoting from his 'Advanced Astrophysics' text. "Perhaps it can lead us to the Chronometer Carrot!" Professor Pip stroked his chin thoughtfully. "As Helen Keller once said, 'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence'. Let us follow this Astrolabe with confidence!"

Page 4

Following the Astrolabe, they soon reached a rushing stream. "Blast!" cried Professor Pip. "How will we ever cross?" Barry examined the Astrolabe. "It says...
Following the Astrolabe, they soon reached a rushing stream. "Blast!" cried Professor Pip. "How will we ever cross?" Barry examined the Astrolabe. "It says... if we hold it just so, it will reveal a hidden path!" Barry held the Astrolabe high, and a shimmering, rainbow-colored bridge appeared over the water. Just as they stepped onto the bridge, a grumpy gnome popped up from under a toadstool.

Following the Astrolabe, they soon reached a rushing stream. "Blast!" cried Professor Pip. "How will we ever cross?" Barry examined the Astrolabe. "It says... if we hold it just so, it will reveal a hidden path!" Barry held the Astrolabe high, and a shimmering, rainbow-colored bridge appeared over the water. Just as they stepped onto the bridge, a grumpy gnome popped up from under a toadstool.

Page 5

TOP-DOWN VIEW. "Halt!" he shrieked, waving a tiny, gnarled finger. "To cross my bridge, you must answer my riddle: What has an eye, but cannot see?" Professor…
TOP-DOWN VIEW. "Halt!" he shrieked, waving a tiny, gnarled finger. "To cross my bridge, you must answer my riddle: What has an eye, but cannot see?" Professor Pip pondered, stroking his chin. Barry piped up from behind him. "A needle!" he squeaked, remembering his sewing lessons with Mrs. Hedgehog. The gnome scowled. "Correct! But before I let you go, what kind of material do you use to stitch a cloud?

TOP-DOWN VIEW. "Halt!" he shrieked, waving a tiny, gnarled finger. "To cross my bridge, you must answer my riddle: What has an eye, but cannot see?" Professor Pip pondered, stroking his chin. Barry piped up from behind him. "A needle!" he squeaked, remembering his sewing lessons with Mrs. Hedgehog. The gnome scowled. "Correct! But before I let you go, what kind of material do you use to stitch a cloud?

Page 6

Barry the Burrito's Backward Birthday — page 6 illustration — Wonder Books
Barry the Burrito's Backward Birthday — page 6 illustration — Wonder Books

"Why, Professor! This is a geography lesson disguised as a toll! I'm going to take a stab. One of my favorites, Cirrus! Because, the word Cirrus, comes from the latin word cirrus, meaning a curl or a tuft. Hence cirrus clouds often appear curly or fibrous." The gnome stamped his foot. "Right again! Be gone with you! But be warned, the path ahead is fraught with peril!"

Page 7

As they ventured deeper, the forest grew darker and spookier. "I'm scared, Professor," Barry whispered, his voice trembling. Suddenly, they heard a loud cackle.
As they ventured deeper, the forest grew darker and spookier. "I'm scared, Professor," Barry whispered, his voice trembling. Suddenly, they heard a loud cackle. A shadowy figure swooped down from the trees. "Who dares enter my domain?" cackled a wicked-looking owl, wearing a tiny, crooked crown and reading an even tinier book titled 'Dark Arts for Dummies.' "We seek the Chronometer Carrot!" Professor Pip exclaimed bravely, though his knees were shaking.

As they ventured deeper, the forest grew darker and spookier. "I'm scared, Professor," Barry whispered, his voice trembling. Suddenly, they heard a loud cackle. A shadowy figure swooped down from the trees. "Who dares enter my domain?" cackled a wicked-looking owl, wearing a tiny, crooked crown and reading an even tinier book titled 'Dark Arts for Dummies.' "We seek the Chronometer Carrot!" Professor Pip exclaimed bravely, though his knees were shaking.

Page 8

"The Chronometer Carrot is mine!" the owl screeched, flapping its wings menacingly. "But... I will give you a chance to win it!
"The Chronometer Carrot is mine!" the owl screeched, flapping its wings menacingly. "But... I will give you a chance to win it! You have to give me something I want!" Barry remembered the Astrolabe. "Wait!" Barry cried, pulling out the Astrolabe. "The book says this can predict temporal anomalies!" He pointed the Astrolabe at the owl and focused, and the little dial spun wildly. "Tomorrow at sunrise," Barry announced, "a whole flock of crows lands in this exact tree.

"The Chronometer Carrot is mine!" the owl screeched, flapping its wings menacingly. "But... I will give you a chance to win it! You have to give me something I want!" Barry remembered the Astrolabe. "Wait!" Barry cried, pulling out the Astrolabe. "The book says this can predict temporal anomalies!" He pointed the Astrolabe at the owl and focused, and the little dial spun wildly. "Tomorrow at sunrise," Barry announced, "a whole flock of crows lands in this exact tree. Loud ones." The owl's eyes went very wide. "Crows? How loud?" "Extremely," said Professor Pip. "Unless somebody warns you in time."

Page 9

"You've outsmarted me, little burrito!" the owl groaned, dropping a long, orange carrot with a tiny clock embedded in its side.
"You've outsmarted me, little burrito!" the owl groaned, dropping a long, orange carrot with a tiny clock embedded in its side. "Take your silly carrot!" Barry grabbed the Chronometer Carrot triumphantly. "It worked!" he exclaimed. Professor Pip beamed. "See, Barry? Teamwork and a bit of cleverness can conquer any obstacle! Now, quick, let's get you back for your birthday before everything goes topsy-turvy!"

"You've outsmarted me, little burrito!" the owl groaned, dropping a long, orange carrot with a tiny clock embedded in its side. "Take your silly carrot!" Barry grabbed the Chronometer Carrot triumphantly. "It worked!" he exclaimed. Professor Pip beamed. "See, Barry? Teamwork and a bit of cleverness can conquer any obstacle! Now, quick, let's get you back for your birthday before everything goes topsy-turvy!"

Page 10

Back in Professor Pip's cozy burrow, Barry blew out the candles on his birthday cake—right on time. "Thank you, Professor!" Barry said, munching on a piece of…
Back in Professor Pip's cozy burrow, Barry blew out the candles on his birthday cake—right on time. "Thank you, Professor!" Barry said, munching on a piece of cake. "This was the best birthday ever!" Professor Pip smiled warmly. "As Mark Twain said, 'It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.' You showed both today, Barry.

Back in Professor Pip's cozy burrow, Barry blew out the candles on his birthday cake—right on time. "Thank you, Professor!" Barry said, munching on a piece of cake. "This was the best birthday ever!" Professor Pip smiled warmly. "As Mark Twain said, 'It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.' You showed both today, Barry. And moral courage is how we grow." Barry smiled, surrounded by friends and the comforting smell of freshly baked goods.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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