Berry's Kind Heart, Deep Woods

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

Berry's Kind Heart, Deep Woods — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Berry's Kind Heart, Deep Woods — book cover — Wonder Books
Berry's Kind Heart, Deep Woods — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

Professor Pip, a stout badger with spectacles perched on his nose, adjusted his tiny bow tie. "Good heavens, Berry! Are you even listening?" he huffed, peering…
Professor Pip, a stout badger with spectacles perched on his nose, adjusted his tiny bow tie. "Good heavens, Berry! Are you even listening?" he huffed, peering over a towering stack of books. Berry, a young field mouse with bright eyes and even brighter curiosity, twitched her whiskers and giggled. "Of course, Professor! But wouldn't you rather be experiencing the world than just reading about it?"

Professor Pip, a stout badger with spectacles perched on his nose, adjusted his tiny bow tie. "Good heavens, Berry! Are you even listening?" he huffed, peering over a towering stack of books. Berry, a young field mouse with bright eyes and even brighter curiosity, twitched her whiskers and giggled. "Of course, Professor! But wouldn't you rather be experiencing the world than just reading about it?"

Page 2

Professor Pip sighed dramatically. "Experiencing, indeed! This book, 'The Whispering Caves of Willow Creek,' is far more exciting than anything you'll find in…
Professor Pip sighed dramatically. "Experiencing, indeed! This book, 'The Whispering Caves of Willow Creek,' is far more exciting than anything you'll find in this sleepy part of the woods!" He tapped the ancient tome. Suddenly, a loose page fluttered to the floor. Berry snatched it up. "Look, Professor! An old map! It says, 'The Kind Heart Stone shines brightest in deepest dark.' What's a Kind Heart Stone, Professor?"

Professor Pip sighed dramatically. "Experiencing, indeed! This book, 'The Whispering Caves of Willow Creek,' is far more exciting than anything you'll find in this sleepy part of the woods!" He tapped the ancient tome. Suddenly, a loose page fluttered to the floor. Berry snatched it up. "Look, Professor! An old map! It says, 'The Kind Heart Stone shines brightest in deepest dark.' What's a Kind Heart Stone, Professor?"

Page 3

"A Kind Heart Stone? Nonsense, Berry! Just an old legend. Besides, the Whispering Caves are said to be dangerous," Professor Pip scoffed, adjusting his…
"A Kind Heart Stone? Nonsense, Berry! Just an old legend. Besides, the Whispering Caves are said to be dangerous," Professor Pip scoffed, adjusting his spectacles. But Berry's eyes sparkled with determination. "'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' as the wise philosopher Lao Tzu said! We should go, Professor! Maybe it will help someone!" A small, nervous squirrel named Squeaky poked his head in. "I... I'll come too!" he squeaked.

"A Kind Heart Stone? Nonsense, Berry! Just an old legend. Besides, the Whispering Caves are said to be dangerous," Professor Pip scoffed, adjusting his spectacles. But Berry's eyes sparkled with determination. "'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' as the wise philosopher Lao Tzu said! We should go, Professor! Maybe it will help someone!" A small, nervous squirrel named Squeaky poked his head in. "I... I'll come too!" he squeaked.

Page 4

The trio cautiously entered the Whispering Caves. "Brrr! It's chilly!" Squeaky chattered, pulling his tiny scarf tighter. "I hear...
The trio cautiously entered the Whispering Caves. "Brrr! It's chilly!" Squeaky chattered, pulling his tiny scarf tighter. "I hear... whispering!" Berry pointed to a narrow passage. "The map shows we must cross the Spiderweb Bridge," Professor Pip announced, peering at the faded parchment. A vast chasm yawned before them, spanned by a delicate bridge of glistening spiderwebs. "Oh dear..." Squeaky whimpered.

The trio cautiously entered the Whispering Caves. "Brrr! It's chilly!" Squeaky chattered, pulling his tiny scarf tighter. "I hear... whispering!" Berry pointed to a narrow passage. "The map shows we must cross the Spiderweb Bridge," Professor Pip announced, peering at the faded parchment. A vast chasm yawned before them, spanned by a delicate bridge of glistening spiderwebs. "Oh dear..." Squeaky whimpered.

Page 5

Berry bravely stepped onto the bridge. "Don't worry, Squeaky! I'll go first!" Carefully, she made her way across, the webs swaying precariously.
Berry bravely stepped onto the bridge. "Don't worry, Squeaky! I'll go first!" Carefully, she made her way across, the webs swaying precariously. Halfway across, she noticed something sparkling within the webs. "Look!" she called back. Nestled amongst the silk, a tiny, glowing mushroom pulsed with a soft, green light. "It's a Glowcap!" Professor Pip exclaimed. "They only grow near sources of magic!"

Berry bravely stepped onto the bridge. "Don't worry, Squeaky! I'll go first!" Carefully, she made her way across, the webs swaying precariously. Halfway across, she noticed something sparkling within the webs. "Look!" she called back. Nestled amongst the silk, a tiny, glowing mushroom pulsed with a soft, green light. "It's a Glowcap!" Professor Pip exclaimed. "They only grow near sources of magic!"

Page 6

Suddenly, the bridge began to shake violently. "Eek! What's happening?!" Squeaky shrieked. A deep voice echoed through the cave.
Suddenly, the bridge began to shake violently. "Eek! What's happening?!" Squeaky shrieked. A deep voice echoed through the cave. "Who dares disturb my slumber?!" A massive spider, with eyes like gleaming emeralds, descended from the cave ceiling. "It's Aragog! The legendary cave guardian!" Professor Pip cried, his voice trembling. "We're doomed!"

Suddenly, the bridge began to shake violently. "Eek! What's happening?!" Squeaky shrieked. A deep voice echoed through the cave. "Who dares disturb my slumber?!" A massive spider, with eyes like gleaming emeralds, descended from the cave ceiling. "It's Aragog! The legendary cave guardian!" Professor Pip cried, his voice trembling. "We're doomed!"

Page 7

Berry stood her ground. "We didn't mean to disturb you, Aragog. We're looking for the Kind Heart Stone, to help those in need." Professor Pip gulped. "What?!
Berry stood her ground. "We didn't mean to disturb you, Aragog. We're looking for the Kind Heart Stone, to help those in need." Professor Pip gulped. "What?! Berry!" Squeaky hid behind the Professor. Aragog narrowed his eyes. "Kindness? A rare trait indeed. Prove your heart is true. Solve this riddle: I have cities, but no houses; forests, but no trees; and water, but no fish. What am I?"

Berry stood her ground. "We didn't mean to disturb you, Aragog. We're looking for the Kind Heart Stone, to help those in need." Professor Pip gulped. "What?! Berry!" Squeaky hid behind the Professor. Aragog narrowed his eyes. "Kindness? A rare trait indeed. Prove your heart is true. Solve this riddle: I have cities, but no houses; forests, but no trees; and water, but no fish. What am I?"

Page 8

Berry thought for a moment. Her eyes darted to the Glowcap in her pocket. She remembered its magical energy. "A map! The answer is a map!" she exclaimed.
Berry thought for a moment. Her eyes darted to the Glowcap in her pocket. She remembered its magical energy. "A map! The answer is a map!" she exclaimed. Aragog chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. "Indeed! You possess a kind heart and a clever mind. The Kind Heart Stone lies beyond the waterfall. Use the Glowcap to guide you. It only shines for those who are pure of heart!" Berry smiled. This was it! "Kindness is its own reward!"

Berry thought for a moment. Her eyes darted to the Glowcap in her pocket. She remembered its magical energy. "A map! The answer is a map!" she exclaimed. Aragog chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. "Indeed! You possess a kind heart and a clever mind. The Kind Heart Stone lies beyond the waterfall. Use the Glowcap to guide you. It only shines for those who are pure of heart!" Berry smiled. This was it! "Kindness is its own reward!"

Page 9

Guided by the Glowcap, the trio reached a hidden waterfall. Behind it, nestled in a bed of moss, lay the Kind Heart Stone - a shimmering crystal that pulsed…
Guided by the Glowcap, the trio reached a hidden waterfall. Behind it, nestled in a bed of moss, lay the Kind Heart Stone - a shimmering crystal that pulsed with warmth. As Berry touched it, a wave of golden light spread through the cave, healing Aragog's ancient loneliness. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice no longer menacing. "You have shown me the true meaning of kindness."

Guided by the Glowcap, the trio reached a hidden waterfall. Behind it, nestled in a bed of moss, lay the Kind Heart Stone - a shimmering crystal that pulsed with warmth. As Berry touched it, a wave of golden light spread through the cave, healing Aragog's ancient loneliness. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice no longer menacing. "You have shown me the true meaning of kindness."

Page 10

Back in their tree classroom, Berry looked at Professor Pip. "See? Experiencing the world is much more exciting than just reading about it!" Professor Pip…
Back in their tree classroom, Berry looked at Professor Pip. "See? Experiencing the world is much more exciting than just reading about it!" Professor Pip smiled. "Perhaps you're right, Berry. As Charles Dickens said, 'No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.' You certainly lightened Aragog's burden." Squeaky added, "And we made a new friend!"

Back in their tree classroom, Berry looked at Professor Pip. "See? Experiencing the world is much more exciting than just reading about it!" Professor Pip smiled. "Perhaps you're right, Berry. As Charles Dickens said, 'No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.' You certainly lightened Aragog's burden." Squeaky added, "And we made a new friend!"

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

More Wonder Books stories

All Wonder Books stories · Open the library