Cooperation Saves the Soccer Game

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

Cooperation Saves the Soccer Game — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Cooperation Saves the Soccer Game — book cover — Wonder Books
Cooperation Saves the Soccer Game — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

"Hurry, Jun! We're going to be late!" Ivan shouted, his voice echoing off the towering, vine-covered buildings. Jun, weaving through the crowded, neon-lit…
"Hurry, Jun! We're going to be late!" Ivan shouted, his voice echoing off the towering, vine-covered buildings. Jun, weaving through the crowded, neon-lit marketplace, grinned. "Relax, Ivan, we have plenty of time before kickoff," he replied, dodging a hovering delivery drone. The championship game was today, and everyone in Neo-Kyoto was buzzing with excitement.

"Hurry, Jun! We're going to be late!" Ivan shouted, his voice echoing off the towering, vine-covered buildings. Jun, weaving through the crowded, neon-lit marketplace, grinned. "Relax, Ivan, we have plenty of time before kickoff," he replied, dodging a hovering delivery drone. The championship game was today, and everyone in Neo-Kyoto was buzzing with excitement.

Page 2

As they approached the stadium, a small, metallic bird lay sparking on the ground. "What's that?" Ivan asked, cautiously approaching the strange object.
As they approached the stadium, a small, metallic bird lay sparking on the ground. "What's that?" Ivan asked, cautiously approaching the strange object. Jun knelt beside it, examining the intricate gears and wires. "Looks like one of Coach Ito's experimental training drones," he said, picking it up. "Its wing is broken!"

As they approached the stadium, a small, metallic bird lay sparking on the ground. "What's that?" Ivan asked, cautiously approaching the strange object. Jun knelt beside it, examining the intricate gears and wires. "Looks like one of Coach Ito's experimental training drones," he said, picking it up. "Its wing is broken!"

Page 3

"We can't just leave it here," Jun declared, clutching the drone to his chest. "Coach Ito uses these to analyze our plays.
"We can't just leave it here," Jun declared, clutching the drone to his chest. "Coach Ito uses these to analyze our plays. He taught us that even the smallest components matter." Ivan sighed. "But the game!" Jun looked at his friend, his eyes pleading. "As Helen Keller said, 'Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.' We're a team, Ivan. Let's fix it together, then we will still have enough time to prepare for the game."

"We can't just leave it here," Jun declared, clutching the drone to his chest. "Coach Ito uses these to analyze our plays. He taught us that even the smallest components matter." Ivan sighed. "But the game!" Jun looked at his friend, his eyes pleading. "As Helen Keller said, 'Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.' We're a team, Ivan. Let's fix it together, then we will still have enough time to prepare for the game."

Page 4

They rushed to Jun's garage, a small workshop overflowing with tools and spare parts. "First, we need to find a replacement wing," Jun said, rummaging through a…
They rushed to Jun's garage, a small workshop overflowing with tools and spare parts. "First, we need to find a replacement wing," Jun said, rummaging through a box of discarded drone components. Ivan examined the broken wing. "The connection joint is fused. We'll need the plasma welder," he stated. The welder sputtered and sparked, refusing to ignite. "Blast! The energy cell is depleted!"

They rushed to Jun's garage, a small workshop overflowing with tools and spare parts. "First, we need to find a replacement wing," Jun said, rummaging through a box of discarded drone components. Ivan examined the broken wing. "The connection joint is fused. We'll need the plasma welder," he stated. The welder sputtered and sparked, refusing to ignite. "Blast! The energy cell is depleted!"

Page 5

"I remember seeing an old solar charger in Tao's shop across the canal!" Ivan exclaimed. "But Tao hates soccer. He thinks it's a waste of time," Jun said, his…
"I remember seeing an old solar charger in Tao's shop across the canal!" Ivan exclaimed. "But Tao hates soccer. He thinks it's a waste of time," Jun said, his face falling. "He's a brilliant engineer, though! Maybe if we explain the situation..." They raced across the bridge towards Tao's workshop, a small hut overflowing with salvaged electronics. A sign above the door read: "Logic is the Only Reality."

"I remember seeing an old solar charger in Tao's shop across the canal!" Ivan exclaimed. "But Tao hates soccer. He thinks it's a waste of time," Jun said, his face falling. "He's a brilliant engineer, though! Maybe if we explain the situation..." They raced across the bridge towards Tao's workshop, a small hut overflowing with salvaged electronics. A sign above the door read: "Logic is the Only Reality."

Page 6

They found Tao hunched over a complex circuit board. "Tao, we need your help!" Ivan pleaded. Tao, without looking up, scowled. "Soccer players asking for help?
They found Tao hunched over a complex circuit board. "Tao, we need your help!" Ivan pleaded. Tao, without looking up, scowled. "Soccer players asking for help? What's next, politicians telling the truth?" Jun held out the broken drone. "This drone helps Coach analyze our plays. Without it, we're flying blind! But the charger is out of power." Tao sighed, setting down his soldering iron. "I have that charger, but it only works if you solve this circuit puzzle.

They found Tao hunched over a complex circuit board. "Tao, we need your help!" Ivan pleaded. Tao, without looking up, scowled. "Soccer players asking for help? What's next, politicians telling the truth?" Jun held out the broken drone. "This drone helps Coach analyze our plays. Without it, we're flying blind! But the charger is out of power." Tao sighed, setting down his soldering iron. "I have that charger, but it only works if you solve this circuit puzzle. But I have to warn you, the puzzle is a challenge and if you do not solve the puzzle, you are doomed."

Page 7

Jun and Ivan stared at the circuit board, a maze of wires and blinking lights. "It's all about energy flow," Jun muttered, tracing the circuits with his finger.
Jun and Ivan stared at the circuit board, a maze of wires and blinking lights. "It's all about energy flow," Jun muttered, tracing the circuits with his finger. "But there are two points to connect!" Ivan exclaimed. "One shows the stadium's energy grid, the other shows the old nature preserve. What does any of that mean?" Tao tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe... maybe it's about balance. Nature and technology need each other."

Jun and Ivan stared at the circuit board, a maze of wires and blinking lights. "It's all about energy flow," Jun muttered, tracing the circuits with his finger. "But there are two points to connect!" Ivan exclaimed. "One shows the stadium's energy grid, the other shows the old nature preserve. What does any of that mean?" Tao tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe... maybe it's about balance. Nature and technology need each other."

Page 8

"Wait!" Jun exclaimed. "The stadium uses bio-luminescent algae for its lights. It converts sunlight to energy. We can amplify the energy by creating a circuit…
"Wait!" Jun exclaimed. "The stadium uses bio-luminescent algae for its lights. It converts sunlight to energy. We can amplify the energy by creating a circuit between the nature preserve and the bio-luminescent cells!" He grabbed two wires and connected them to the correct terminals. The solar charger hummed to life. "As Albert Einstein said, 'Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better,'" Ivan exclaimed. "Now let's charge this drone!"

"Wait!" Jun exclaimed. "The stadium uses bio-luminescent algae for its lights. It converts sunlight to energy. We can amplify the energy by creating a circuit between the nature preserve and the bio-luminescent cells!" He grabbed two wires and connected them to the correct terminals. The solar charger hummed to life. "As Albert Einstein said, 'Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better,'" Ivan exclaimed. "Now let's charge this drone!"

Page 9

With the drone repaired and fully charged, they raced back to the stadium. "Thanks, Tao!" Jun shouted as they crossed the bridge.
With the drone repaired and fully charged, they raced back to the stadium. "Thanks, Tao!" Jun shouted as they crossed the bridge. Tao waved, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Just win the game," he mumbled. They arrived just in time for kickoff. With Coach Ito's drone providing real-time analysis, they played flawlessly, anticipating every move.

With the drone repaired and fully charged, they raced back to the stadium. "Thanks, Tao!" Jun shouted as they crossed the bridge. Tao waved, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Just win the game," he mumbled. They arrived just in time for kickoff. With Coach Ito's drone providing real-time analysis, they played flawlessly, anticipating every move.

Page 10

"We did it!" Ivan yelled, hugging Jun. "We couldn't have won without Tao's help, and the drone!" Jun nodded, grinning. "Everyone has a unique talent to…
"We did it!" Ivan yelled, hugging Jun. "We couldn't have won without Tao's help, and the drone!" Jun nodded, grinning. "Everyone has a unique talent to contribute, and even fixing something small matters. Listening to each other and working together is the only way to win," he said. Neo-Kyoto erupted in cheers, celebrating the victory of teamwork and cooperation.

"We did it!" Ivan yelled, hugging Jun. "We couldn't have won without Tao's help, and the drone!" Jun nodded, grinning. "Everyone has a unique talent to contribute, and even fixing something small matters. Listening to each other and working together is the only way to win," he said. Neo-Kyoto erupted in cheers, celebrating the victory of teamwork and cooperation.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

More Wonder Books stories

All Wonder Books stories · Open the library