Moving to a New Town

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

Moving to a New Town — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Moving to a New Town — book cover — Wonder Books
Moving to a New Town — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

"Look, Yasmin, shooting stars!" Astrid shouted, pointing to the sky. Yasmin, hugging a worn teddy bear, peeked out from the car window, her eyes wide with…
"Look, Yasmin, shooting stars!" Astrid shouted, pointing to the sky. Yasmin, hugging a worn teddy bear, peeked out from the car window, her eyes wide with wonder. Around them, the carnival shimmered with impossible lights and fantastical creatures milling about. "Welcome to Stardust Springs, kiddo," her dad said, pulling into a spot beside a giant Ferris wheel made of glowing crystals.

"Look, Yasmin, shooting stars!" Astrid shouted, pointing to the sky. Yasmin, hugging a worn teddy bear, peeked out from the car window, her eyes wide with wonder. Around them, the carnival shimmered with impossible lights and fantastical creatures milling about. "Welcome to Stardust Springs, kiddo," her dad said, pulling into a spot beside a giant Ferris wheel made of glowing crystals.

Page 2

"It's so... sparkly," Yasmin whispered, clutching her bear tighter as they walked past a booth where a fortune teller with a shimmering turban offered readings.
"It's so... sparkly," Yasmin whispered, clutching her bear tighter as they walked past a booth where a fortune teller with a shimmering turban offered readings. Astrid, ever the explorer, tugged on Yasmin's sleeve. "C'mon, let's explore! I heard they have comet-flavored cotton candy!" As they dashed off, a flyer fluttered to the ground. It showed a faded image of a missing cat, its eyes glowing eerily, and the words, "Lost in the Labyrinth."

"It's so... sparkly," Yasmin whispered, clutching her bear tighter as they walked past a booth where a fortune teller with a shimmering turban offered readings. Astrid, ever the explorer, tugged on Yasmin's sleeve. "C'mon, let's explore! I heard they have comet-flavored cotton candy!" As they dashed off, a flyer fluttered to the ground. It showed a faded image of a missing cat, its eyes glowing eerily, and the words, "Lost in the Labyrinth."

Page 3

Yasmin picked up the flyer, tracing the cat's glowing eyes with her finger. "Lost in the Labyrinth... sounds spooky," she murmured. Astrid scoffed.
Yasmin picked up the flyer, tracing the cat's glowing eyes with her finger. "Lost in the Labyrinth... sounds spooky," she murmured. Astrid scoffed. "Don't be silly! It's probably just a maze. I read somewhere that 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' like the philosopher Lao Tzu said. Let's find that kitty!" Just then, a boy with dark blond hair bumped into them, dropping a handful of glowing marbles.

Yasmin picked up the flyer, tracing the cat's glowing eyes with her finger. "Lost in the Labyrinth... sounds spooky," she murmured. Astrid scoffed. "Don't be silly! It's probably just a maze. I read somewhere that 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' like the philosopher Lao Tzu said. Let's find that kitty!" Just then, a boy with dark blond hair bumped into them, dropping a handful of glowing marbles.

Page 4

"Whoa, are those Star Marbles?" Astrid asked, her eyes gleaming. Amir nodded, scrambling to collect them. "They're... special. I need them for my act.
"Whoa, are those Star Marbles?" Astrid asked, her eyes gleaming. Amir nodded, scrambling to collect them. "They're... special. I need them for my act. I'm Amir, by the way." Yasmin helped him gather the last few marbles. "I'm Yasmin, and this is Astrid. We're going to look for a lost cat in the Labyrinth. Wanna come?"

"Whoa, are those Star Marbles?" Astrid asked, her eyes gleaming. Amir nodded, scrambling to collect them. "They're... special. I need them for my act. I'm Amir, by the way." Yasmin helped him gather the last few marbles. "I'm Yasmin, and this is Astrid. We're going to look for a lost cat in the Labyrinth. Wanna come?"

Page 5

As they stepped into the Labyrinth, a sudden gust of wind swept through the carnival, carrying with it swirling dust and debris. "Whoa!
As they stepped into the Labyrinth, a sudden gust of wind swept through the carnival, carrying with it swirling dust and debris. "Whoa! What was that?" Yasmin yelped, shielding her eyes. "Sandstorm!" Amir cried. "They're common during meteor showers here. We need to find shelter!" Astrid pointed to a rickety-looking tower in the distance. "Let's head for that!"

As they stepped into the Labyrinth, a sudden gust of wind swept through the carnival, carrying with it swirling dust and debris. "Whoa! What was that?" Yasmin yelped, shielding her eyes. "Sandstorm!" Amir cried. "They're common during meteor showers here. We need to find shelter!" Astrid pointed to a rickety-looking tower in the distance. "Let's head for that!"

Page 6

They raced through the winding maze, the sandstorm buffeting them relentlessly. The tower seemed miles away. "I can't see!" Yasmin cried, stumbling.
They raced through the winding maze, the sandstorm buffeting them relentlessly. The tower seemed miles away. "I can't see!" Yasmin cried, stumbling. "We have to keep going!" Astrid shouted over the wind. Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble. "Earthquake!" Amir exclaimed. "This whole carnival is built on shifting sand!"

They raced through the winding maze, the sandstorm buffeting them relentlessly. The tower seemed miles away. "I can't see!" Yasmin cried, stumbling. "We have to keep going!" Astrid shouted over the wind. Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble. "Earthquake!" Amir exclaimed. "This whole carnival is built on shifting sand!"

Page 7

The tower was swaying precariously. "We have to get inside!" Astrid yelled. They dashed through the entrance, just as the door slammed shut behind them.
The tower was swaying precariously. "We have to get inside!" Astrid yelled. They dashed through the entrance, just as the door slammed shut behind them. Inside, it was dark and dusty. "I can't see a thing!" Yasmin exclaimed, her voice trembling. Amir pulled out one of his Star Marbles. "These react to emotions. If we're calm, they'll glow brighter!"

The tower was swaying precariously. "We have to get inside!" Astrid yelled. They dashed through the entrance, just as the door slammed shut behind them. Inside, it was dark and dusty. "I can't see a thing!" Yasmin exclaimed, her voice trembling. Amir pulled out one of his Star Marbles. "These react to emotions. If we're calm, they'll glow brighter!"

Page 8

The marble pulsed with a soft light as Yasmin took a deep breath. She thought about her new home, her dad, and her determination to make friends.
The marble pulsed with a soft light as Yasmin took a deep breath. She thought about her new home, her dad, and her determination to make friends. The marble glowed brighter. "Look!" Astrid exclaimed, pointing to a small inscription on the wall. "'When the stars align, follow the light.' It's a clue!" Amir realized something. "The Star Marbles! They're not just for my act. They're a compass! They point to where magic needs to be!"

The marble pulsed with a soft light as Yasmin took a deep breath. She thought about her new home, her dad, and her determination to make friends. The marble glowed brighter. "Look!" Astrid exclaimed, pointing to a small inscription on the wall. "'When the stars align, follow the light.' It's a clue!" Amir realized something. "The Star Marbles! They're not just for my act. They're a compass! They point to where magic needs to be!"

Page 9

The marble pulled them toward a hidden doorway. Beyond it, they found the missing cat, trapped in a cage. The cat hissed but calmed as Yasmin approached.
The marble pulled them toward a hidden doorway. Beyond it, they found the missing cat, trapped in a cage. The cat hissed but calmed as Yasmin approached. "Poor thing," Yasmin whispered, unlocking the cage. "You're safe now." The cat purred, rubbing against her leg. Just then, the sandstorm stopped, and the earthquake subsided.

The marble pulled them toward a hidden doorway. Beyond it, they found the missing cat, trapped in a cage. The cat hissed but calmed as Yasmin approached. "Poor thing," Yasmin whispered, unlocking the cage. "You're safe now." The cat purred, rubbing against her leg. Just then, the sandstorm stopped, and the earthquake subsided.

Page 10

As they emerged from the Labyrinth, hand-in-hand, the carnival was bathed in the soft glow of the meteor shower. Yasmin smiled.
As they emerged from the Labyrinth, hand-in-hand, the carnival was bathed in the soft glow of the meteor shower. Yasmin smiled. "Moving here wasn't so scary after all," she said. Astrid grinned. "See? Asking for help isn't a weakness—it's how we find strength together." Amir nodded, offering Yasmin a Star Marble. "Friends make any place feel like home." Next time, maybe they'd explore the comet-flavored cotton candy.

As they emerged from the Labyrinth, hand-in-hand, the carnival was bathed in the soft glow of the meteor shower. Yasmin smiled. "Moving here wasn't so scary after all," she said. Astrid grinned. "See? Asking for help isn't a weakness—it's how we find strength together." Amir nodded, offering Yasmin a Star Marble. "Friends make any place feel like home." Next time, maybe they'd explore the comet-flavored cotton candy.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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