My Grandma Is a Superhero
My Grandma Is a Superhero — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
"Grandma's got a new hobby, Leo!" Maya shouted, bursting through the door. Leo, engrossed in a video game, barely glanced up. "Yeah, yeah. What is it this time? Competitive knitting?" Maya giggled, pulling him off the couch. "Better! She's saving the world!" Leo rolled his eyes, but Maya's infectious grin pulled him along. They raced down the street towards Grandma Betty's, passing Mr. Henderson's prize-winning petunias. Grandma's house was a riot of color and mismatched gnomes, today sporting a peculiar addition: a clothesline strung with sequined capes.
Page 2
They found Grandma Betty in the garden, wearing a bright red sequined cape and brandishing a garden hose like a weapon. "Fear not, citizens! I am here!" she declared, dramatically spraying a rogue squirrel who dared to nibble her tomatoes. Leo burst out laughing. "Grandma, what are you doing?" Grandma Betty winked, adjusting her oversized glasses. "Protecting the innocent, dear! But..." she lowered her voice conspiratorially, "there's been a rash of missing garden gnomes! A serious crime! It all started yesterday, BUT now, it's a full-blown emergency requiring my super powers!"
Page 3
"Missing gnomes?" Leo asked, trying to suppress a giggle. "Grandma, that's ridiculous!" "Ridiculous?" Grandma Betty gasped dramatically. "These gnomes are the heart of this neighborhood! We must find them! Therefore... I need sidekicks!" She pointed the garden hose at Leo and Maya. "You two! You're with me!" Maya squealed with delight. "I always wanted to be a superhero! What are our powers?" Grandma Betty tapped her nose. "Patience, my dears. First, we need disguises and a plan. Come, my intrepid adventurers! To the craft room!"
Page 4
The craft room exploded with glitter, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. Grandma Betty presented them with their costumes. "The Amazing Asparagus!" she announced, handing Leo a green colander helmet. "And... The Magnificent Macaroni!" Maya received a pasta-covered shield. "These will protect you from... uh... evildoers!" she declared. Their first challenge: Mr. Henderson's prize-winning petunias. "He says he saw a suspicious character lurking near them last night, BUT he couldn't see who it was." "Therefore," Maya said, brandishing her macaroni shield, "we must stake out his petunias!"
Page 5
Armed with their ridiculous disguises, they crept towards Mr. Henderson's house. Hidden behind a rose bush, they waited. "This is so boring!" Leo whispered. Suddenly, a shadow flickered in the moonlight. A figure in a dark cloak was sneaking around Mr. Henderson's petunias. "There!" Maya hissed. As the figure reached for a petunia, The Amazing Asparagus sprang into action. He tripped over the garden hose. "Whoops!" he exclaimed, landing with a thump. The figure froze. A cat, startled by the noise, hissed loudly and arched its back. It was Mittens, Mr Henderson's cat, wearing a gnome hat!
Page 6
"Mittens?" Maya exclaimed, bewildered. Mr. Henderson rushed out, looking panicked. "Mittens! What are you doing? And... Betty? Is that you?" He spotted Grandma Betty and the two kids. Grandma Betty cleared her throat. "We were... uh... protecting your petunias!" she declared. Mr. Henderson sighed. "Mittens has been stealing gnomes! She hides them under the porch!" "BUT the porch is far away from here!" Leo said. "THEREFORE Mittens must have help!" They all peered under the porch. It was overflowing with stolen gnomes! But... among them, was a glittering, golden gnome they had never seen before.
Page 7
"A golden gnome!" Maya gasped. "It must be the Gnome King!" Grandma Betty nodded seriously. "Legend says he grants wishes! But... why is he here?" Suddenly, a voice boomed, "Because he's mine!" A shadowy figure emerged from behind Mr. Henderson's shed. It was... Mrs. Gable, the neighborhood busybody, holding a net. "I'm going to use his wish to win the neighborhood bake-off!" she cackled. "She has been so busy judging everyone THEREFORE, she's using that as her plan to ruin gnome-kind!" Leo said.
Page 8
Grandma Betty gasped. "The bake-off! An evil plot indeed!" Mrs. Gable lunged for the golden gnome, but Maya jumped in front, macaroni shield raised. Mrs. Gable swung the net. CRASH! The shield shattered, sending pasta flying everywhere. "You'll never stop me!" Mrs. Gable shrieked, grabbing the golden gnome. But, as she did, she stepped on a rogue macaroni. SLIP! She tumbled backwards, dropping the gnome. Leo, quick as a flash, snatched it up. "Not so fast, Mrs. Gable!" he yelled. "Superheroes Never Give Up!"
Page 9
Mrs. Gable landed with a thump. Humiliated and covered in grass stains, she burst into tears. "I just wanted to win!" she sobbed. Grandma Betty approached her gently. "Winning isn't everything, dear. It's about having fun!" she said softly. Leo, holding the golden gnome, looked thoughtful. "Maybe... maybe we should wish for Mrs. Gable to bake the best cake ever?" Maya agreed. They all gathered around the gnome. "I wish... Mrs. Gable wins the bake-off!" Leo declared. As they wished, the gnome twinkled. Mrs. Gable dried her eyes. Suddenly a huge smile spread across her face.
Page 10
The next day, Mrs. Gable's cake was the talk of the town. It was magnificent! Even Mr. Henderson admitted it was better than his petunias. From that day on, Mrs. Gable was known for her baking, not her busybodying. Leo and Maya continued to assist Grandma Betty on her superhero missions, protecting the neighborhood from rogue squirrels and runaway balloons. "Grandma," Leo said, adjusting his colander helmet. "I guess being a superhero isn't so ridiculous after all." Grandma Betty winked. "See, dear? Everyone can be a superhero! All you need is a cape, a garden hose, and a good sense of humor. And a heart.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)