Never Give Up, Starfish Squad!
Never Give Up, Starfish Squad! — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
Leandro squinted at the glimmering water.
Page 2
As they approached the buoy, Kalani noticed something unusual.
Page 3
Vera, a girl with loose ringlets of deep black hair cascading past her shoulders, paddled closer. "The tides of the stars? Sounds like old Vera's mumbo jumbo!" she scoffed. "Let's just focus on winning the Harbor Race, not chasing old wives' tales." Leandro shook his head. "But Vera, what if it could help us? As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.' Maybe this scroll will give us the edge we need." He clutched the training scroll tighter.
Page 4
During their practice race, the Starfish Squad struggled. Vera, usually the fastest, kept veering off course. "I don't understand it," she panted, stopping to catch her breath. "The currents are all messed up today!" Kalani consulted the training scroll. "Maybe it has something to do with the star tides. I think we need to adjust our swimming patterns based on the constellations above."
Page 5
Leandro studied the constellations. "The scroll mentions the Celestial Compass – a hidden current only visible when the Twin Stars align. I think I see them!" he exclaimed. Kalani pointed to a faint shimmering streak in the water. "It's like a secret path! But how do we follow it?" Vera, still skeptical, reluctantly agreed to try. "Alright, alright, let's give your 'secret path' a try, Leandro. But if we end up further behind, I'm blaming you."
Page 6
But as they followed the Celestial Compass, a strong whirlpool suddenly appeared! "The Stellar Vortex!" Kalani cried. "The scroll warned about this – it can pull you off course completely!" Vera panicked. "I knew it! We should have just stuck to the usual route!" Leandro tried to steer clear, but the vortex was too strong. "We're losing control!"
Page 7
"Wait!" Kalani shouted over the roar of the vortex. "The scroll also said that the Stellar Vortex weakens when you align yourself with the North Star!" Leandro looked up, spotting the faint glow of the North Star through the swirling mist. "But how do we align ourselves? We need something that points north!"
Page 8
Vera, despite her earlier doubts, quickly ripped a piece of fabric from her tunic. "Quick! Use this!" she yelled. Leandro tied the fabric to a small, straight piece of driftwood he found floating nearby. He carefully placed it in the water, and the makeshift compass pointed directly towards the North Star. Suddenly, the vortex began to weaken. "Never give up!" Leandro yelled, a boost of courage surging through him.
Page 9
With the vortex weakened, the Starfish Squad swam with renewed energy, following the Celestial Compass. They finished the practice race, exhausted but triumphant. "See?" Leandro said, beaming. "The tides of the stars really did help us!" Vera grinned, "Okay, okay, I admit it. You were right about the scroll. We make a pretty good team after all!"
Page 10
As the Starfish Squad returned to shore, Leandro looked at his friends, his heart swelling with gratitude. "We learned that teamwork and believing in each other can overcome any obstacle." Kalani nodded. "And sometimes," Vera added, "it's okay to admit you were wrong." Next time, will The Starfish Squad win the Harbor Race?
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)