Summer Without Rain

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

Summer Without Rain — an illustrated stories story. 20 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Summer Without Rain — book cover — Wonder Books
Summer Without Rain — an illustrated stories story. 20 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

The painted desert stretched before them, a canvas of swirling reds, oranges, and purples under a sky that never wept. Kai adjusted the goggles protecting his…
The painted desert stretched before them, a canvas of swirling reds, oranges, and purples under a sky that never wept. Kai adjusted the goggles protecting his eyes from the ever-present dust. This wasn't just sand; it was history, ground into pigment.

The painted desert stretched before them, a canvas of swirling reds, oranges, and purples under a sky that never wept. Kai adjusted the goggles protecting his eyes from the ever-present dust. This wasn't just sand; it was history, ground into pigment.

Page 2

Zara emerged from behind a towering rock formation, her cloak billowing in the hot wind. "Anything?" she asked, her voice barely audible above the desert's hum.
Zara emerged from behind a towering rock formation, her cloak billowing in the hot wind. "Anything?" she asked, her voice barely audible above the desert's hum. Kai shook his head. "Just more color, Zara. No water."

Zara emerged from behind a towering rock formation, her cloak billowing in the hot wind. "Anything?" she asked, her voice barely audible above the desert's hum. Kai shook his head. "Just more color, Zara. No water."

Page 3

"Did you bring the map?" Kai asked, adjusting his pack. Zara nodded, pulling out a rolled parchment from within her cloak.
"Did you bring the map?" Kai asked, adjusting his pack. Zara nodded, pulling out a rolled parchment from within her cloak. "My grandmother always said, 'Knowledge is power, Kai. And maps are the keys to unlocking it.'"

"Did you bring the map?" Kai asked, adjusting his pack. Zara nodded, pulling out a rolled parchment from within her cloak. "My grandmother always said, 'Knowledge is power, Kai. And maps are the keys to unlocking it.'"

Page 4

Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. A low, guttural roar echoed across the painted desert. Kai grabbed Zara's arm. "What was that?"
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. A low, guttural roar echoed across the painted desert. Kai grabbed Zara's arm. "What was that?"

Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. A low, guttural roar echoed across the painted desert. Kai grabbed Zara's arm. "What was that?"

Page 5

Zara's eyes widened, her hand flying to the hilt of her sword. "A Sand Eater! They're only legends..."
Zara's eyes widened, her hand flying to the hilt of her sword. "A Sand Eater! They're only legends..."

Zara's eyes widened, her hand flying to the hilt of her sword. "A Sand Eater! They're only legends..."

Page 6

The Sand Eater burst from the ground, a colossal worm-like creature with scales that shimmered like a thousand sunsets. It towered over them, its gaping maw…
The Sand Eater burst from the ground, a colossal worm-like creature with scales that shimmered like a thousand sunsets. It towered over them, its gaping maw filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Kai pushed Zara behind him. "Run!"

The Sand Eater burst from the ground, a colossal worm-like creature with scales that shimmered like a thousand sunsets. It towered over them, its gaping maw filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Kai pushed Zara behind him. "Run!"

Page 7

Zara scrambled back, drawing her sword. "We can't outrun it, Kai! We have to fight!" Kai activated the device, which began to hum with energy. "Not fight, Zara.
Zara scrambled back, drawing her sword. "We can't outrun it, Kai! We have to fight!" Kai activated the device, which began to hum with energy. "Not fight, Zara. Redirect."

Zara scrambled back, drawing her sword. "We can't outrun it, Kai! We have to fight!" Kai activated the device, which began to hum with energy. "Not fight, Zara. Redirect."

Page 8

Kai held up the device high as it emitted a blinding flash. The sand around them began to shift and swirl, drawn towards the device's energy.
Kai held up the device high as it emitted a blinding flash. The sand around them began to shift and swirl, drawn towards the device's energy. The Sand Eater roared in confusion, momentarily disoriented.

Kai held up the device high as it emitted a blinding flash. The sand around them began to shift and swirl, drawn towards the device's energy. The Sand Eater roared in confusion, momentarily disoriented.

Page 9

The Sand Eater, confused by the shifting sands, burrowed deep into the earth and disappeared. The tremors stopped, and the dust began to settle.
The Sand Eater, confused by the shifting sands, burrowed deep into the earth and disappeared. The tremors stopped, and the dust began to settle. Zara lowered her sword, her chest heaving. "What was that thing?"

The Sand Eater, confused by the shifting sands, burrowed deep into the earth and disappeared. The tremors stopped, and the dust began to settle. Zara lowered her sword, her chest heaving. "What was that thing?"

Page 10

"A guardian, I think. Of something buried beneath," Kai replied, deactivating the device. He looked at Zara, a grim expression on his face.
"A guardian, I think. Of something buried beneath," Kai replied, deactivating the device. He looked at Zara, a grim expression on his face. "We need to find the source of this, Zara. Before it comes back. "

"A guardian, I think. Of something buried beneath," Kai replied, deactivating the device. He looked at Zara, a grim expression on his face. "We need to find the source of this, Zara. Before it comes back. "

Page 11

Miles away, in a hidden canyon, a figure watched them through a spyglass. "Interesting," a raspy voice muttered. "They survived. But not for long."
Miles away, in a hidden canyon, a figure watched them through a spyglass. "Interesting," a raspy voice muttered. "They survived. But not for long."

Miles away, in a hidden canyon, a figure watched them through a spyglass. "Interesting," a raspy voice muttered. "They survived. But not for long."

Page 12

"He's getting restless," a younger voice said from behind the figure. "He wants the source now." The cloaked figure chuckled. "Patience, Elara.
"He's getting restless," a younger voice said from behind the figure. "He wants the source now." The cloaked figure chuckled. "Patience, Elara. Soon, it will all be ours."

"He's getting restless," a younger voice said from behind the figure. "He wants the source now." The cloaked figure chuckled. "Patience, Elara. Soon, it will all be ours."

Page 13

Back in the desert, Zara and Kai followed the faint energy trail left by the Sand Eater. The trail led them towards a towering mesa, its peak shrouded in…
Back in the desert, Zara and Kai followed the faint energy trail left by the Sand Eater. The trail led them towards a towering mesa, its peak shrouded in swirling dust.

Back in the desert, Zara and Kai followed the faint energy trail left by the Sand Eater. The trail led them towards a towering mesa, its peak shrouded in swirling dust.

Page 14

As they reached the base of the mesa, they discovered a hidden entrance, a dark chasm leading into the earth. A faint, rhythmic pulsing emanated from within.
As they reached the base of the mesa, they discovered a hidden entrance, a dark chasm leading into the earth. A faint, rhythmic pulsing emanated from within.

As they reached the base of the mesa, they discovered a hidden entrance, a dark chasm leading into the earth. A faint, rhythmic pulsing emanated from within.

Page 15

"This is it," Zara said, her voice barely a whisper. "Whatever is down there, it's calling to the Sand Eater." Kai nodded. "Then we answer."
"This is it," Zara said, her voice barely a whisper. "Whatever is down there, it's calling to the Sand Eater." Kai nodded. "Then we answer."

"This is it," Zara said, her voice barely a whisper. "Whatever is down there, it's calling to the Sand Eater." Kai nodded. "Then we answer."

Page 16

They descended into the chasm, the air growing thick with the scent of ozone and decay. The walls were lined with glowing crystals, casting an eerie light on…
They descended into the chasm, the air growing thick with the scent of ozone and decay. The walls were lined with glowing crystals, casting an eerie light on their surroundings.

They descended into the chasm, the air growing thick with the scent of ozone and decay. The walls were lined with glowing crystals, casting an eerie light on their surroundings.

Page 17

Deep within the mesa, they discovered a vast chamber. In the center, a pulsating crystal core throbbed with raw energy. Elara and the cloaked figure stood…
Deep within the mesa, they discovered a vast chamber. In the center, a pulsating crystal core throbbed with raw energy. Elara and the cloaked figure stood before it.

Deep within the mesa, they discovered a vast chamber. In the center, a pulsating crystal core throbbed with raw energy. Elara and the cloaked figure stood before it.

Page 18

"You're too late," the cloaked figure said, turning to face them. "The source is ours. And with it, we will reshape this world."
"You're too late," the cloaked figure said, turning to face them. "The source is ours. And with it, we will reshape this world."

"You're too late," the cloaked figure said, turning to face them. "The source is ours. And with it, we will reshape this world."

Page 19

As the fight began, Zara remembered her grandmother's words: "As Socrates said, 'The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.'" She looked at Kai and…
As the fight began, Zara remembered her grandmother's words: "As Socrates said, 'The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.'" She looked at Kai and grinned. "Time to get wise."

As the fight began, Zara remembered her grandmother's words: "As Socrates said, 'The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.'" She looked at Kai and grinned. "Time to get wise."

Page 20

Kai, understanding, redirected the crystal's energy, overloading Elara's gem, and severing the connection. The Sand Eaters, now free, became guardians once…
Kai, understanding, redirected the crystal's energy, overloading Elara's gem, and severing the connection. The Sand Eaters, now free, became guardians once more, protecting the desert, and its secrets. Peace returned, a silent promise on the painted winds.

Kai, understanding, redirected the crystal's energy, overloading Elara's gem, and severing the connection. The Sand Eaters, now free, became guardians once more, protecting the desert, and its secrets. Peace returned, a silent promise on the painted winds.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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