The First Kid on Mars
The First Kid on Mars — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
Leo adjusted his oversized helmet, the red Martian dust swirling around his boots. Beside him, Maya bounced with impatience. "Ready for the first kid-on-Mars race?" she asked, her voice crackling through the comms. Leo grinned, tightening his grip on the controls of his rover, nicknamed 'Rusty.' "Born ready! Just try to keep up, Maya." This was it – a moment for the history books. The starting klaxon blared, and the rovers shot forward, leaving twin trails in the rust-colored sand. The adventure was beginning.
Page 2
The race was exhilarating. Rusty handled the rough terrain surprisingly well. "I'm taking the lead!" Leo shouted, maneuvering past a towering rock formation. BUT, suddenly, Rusty sputtered, coughed, and ground to a halt. "Leo! What happened?" Maya called, pulling Comet alongside. "I don't know! Engine failure, maybe?" Leo fiddled with the controls, his face etched with worry. The rover was their only way back to the Ares VI habitat. Without it, they were stranded. "Well, there's an old research station about 5 kilometers due west. It's probably abandoned, but might have tools," Maya stated matter-of-factly.
Page 3
Leo slammed his fist on the dashboard. "Five kilometers? On foot? In these suits?" Maya nodded, her expression grim. "It's our only choice. THEREFORE we need to grab the emergency repair kit and some water. There might be something at that station that can get us going." Leo hesitated, glancing at the setting sun. "It'll be dark soon..." Maya pulled out a handheld device. "According to this, there's a dust storm headed our way too. Let's move." With a shared look of determination, they grabbed their supplies and started walking towards the abandoned station.
Page 4
The walk was arduous. The Martian sun beat down on them, and the heavy suits made every step a struggle. "Are we there yet?" Leo whined. Maya consulted her device. "Almost. Just over that ridge." As they reached the top, they saw it: a small, dilapidated structure half-buried in the sand. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the station! It was an older woman in a faded blue uniform, her face weathered and lined. "Well, look what the wind blew in. You two lost or somethin'?" she said.
Page 5
"Our rover broke down," Maya explained. "We were hoping you might have some tools or spare parts." The woman, who introduced herself as Dr. Aris, chuckled. "This place hasn't been used in years. Power's out, comms are dead. I'm just...waiting." She led them inside. The station was dusty and cluttered, but surprisingly intact. In one corner, Leo spotted something interesting: a small, covered rover with larger wheels. "What's that?" he asked, pointing. "Oh, that's the 'Sand Hopper'. It was built for exploring those caverns. Underneath the surface, there are gigantic lava tubes!" Dr. Aris said.
Page 6
"The Sand Hopper might work for a short distance on the surface, right?" Maya asked. Dr. Aris frowned. "It needs a fully charged battery. The station's power systems are offline. I don't have any tools to get your rover going either." Leo's hope plummeted. THEREFORE, the news grew worse when Dr. Aris checked her weather device. "The dust storm is intensifying. It'll be here in a few hours. You can't stay outside." Leo looked at Maya, fear in his eyes. "We're trapped! We need to find a way to charge that Sand Hopper, and fast!"
Page 7
"Wait a minute," Maya said, snapping her fingers. "What about the solar panels? They might be old, but if we angled them just right, we could get enough charge." Leo's face brightened. "It's worth a shot! But we need to work together." Maya, with her knowledge of angles and sunlight, directed the placement of the heavy panels. Leo, with his surprising strength, helped position them. Dr. Aris, amazed by their teamwork, found some old wiring and helped connect the panels to the Sand Hopper's battery, showing them how.
Page 8
Hours passed. The dust storm raged outside, rattling the station. Finally, a small green light flickered on the Sand Hopper's console. "It's charging!" Maya exclaimed. But just then, the lights flickered and died. A cable snapped, plunging them into darkness. "That's it! We're done for!" Leo cried in despair. In that moment, Dr. Aris said calmly, "Sometimes, the smallest spark can ignite the greatest courage. Take a breath, you can do this!"
Page 9
Remembering Dr. Aris's words, Leo grabbed a flashlight and shone it on the broken cable. Maya quickly found a spare wire and, together, they reconnected the circuit. The green light flickered back to life, brighter than before. They had done it! The Sand Hopper was charged enough for a short trip. Gathering their gear, they said goodbye to Dr. Aris. "Thank you," Leo said sincerely. "You saved us." Dr. Aris smiled, "You saved yourselves. Don't forget that."
Page 10
Leo and Maya climbed into the Sand Hopper and set off towards their disabled rovers. The journey was bumpy and tense, but they made it. They repaired Rusty using parts from the Sand Hopper and limped back to the Ares VI habitat. Back in the safety of the base, Leo looked at Maya. "We did it! We were brave and worked together, just like you said." Maya grinned. "We make a pretty good team, huh?" Leo smiled, a new confidence in his eyes. He realized that the greatest discoveries aren't just about exploring new worlds, but discovering what you're capable of.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)