The Girl Who Collected Smiles

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

The Girl Who Collected Smiles — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

The Girl Who Collected Smiles — book cover — Wonder Books
The Girl Who Collected Smiles — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

Lila skipped through the overgrown marketplace, her smile as bright as the neon signs flickering overhead. "Hurry, Sparky!" she called to her robot companion…
Lila skipped through the overgrown marketplace, her smile as bright as the neon signs flickering overhead. "Hurry, Sparky!" she called to her robot companion, its metallic feet clanking on the cracked pavement. Giant vines snaked around the towering holographic advertisements. The air hummed with the buzz of hovercrafts and the chirping of robotic birds that nested in the lush vegetation reclaiming the city.

Lila skipped through the overgrown marketplace, her smile as bright as the neon signs flickering overhead. "Hurry, Sparky!" she called to her robot companion, its metallic feet clanking on the cracked pavement. Giant vines snaked around the towering holographic advertisements. The air hummed with the buzz of hovercrafts and the chirping of robotic birds that nested in the lush vegetation reclaiming the city.

Page 2

"Look, Lila!" Sparky beeped, pointing a metallic finger at a discarded data pad nestled amongst the ferns. Lila gasped, picking it up carefully.
"Look, Lila!" Sparky beeped, pointing a metallic finger at a discarded data pad nestled amongst the ferns. Lila gasped, picking it up carefully. "It's an old Smile Collector's log!" she exclaimed. The pad flickered to life, displaying a faded image of a woman with kind eyes and a warm smile. "Maybe we can learn how to collect smiles too," she added.

"Look, Lila!" Sparky beeped, pointing a metallic finger at a discarded data pad nestled amongst the ferns. Lila gasped, picking it up carefully. "It's an old Smile Collector's log!" she exclaimed. The pad flickered to life, displaying a faded image of a woman with kind eyes and a warm smile. "Maybe we can learn how to collect smiles too," she added.

Page 3

"Collecting smiles? Is that even possible?" growled a voice. They turned to see a gruff old mechanic named Gnash, wiping grease from his hands with a rag. "Bah!
"Collecting smiles? Is that even possible?" growled a voice. They turned to see a gruff old mechanic named Gnash, wiping grease from his hands with a rag. "Bah! Wasting time on foolishness. What we need is to fix this city!" Lila stood firm. "'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' Gnash. Confucius said that, and I believe collecting smiles is our first step! We can bring happiness back to this city!" she declared.

"Collecting smiles? Is that even possible?" growled a voice. They turned to see a gruff old mechanic named Gnash, wiping grease from his hands with a rag. "Bah! Wasting time on foolishness. What we need is to fix this city!" Lila stood firm. "'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' Gnash. Confucius said that, and I believe collecting smiles is our first step! We can bring happiness back to this city!" she declared.

Page 4

Lila and Sparky approached a towering apartment complex, its windows dark and lifeless. "Hello?" Lila called out, her voice echoing in the silent courtyard.
Lila and Sparky approached a towering apartment complex, its windows dark and lifeless. "Hello?" Lila called out, her voice echoing in the silent courtyard. Suddenly, a robotic dog barked from a balcony above. An elderly woman, barely visible behind the thick vines, peered down. "Go away!" she croaked. "There's nothing here but misery!"

Lila and Sparky approached a towering apartment complex, its windows dark and lifeless. "Hello?" Lila called out, her voice echoing in the silent courtyard. Suddenly, a robotic dog barked from a balcony above. An elderly woman, barely visible behind the thick vines, peered down. "Go away!" she croaked. "There's nothing here but misery!"

Page 5

"Maybe she's right, Lila," Sparky whirred, his blue optics dimming. Lila shook her head. "We have to try!" Lila remembered a passage in the Smile Collector's…
"Maybe she's right, Lila," Sparky whirred, his blue optics dimming. Lila shook her head. "We have to try!" Lila remembered a passage in the Smile Collector's log: "Kindness is the key." She carefully picked a bright pink flower growing on a vine and held it up. "A gift!" she called to the woman. "A small token of friendship!"

"Maybe she's right, Lila," Sparky whirred, his blue optics dimming. Lila shook her head. "We have to try!" Lila remembered a passage in the Smile Collector's log: "Kindness is the key." She carefully picked a bright pink flower growing on a vine and held it up. "A gift!" she called to the woman. "A small token of friendship!"

Page 6

The woman hesitated, then slowly reached out a trembling hand. As she touched the flower, a faint smile flickered across her lips.
The woman hesitated, then slowly reached out a trembling hand. As she touched the flower, a faint smile flickered across her lips. Suddenly, the robotic dog lunged, snatching the flower from her grasp! It crunched the petals in its metallic jaws. "NO!" Lila cried, heartbroken. The woman slammed the balcony door shut.

The woman hesitated, then slowly reached out a trembling hand. As she touched the flower, a faint smile flickered across her lips. Suddenly, the robotic dog lunged, snatching the flower from her grasp! It crunched the petals in its metallic jaws. "NO!" Lila cried, heartbroken. The woman slammed the balcony door shut.

Page 7

"It's okay, Lila," Sparky beeped, patting her hand with his metallic arm. "We just need a different approach." He recalled a passage from the Smile Collector's…
"It's okay, Lila," Sparky beeped, patting her hand with his metallic arm. "We just need a different approach." He recalled a passage from the Smile Collector's log: "Smiles are often hidden behind memories." Lila's eyes widened. "The data pad! Maybe it contains old happy memories of the city!" She raced back to the discarded data pad, Sparky close behind.

"It's okay, Lila," Sparky beeped, patting her hand with his metallic arm. "We just need a different approach." He recalled a passage from the Smile Collector's log: "Smiles are often hidden behind memories." Lila's eyes widened. "The data pad! Maybe it contains old happy memories of the city!" She raced back to the discarded data pad, Sparky close behind.

Page 8

Back at Gnash's workshop, Lila carefully connected the data pad to the city's central network. Old holographic advertisements flickered to life, showcasing the…
Back at Gnash's workshop, Lila carefully connected the data pad to the city's central network. Old holographic advertisements flickered to life, showcasing the city's vibrant past! Laughter echoed from the speakers. The robotic dog from before appeared on the screen, wagging its tail and performing tricks. The elderly woman's eyes widened in recognition! Suddenly, the robotic dog jumped off the balcony and began to happily bark in Lila's direction.

Back at Gnash's workshop, Lila carefully connected the data pad to the city's central network. Old holographic advertisements flickered to life, showcasing the city's vibrant past! Laughter echoed from the speakers. The robotic dog from before appeared on the screen, wagging its tail and performing tricks. The elderly woman's eyes widened in recognition! Suddenly, the robotic dog jumped off the balcony and began to happily bark in Lila's direction. Gnash smiled, saying, "I guess smiles are pretty important." Lila grinned. "They're everything!"

Page 9

The elderly woman emerged from her apartment, a smile radiating from her face. "Thank you," she said softly, petting the robotic dog.
The elderly woman emerged from her apartment, a smile radiating from her face. "Thank you," she said softly, petting the robotic dog. "I had forgotten how beautiful this city once was." Other residents emerged from their homes, drawn by the laughter and the vibrant holographic displays. The city felt alive again, filled with hope and smiles.

The elderly woman emerged from her apartment, a smile radiating from her face. "Thank you," she said softly, petting the robotic dog. "I had forgotten how beautiful this city once was." Other residents emerged from their homes, drawn by the laughter and the vibrant holographic displays. The city felt alive again, filled with hope and smiles.

Page 10

Lila and Sparky watched as the city was revitalized, their hearts filled with joy. Lila knew that collecting smiles was more than just a foolish dream.
Lila and Sparky watched as the city was revitalized, their hearts filled with joy. Lila knew that collecting smiles was more than just a foolish dream. It was about kindness, memories, and connection. "We really did it, Sparky!" she exclaimed. "We brought the smiles back to the city!"

Lila and Sparky watched as the city was revitalized, their hearts filled with joy. Lila knew that collecting smiles was more than just a foolish dream. It was about kindness, memories, and connection. "We really did it, Sparky!" she exclaimed. "We brought the smiles back to the city!"

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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