The Lullaby River
The Lullaby River — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
The Dream Weaver Railway hummed with gentle energy. Lila, a girl with bright eyes and an even brighter imagination, stood beside her robotic otter, Otto. 'Are you ready for your first ride on the Lullaby Line, Otto?' she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement. He beeped in response, his little flippers twitching.
Page 2
Suddenly, a frantic voice crackled over the station's loudspeaker. 'Attention all passengers! A Sleepless Sprite has escaped and is disrupting the Lullaby River!' Lila gasped. 'The Lullaby River? But that's where all the dreams flow from!' Otto whirred, extending a small, metallic hand that held a dusty, leather-bound book.
Page 3
'What's that, Otto?' Lila asked, taking the book. Otto beeped, pointing with a flipper to a passage about Sleepless Sprites. Lila read aloud, 'They can only be soothed by a special lullaby played on a Dream Flute.' Lila's eyes widened. 'Then we have to find one!' she exclaimed, flipping through the book. 'As Helen Keller said, "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it!" We need to overcome this challenge!'
Page 4
They boarded the Lullaby Line, a train car that resembled a giant, plush rocking horse. Inside, a kindly old conductor with a long, white beard greeted them. 'Going all the way to Dream's End, are we?' he chuckled, adjusting his spectacles. 'We're searching for a Dream Flute to calm a Sleepless Sprite!' Lila explained, holding up the book.
Page 5
'A Dream Flute, eh?' the conductor mused, stroking his beard. 'Legend says they're hidden in the Whispering Woods, guarded by the Mumbling Mushrooms. But be warned, those mushrooms love riddles!' Just then, the train screeched to a halt. 'Whispering Woods stop!' the conductor announced. Lila and Otto exchanged excited glances.
Page 6
The Whispering Woods lived up to its name; the trees seemed to sigh secrets as they stepped off the train. Soon, they found themselves surrounded by Mumbling Mushrooms, each with a grumpy face. One of them boomed, 'To pass, you must solve our riddle: I have cities, but no houses, forests, but no trees, and water, but no fish. What am I?'
Page 7
Lila tapped her chin, thinking hard. 'Cities, but no houses... forests, but no trees... water, but no fish...' Otto beeped, pointing to a small, tattered map in the 'Dream Lore' book. 'A map!' Lila exclaimed. 'The answer is a map!' The Mumbling Mushrooms grumbled, but parted to reveal a hidden path.
Page 8
The path led them to a babbling brook, where they found a tiny, silver flute resting on a mossy stone. But as Lila reached for it, the Sleepless Sprite appeared! It zoomed around them, creating chaos with its restless energy. 'I'll never sleep! Never!' it shrieked. Lila remembered the book's instructions. 'It's time to play the lullaby, Otto!' she shouted. 'Activate sleep mode!'
Page 9
Otto, in sleep-mode, projected a soothing melody. Lila played along on the silver flute. The Sleepless Sprite, caught in the calming notes, began to slow down, its frantic movements becoming gentle sways. With a soft sigh, it transformed into a ball of shimmering light. 'Thank you,' a tiny voice whispered. 'I feel... sleepy.'
Page 10
Back on the Lullaby Line, Lila watched the shimmering ball of light drift towards Dream's End. 'We did it, Otto!' she said, smiling. Otto beeped happily. 'You know,' Lila said thoughtfully, 'dreams really are powerful things.' She looked out the window. 'As the great Leonardo da Vinci once said, "A well-spent day brings happy sleep." And thanks to us, everyone will sleep soundly tonight!'
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Read Wonder Books on your phone
Wonder Books is available on Android. Get Wonder Books on Google Play.