The Midnight Train to Singharaja

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

The Midnight Train to Singharaja — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

The Midnight Train to Singharaja — book cover — Wonder Books
The Midnight Train to Singharaja — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

The beam swung around again, illuminating the dark, painted sea. "Another night, another empty horizon," Santiago sighed, leaning against the railing of the…
The beam swung around again, illuminating the dark, painted sea. "Another night, another empty horizon," Santiago sighed, leaning against the railing of the lighthouse. Tane patted him on the back, "Don't worry, Santiago, something exciting will happen eventually! Even here, at the edge of the world."

The beam swung around again, illuminating the dark, painted sea. "Another night, another empty horizon," Santiago sighed, leaning against the railing of the lighthouse. Tane patted him on the back, "Don't worry, Santiago, something exciting will happen eventually! Even here, at the edge of the world."

Page 2

Suddenly, a faint whistle echoed across the water. "What was that?" Santiago asked, his eyes widening. Tane squinted, pointing towards a distant, glowing patch…
Suddenly, a faint whistle echoed across the water. "What was that?" Santiago asked, his eyes widening. Tane squinted, pointing towards a distant, glowing patch on the sea. "It sounds like...a train? But trains don't travel on water!" As they watched, the patch grew larger, resolving into a shimmering, spectral train gliding towards them.

Suddenly, a faint whistle echoed across the water. "What was that?" Santiago asked, his eyes widening. Tane squinted, pointing towards a distant, glowing patch on the sea. "It sounds like...a train? But trains don't travel on water!" As they watched, the patch grew larger, resolving into a shimmering, spectral train gliding towards them.

Page 3

The train hissed to a stop at the base of the lighthouse, its door swinging open with a creak. "Welcome aboard the Midnight Train to Singharaja!" a voice boomed…
The train hissed to a stop at the base of the lighthouse, its door swinging open with a creak. "Welcome aboard the Midnight Train to Singharaja!" a voice boomed from within. Nikhil, a conductor with messy tousled chestnut-brown hair falling across his forehead and wearing a conductor's cap, grinned. "All aboard! But hurry, we only have a moment, and as Leonardo da Vinci said, 'He who does not punish evil commands it to be done'."

The train hissed to a stop at the base of the lighthouse, its door swinging open with a creak. "Welcome aboard the Midnight Train to Singharaja!" a voice boomed from within. Nikhil, a conductor with messy tousled chestnut-brown hair falling across his forehead and wearing a conductor's cap, grinned. "All aboard! But hurry, we only have a moment, and as Leonardo da Vinci said, 'He who does not punish evil commands it to be done'."

Page 4

"Singharaja? Where's that?" Santiago asked, stepping onto the train. Nikhil chuckled. "Only the most wondrous bazaar in the painted world!
"Singharaja? Where's that?" Santiago asked, stepping onto the train. Nikhil chuckled. "Only the most wondrous bazaar in the painted world! But beware, the train only runs until dawn, and if you miss it, you'll be stuck there!" Inside, the train was filled with peculiar passengers – creatures with scales, feathers, and fur all chattering in different languages.

"Singharaja? Where's that?" Santiago asked, stepping onto the train. Nikhil chuckled. "Only the most wondrous bazaar in the painted world! But beware, the train only runs until dawn, and if you miss it, you'll be stuck there!" Inside, the train was filled with peculiar passengers – creatures with scales, feathers, and fur all chattering in different languages.

Page 5

As the train sped through the painted sea, Nikhil explained, "Singharaja used to be a place of harmony, where everyone traded and celebrated together.
As the train sped through the painted sea, Nikhil explained, "Singharaja used to be a place of harmony, where everyone traded and celebrated together. But lately, something's gone wrong. The food supplies are dwindling, and everyone blames someone else!" He pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden whistle. "This whistle is the key. Legend says it can summon the Great Weaver, who can restore balance."

As the train sped through the painted sea, Nikhil explained, "Singharaja used to be a place of harmony, where everyone traded and celebrated together. But lately, something's gone wrong. The food supplies are dwindling, and everyone blames someone else!" He pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden whistle. "This whistle is the key. Legend says it can summon the Great Weaver, who can restore balance."

Page 6

Suddenly, the train lurched to a halt. "Trouble!" Nikhil cried. "The tracks are blocked! If we don't clear them soon, we'll miss the bazaar's opening and never…
Suddenly, the train lurched to a halt. "Trouble!" Nikhil cried. "The tracks are blocked! If we don't clear them soon, we'll miss the bazaar's opening and never find the Great Weaver!" Outside, a group of arguing merchants – feathered birds squawking at furry mammals – blocked the path with their carts. "It's the birds' fault! They're hoarding all the seeds!" a gruff bear roared.

Suddenly, the train lurched to a halt. "Trouble!" Nikhil cried. "The tracks are blocked! If we don't clear them soon, we'll miss the bazaar's opening and never find the Great Weaver!" Outside, a group of arguing merchants – feathered birds squawking at furry mammals – blocked the path with their carts. "It's the birds' fault! They're hoarding all the seeds!" a gruff bear roared.

Page 7

"Wait!" Santiago shouted, jumping off the train. "Fighting won't solve anything! We need to understand each other. What's really going on?" He turned to a…
"Wait!" Santiago shouted, jumping off the train. "Fighting won't solve anything! We need to understand each other. What's really going on?" He turned to a small, shivering bird. "Why are you hoarding the seeds?" The bird chirped sadly, "Because the mammals took all the nuts, and we have nothing left for winter!"

"Wait!" Santiago shouted, jumping off the train. "Fighting won't solve anything! We need to understand each other. What's really going on?" He turned to a small, shivering bird. "Why are you hoarding the seeds?" The bird chirped sadly, "Because the mammals took all the nuts, and we have nothing left for winter!"

Page 8

Tane gasped, remembering something he'd read in the lighthouse library. "Wait! I remember reading that some birds can't digest certain nuts, and some mammals…
Tane gasped, remembering something he'd read in the lighthouse library. "Wait! I remember reading that some birds can't digest certain nuts, and some mammals need seeds to help them digest berries! It's all about balance!" Santiago smiled, pulling out the wooden whistle. "Then let's restore that balance! Nikhil, the whistle!" Nikhil handed it over. Santiago blew a clear, high note. The ground began to tremble. "The weaver will know what to do!" he declared.

Tane gasped, remembering something he'd read in the lighthouse library. "Wait! I remember reading that some birds can't digest certain nuts, and some mammals need seeds to help them digest berries! It's all about balance!" Santiago smiled, pulling out the wooden whistle. "Then let's restore that balance! Nikhil, the whistle!" Nikhil handed it over. Santiago blew a clear, high note. The ground began to tremble. "The weaver will know what to do!" he declared.

Page 9

From the swirling painted sky, the Great Weaver descended – a being of pure light, spinning threads of gold and silver. She wove a new pattern, distributing the…
From the swirling painted sky, the Great Weaver descended – a being of pure light, spinning threads of gold and silver. She wove a new pattern, distributing the seeds and nuts equally among the birds and mammals. "Harmony restored!" Nikhil exclaimed. The merchants cheered, exchanging goods with newfound understanding. The train whistle blew, signaling their departure. Singharaja was calling.

From the swirling painted sky, the Great Weaver descended – a being of pure light, spinning threads of gold and silver. She wove a new pattern, distributing the seeds and nuts equally among the birds and mammals. "Harmony restored!" Nikhil exclaimed. The merchants cheered, exchanging goods with newfound understanding. The train whistle blew, signaling their departure. Singharaja was calling.

Page 10

Back on the lighthouse balcony, watching the train disappear into the dawn, Santiago smiled. "We helped bring harmony to Singharaja!" Tane nodded.
Back on the lighthouse balcony, watching the train disappear into the dawn, Santiago smiled. "We helped bring harmony to Singharaja!" Tane nodded. "It just goes to show, as Mother Teresa said, 'If you judge people, you have no time to love them'. Understanding each other is the most magical journey of all." Then Santiago turned to his friend with a knowing smile, "Wonder what other adventures are out there waiting for us, Tane?"

Back on the lighthouse balcony, watching the train disappear into the dawn, Santiago smiled. "We helped bring harmony to Singharaja!" Tane nodded. "It just goes to show, as Mother Teresa said, 'If you judge people, you have no time to love them'. Understanding each other is the most magical journey of all." Then Santiago turned to his friend with a knowing smile, "Wonder what other adventures are out there waiting for us, Tane?"

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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