The Mountain's Memory

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

The Mountain's Memory — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

The Mountain's Memory — book cover — Wonder Books
The Mountain's Memory — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

Poppy and Bramble, no bigger than bumblebees, zipped through the petunia petals. "Hurry, Bramble!" Poppy shouted, her voice like a tinkling bell.
Poppy and Bramble, no bigger than bumblebees, zipped through the petunia petals. "Hurry, Bramble!" Poppy shouted, her voice like a tinkling bell. "The Queen needs those dewdrop jewels before sunrise!" Bramble, puffing, struggled to keep up, his tiny satchel bouncing against his back as they navigated the fragrant, overgrown garden.

Poppy and Bramble, no bigger than bumblebees, zipped through the petunia petals. "Hurry, Bramble!" Poppy shouted, her voice like a tinkling bell. "The Queen needs those dewdrop jewels before sunrise!" Bramble, puffing, struggled to keep up, his tiny satchel bouncing against his back as they navigated the fragrant, overgrown garden.

Page 2

"Blast these thorny rose stems!" Bramble grumbled, tripping over a fallen leaf. Poppy giggled, then noticed something glinting beneath a toadstool.
"Blast these thorny rose stems!" Bramble grumbled, tripping over a fallen leaf. Poppy giggled, then noticed something glinting beneath a toadstool. "What's this?" she wondered aloud, kneeling to pick up a small, smooth, grey stone etched with strange symbols. "It feels...warm?"

"Blast these thorny rose stems!" Bramble grumbled, tripping over a fallen leaf. Poppy giggled, then noticed something glinting beneath a toadstool. "What's this?" she wondered aloud, kneeling to pick up a small, smooth, grey stone etched with strange symbols. "It feels...warm?"

Page 3

"That's a Memory Stone," a raspy voice croaked. A wizened old caterpillar, perched on a dandelion head, peered down at them.
"That's a Memory Stone," a raspy voice croaked. A wizened old caterpillar, perched on a dandelion head, peered down at them. "Legend says the Mountain remembers everything and these stones hold echoes of its past." Poppy tilted her head. "Cicero, the Roman philosopher, once said, 'Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things,'" she mused. "Maybe this can help us understand the mountain's secrets! We should take it to the Queen!"

"That's a Memory Stone," a raspy voice croaked. A wizened old caterpillar, perched on a dandelion head, peered down at them. "Legend says the Mountain remembers everything and these stones hold echoes of its past." Poppy tilted her head. "Cicero, the Roman philosopher, once said, 'Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things,'" she mused. "Maybe this can help us understand the mountain's secrets! We should take it to the Queen!"

Page 4

The Queen, seated on her mushroom throne, examined the stone with a frown. "The Mountain is restless," she declared. "The Great Bloom is fading, and its memory…
The Queen, seated on her mushroom throne, examined the stone with a frown. "The Mountain is restless," she declared. "The Great Bloom is fading, and its memory holds the key to saving it. You must journey to the Mountain's peak and discover what troubles it." Bramble gulped. "But it's so far, and the Thistle Weeds guard the lower slopes!"

The Queen, seated on her mushroom throne, examined the stone with a frown. "The Mountain is restless," she declared. "The Great Bloom is fading, and its memory holds the key to saving it. You must journey to the Mountain's peak and discover what troubles it." Bramble gulped. "But it's so far, and the Thistle Weeds guard the lower slopes!"

Page 5

As they trudged through the tall grass, Poppy noticed something peculiar. "Look!" she exclaimed. "These Thistle Weeds are wilting!" Bramble peered closer.
As they trudged through the tall grass, Poppy noticed something peculiar. "Look!" she exclaimed. "These Thistle Weeds are wilting!" Bramble peered closer. "It's as if...as if something is draining their strength." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I read once that weeds often indicate poor soil quality; perhaps something is wrong with the soil feeding the Bloom?"

As they trudged through the tall grass, Poppy noticed something peculiar. "Look!" she exclaimed. "These Thistle Weeds are wilting!" Bramble peered closer. "It's as if...as if something is draining their strength." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I read once that weeds often indicate poor soil quality; perhaps something is wrong with the soil feeding the Bloom?"

Page 6

Suddenly, the ground trembled. "Run!" Poppy screamed, as a hulking Thistle Weed Guardian, ten times their size, lumbered towards them.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. "Run!" Poppy screamed, as a hulking Thistle Weed Guardian, ten times their size, lumbered towards them. Its thorny arms flailed wildly, its face contorted in anger. "It must be protecting something!" Bramble shouted, scrambling behind a giant dandelion.

Suddenly, the ground trembled. "Run!" Poppy screamed, as a hulking Thistle Weed Guardian, ten times their size, lumbered towards them. Its thorny arms flailed wildly, its face contorted in anger. "It must be protecting something!" Bramble shouted, scrambling behind a giant dandelion.

Page 7

"Wait!" Poppy cried. "Remember the stone? Maybe it holds the answer!" She touched the Memory Stone to the ground near the Thistle Weed.
"Wait!" Poppy cried. "Remember the stone? Maybe it holds the answer!" She touched the Memory Stone to the ground near the Thistle Weed. "It's warm; something is underground!" Bramble remembered his gardening lessons and grabbed his shovel. "I will dig and you use the stone!"

"Wait!" Poppy cried. "Remember the stone? Maybe it holds the answer!" She touched the Memory Stone to the ground near the Thistle Weed. "It's warm; something is underground!" Bramble remembered his gardening lessons and grabbed his shovel. "I will dig and you use the stone!"

Page 8

With a final heave, Bramble unearthed a large, gnarled root, wrapped tightly around a sparkling spring. Poppy touched the Memory Stone to the root.
With a final heave, Bramble unearthed a large, gnarled root, wrapped tightly around a sparkling spring. Poppy touched the Memory Stone to the root. Images flooded her mind: The Mountain, once vibrant, now choked by a dark, twisting vine, stealing its lifeblood. "The Darkvine is poisoning the spring!" she exclaimed. "We must free the spring! That's why the Great Bloom is fading and the Thistle Weeds are angry. We must get it off the root!"

With a final heave, Bramble unearthed a large, gnarled root, wrapped tightly around a sparkling spring. Poppy touched the Memory Stone to the root. Images flooded her mind: The Mountain, once vibrant, now choked by a dark, twisting vine, stealing its lifeblood. "The Darkvine is poisoning the spring!" she exclaimed. "We must free the spring! That's why the Great Bloom is fading and the Thistle Weeds are angry. We must get it off the root!"

Page 9

Working together, they pulled and tugged at the vine. Finally, with a snap, it broke free. Pure, clean water gurgled from the spring.
Working together, they pulled and tugged at the vine. Finally, with a snap, it broke free. Pure, clean water gurgled from the spring. "It's working!" Bramble cheered. "The Mountain is healing!" The Thistle Weed Guardian lowered its thorny arms, its expression softening. Poppy hugged the stone, knowing it was more than just a memory. "The mountain will remember our kindness!"

Working together, they pulled and tugged at the vine. Finally, with a snap, it broke free. Pure, clean water gurgled from the spring. "It's working!" Bramble cheered. "The Mountain is healing!" The Thistle Weed Guardian lowered its thorny arms, its expression softening. Poppy hugged the stone, knowing it was more than just a memory. "The mountain will remember our kindness!"

Page 10

Back at the Queen's throne, the Great Bloom pulsed with renewed vigor. Poppy and Bramble looked at each other and smiled. The queen beamed.
Back at the Queen's throne, the Great Bloom pulsed with renewed vigor. Poppy and Bramble looked at each other and smiled. The queen beamed. "You have shown true courage and kindness," she said. "The mountain will flourish with your help and you will flourish with the mountain's help."

Back at the Queen's throne, the Great Bloom pulsed with renewed vigor. Poppy and Bramble looked at each other and smiled. The queen beamed. "You have shown true courage and kindness," she said. "The mountain will flourish with your help and you will flourish with the mountain's help."

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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