The Mudskipper Marathon Mix-Up
The Mudskipper Marathon Mix-Up — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
The 'Starry Skip' was just about to set sail for the annual Mudskipper Marathon! "Hurry, Kai!" shrieked Zara, her voice barely audible over the bustling harbor. Kai, panting, clutched their mudskipper, 'Zoom,' its little flippers drumming against his chest. "Almost there, Zara! This year, Zoom and I are going to win!"
Page 2
As they boarded the 'Starry Skip,' a wizened old sailor with a twinkle in his eye winked at Kai. "Heard you're racing Zoom this year, eh?" he chuckled. "Legend has it, the first Mudskipper Marathon was won using special river stones, rubbed for extra speed." Zara gasped. "River stones? Where do we find those?"
Page 3
"They say they're smooth and glow faintly under starlight. But the secret's in the rubbing – the more you rub, the faster they make your mudskipper!" The old sailor added with a wink, "As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Small rooms or dwellings discipline the mind, large ones distract it.' Focus on your mudskipper!" Kai looked at Zoom, determination in his eyes. "We'll find those stones, Zara!"
Page 4
The race began! Zoom, usually speedy, lagged behind. "What's wrong, Zoom?" Kai cried, gently prodding him. "The others are way ahead!" Zara pointed towards the riverbank. "Look! There's a cove – perfect for searching for those river stones!" They steered the 'Starry Skip' towards the shore, but another racer, a sneaky boy named Rex, cut them off!
Page 5
"Too slow, losers!" Rex taunted, his voice echoing across the water. "I'll win this year, just like every year!" Kai clenched his fists. "We'll see about that, Rex!" They noticed something glinting beneath the water near Rex's boat. "Wait...look!" Zara exclaimed, grabbing Kai's arm. "Rex is using something to make his boat go faster!"
Page 6
It was a strange contraption attached to the hull, shimmering with a faint blue light. "That's not fair!" Kai shouted. Rex just laughed. Suddenly, the device sputtered and died, leaving Rex dead in the water. "Oh no!" Zara cried, "He's blocking the way to the cove. It's our only chance for the river stones, if they really exist."
Page 7
"We have to get around him," said Kai, his mind racing. Zara pointed to a narrow channel between Rex's boat and the riverbank. "Too risky, Kai! We could run aground!" Kai grinned. "Not if we use Zoom! He's small enough to jump onto the bank and pull us through with a rope!" Zara looked doubtful. "But can he?"
Page 8
With a deep breath, Kai placed Zoom on the riverbank. "Okay, Zoom, pull us through!" The little mudskipper puffed out his chest and, with a mighty heave, started pulling the rope. Inch by inch, the 'Starry Skip' squeezed through the narrow channel! Zoom made it, just like the legend! Zara shouted, "We did it! That proves what Helen Keller said: 'Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much!'"
Page 9
They quickly found several river stones, rubbing them furiously before attaching them to Zoom's harness. "Ready, Zoom?" Kai asked. Zoom chirped excitedly. Suddenly, they were neck and neck with the leading racers! Zoom, powered by the river stones, zoomed past everyone else, crossing the finish line first! They had won!
Page 10
Later, as they sailed back to harbor, Kai looked at Zara and smiled. "We really showed Rex, didn't we?" Zara grinned. "It wasn't just us, Kai. It was Zoom, the river stones, and most importantly, teamwork! We learned that practice and friendship go together!" Kai nodded, "Next year, we'll be even faster!"
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
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