The Polynesian Voyager

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

The Polynesian Voyager — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

The Polynesian Voyager — book cover — Wonder Books
The Polynesian Voyager — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

Rainbow bridges arched between enormous, glowing trees! "Isn't it magnificent, Sakura?" Ishani asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
Rainbow bridges arched between enormous, glowing trees! "Isn't it magnificent, Sakura?" Ishani asked, her eyes wide with wonder. Sakura, sketching in her notebook, nodded. "Imagine, Ishani, a whole village connected like this!"

Rainbow bridges arched between enormous, glowing trees! "Isn't it magnificent, Sakura?" Ishani asked, her eyes wide with wonder. Sakura, sketching in her notebook, nodded. "Imagine, Ishani, a whole village connected like this!"

Page 2

Sakura flipped to a new page, drawing a symbol she'd found etched into one of the trees. "Look at this carving, Ishani. It reminds me of the Polynesian…
Sakura flipped to a new page, drawing a symbol she'd found etched into one of the trees. "Look at this carving, Ishani. It reminds me of the Polynesian wayfinders, the ancient sailors who crossed the Pacific!" Ishani gasped. "Could it be a clue?" Sakura just shrugged, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Sakura flipped to a new page, drawing a symbol she'd found etched into one of the trees. "Look at this carving, Ishani. It reminds me of the Polynesian wayfinders, the ancient sailors who crossed the Pacific!" Ishani gasped. "Could it be a clue?" Sakura just shrugged, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Page 3

"'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,'" Ishani said, quoting the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. "Let's find out who made this carving…
"'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,'" Ishani said, quoting the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. "Let's find out who made this carving, Sakura. Perhaps it was a Polynesian voyager!" Sakura grinned, closing her sketchbook. "Then let's start with the oldest tree in the village. Old Man Willow might know something."

"'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,'" Ishani said, quoting the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. "Let's find out who made this carving, Sakura. Perhaps it was a Polynesian voyager!" Sakura grinned, closing her sketchbook. "Then let's start with the oldest tree in the village. Old Man Willow might know something."

Page 4

They raced across the rainbow bridge to Old Man Willow, the oldest and largest tree in their village. Reaching its base, they gasped.
They raced across the rainbow bridge to Old Man Willow, the oldest and largest tree in their village. Reaching its base, they gasped. The tree's massive roots were gnarled and twisted, blocking the path! "How are we supposed to get past this?" Sakura wondered, tapping her chin.

They raced across the rainbow bridge to Old Man Willow, the oldest and largest tree in their village. Reaching its base, they gasped. The tree's massive roots were gnarled and twisted, blocking the path! "How are we supposed to get past this?" Sakura wondered, tapping her chin.

Page 5

Suddenly, a voice chirped, "Perhaps I can help!" A small, brown bird with iridescent blue feathers landed on Sakura's shoulder. "I'm Kiki.
Suddenly, a voice chirped, "Perhaps I can help!" A small, brown bird with iridescent blue feathers landed on Sakura's shoulder. "I'm Kiki. I know these roots like the back of my... wing," she added with a giggle. "There's a hidden tunnel behind the largest root, but it's very dark."

Suddenly, a voice chirped, "Perhaps I can help!" A small, brown bird with iridescent blue feathers landed on Sakura's shoulder. "I'm Kiki. I know these roots like the back of my... wing," she added with a giggle. "There's a hidden tunnel behind the largest root, but it's very dark."

Page 6

"Darkness? I hate the dark!" Ishani exclaimed, shrinking back. "I can't go in there!" Sakura placed a reassuring hand on Ishani's arm.
"Darkness? I hate the dark!" Ishani exclaimed, shrinking back. "I can't go in there!" Sakura placed a reassuring hand on Ishani's arm. "Remember what the Polynesian wayfinders did, Ishani. They used the stars to navigate through the darkest nights at sea! We can do this, too."

"Darkness? I hate the dark!" Ishani exclaimed, shrinking back. "I can't go in there!" Sakura placed a reassuring hand on Ishani's arm. "Remember what the Polynesian wayfinders did, Ishani. They used the stars to navigate through the darkest nights at sea! We can do this, too."

Page 7

"But we don't have stars in here!" Ishani pointed out, her voice trembling. "Wait!" Sakura rummaged in her bag and pulled out a polished piece of obsidian.
"But we don't have stars in here!" Ishani pointed out, her voice trembling. "Wait!" Sakura rummaged in her bag and pulled out a polished piece of obsidian. "Remember the legend? If we rub it with moonlight, it glows!" They rushed out into a moonlit clearing.

"But we don't have stars in here!" Ishani pointed out, her voice trembling. "Wait!" Sakura rummaged in her bag and pulled out a polished piece of obsidian. "Remember the legend? If we rub it with moonlight, it glows!" They rushed out into a moonlit clearing.

Page 8

The obsidian began to glow with a soft, ethereal light. Back in the tunnel, the darkness receded. "The legend was true!" Sakura cheered.
The obsidian began to glow with a soft, ethereal light. Back in the tunnel, the darkness receded. "The legend was true!" Sakura cheered. As they crept deeper, Ishani suddenly stopped. "Look! A carving! It's the same Polynesian symbol, and it's pointing us forward!"

The obsidian began to glow with a soft, ethereal light. Back in the tunnel, the darkness receded. "The legend was true!" Sakura cheered. As they crept deeper, Ishani suddenly stopped. "Look! A carving! It's the same Polynesian symbol, and it's pointing us forward!"

Page 9

Following the carving, they emerged into a hidden grove. In the center stood Lian, an older woman with long flowing midnight-black hair with subtle blue sheen.
Following the carving, they emerged into a hidden grove. In the center stood Lian, an older woman with long flowing midnight-black hair with subtle blue sheen. "Welcome," she said, smiling. "I am descended from the Polynesian voyagers. I've been waiting for you."

Following the carving, they emerged into a hidden grove. In the center stood Lian, an older woman with long flowing midnight-black hair with subtle blue sheen. "Welcome," she said, smiling. "I am descended from the Polynesian voyagers. I've been waiting for you."

Page 10

"We learned that even the darkest path can be navigated with courage and the light of friendship," Ishani said, beaming at Sakura. Lian nodded.
"We learned that even the darkest path can be navigated with courage and the light of friendship," Ishani said, beaming at Sakura. Lian nodded. "And remember," she added, "every culture has something precious to share. By learning from each other, we make the world a brighter place."

"We learned that even the darkest path can be navigated with courage and the light of friendship," Ishani said, beaming at Sakura. Lian nodded. "And remember," she added, "every culture has something precious to share. By learning from each other, we make the world a brighter place."

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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