The Relay Race

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

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

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

Page 1

"Faster, Linnea, faster!" Jun shouted, his breath misting in the frigid air. Linnea strained, her boots crunching on the frozen ground as she sprinted across…
"Faster, Linnea, faster!" Jun shouted, his breath misting in the frigid air. Linnea strained, her boots crunching on the frozen ground as she sprinted across the snow-covered tundra. A small, wooden sled carrying a strangely glowing stone was pulled behind her, the wind biting at their exposed cheeks. Today was the day of the Great Tundra Relay Race, a tradition older than the oldest glacier.

"Faster, Linnea, faster!" Jun shouted, his breath misting in the frigid air. Linnea strained, her boots crunching on the frozen ground as she sprinted across the snow-covered tundra. A small, wooden sled carrying a strangely glowing stone was pulled behind her, the wind biting at their exposed cheeks. Today was the day of the Great Tundra Relay Race, a tradition older than the oldest glacier.

Page 2

"Remember what Old Man Tor told us," Jun puffed, struggling to keep pace. "This isn't just about speed—it's about respect for the ice and the spirits that dwell…
"Remember what Old Man Tor told us," Jun puffed, struggling to keep pace. "This isn't just about speed—it's about respect for the ice and the spirits that dwell within." Linnea nodded, remembering the old map maker's words when he entrusted the stone to them. 'The stone chooses those who honor the land,' he had rasped, his eyes twinkling. What did that even mean, she wondered?

"Remember what Old Man Tor told us," Jun puffed, struggling to keep pace. "This isn't just about speed—it's about respect for the ice and the spirits that dwell within." Linnea nodded, remembering the old map maker's words when he entrusted the stone to them. 'The stone chooses those who honor the land,' he had rasped, his eyes twinkling. What did that even mean, she wondered?

Page 3

"We have to win this, Linnea!" a voice shouted. It was Sama, waving frantically from the edge of a vast crevasse. "The other teams are way ahead!" Linnea…
"We have to win this, Linnea!" a voice shouted. It was Sama, waving frantically from the edge of a vast crevasse. "The other teams are way ahead!" Linnea gripped the sled rope tighter, her knuckles white. "Then let's go, but we can't forget Old Man Tor's advice," Linnea replied firmly. "As Helen Keller said, 'Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.' And this," she declared, "is definitely an adventure!"

"We have to win this, Linnea!" a voice shouted. It was Sama, waving frantically from the edge of a vast crevasse. "The other teams are way ahead!" Linnea gripped the sled rope tighter, her knuckles white. "Then let's go, but we can't forget Old Man Tor's advice," Linnea replied firmly. "As Helen Keller said, 'Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.' And this," she declared, "is definitely an adventure!"

Page 4

Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble. "An ice quake!" Jun cried, pointing to a growing fissure snaking across their path.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble. "An ice quake!" Jun cried, pointing to a growing fissure snaking across their path. "We can't go this way!" Linnea scanned the landscape, her mind racing. "Maybe the ancient ice bridge is still there," she suggested. "Old Man Tor mentioned it was near here, hidden by an illusion." But how would they find it?

Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble. "An ice quake!" Jun cried, pointing to a growing fissure snaking across their path. "We can't go this way!" Linnea scanned the landscape, her mind racing. "Maybe the ancient ice bridge is still there," she suggested. "Old Man Tor mentioned it was near here, hidden by an illusion." But how would they find it?

Page 5

"I remember something Old Man Tor said," Jun exclaimed, his eyes widening. "'Where the wind whispers secrets, the path reveals itself.' What could that mean?"…
"I remember something Old Man Tor said," Jun exclaimed, his eyes widening. "'Where the wind whispers secrets, the path reveals itself.' What could that mean?" Linnea paused, listening intently. A faint, almost musical sound drifted on the breeze. "The wind chimes!" she realized, remembering the strange contraption hanging near Old Man Tor's hut. "He said they resonate with the ancient ice bridge's frequency!"

"I remember something Old Man Tor said," Jun exclaimed, his eyes widening. "'Where the wind whispers secrets, the path reveals itself.' What could that mean?" Linnea paused, listening intently. A faint, almost musical sound drifted on the breeze. "The wind chimes!" she realized, remembering the strange contraption hanging near Old Man Tor's hut. "He said they resonate with the ancient ice bridge's frequency!"

Page 6

They followed the sound, stumbling through the snow until they reached a shimmering heat haze.
They followed the sound, stumbling through the snow until they reached a shimmering heat haze.

They followed the sound, stumbling through the snow until they reached a shimmering heat haze.

Page 7

"Sama doesn't understand," Jun said, frowning. "This race isn't just about being the fastest. It's about the journey." Linnea nodded, taking a deep breath.
"Sama doesn't understand," Jun said, frowning. "This race isn't just about being the fastest. It's about the journey." Linnea nodded, taking a deep breath. "Old Man Tor said the stone responds to respect. Let's try something." She knelt before the haze and bowed her head. "Spirits of the ice," she whispered, "we honor this land and ask for your guidance."

"Sama doesn't understand," Jun said, frowning. "This race isn't just about being the fastest. It's about the journey." Linnea nodded, taking a deep breath. "Old Man Tor said the stone responds to respect. Let's try something." She knelt before the haze and bowed her head. "Spirits of the ice," she whispered, "we honor this land and ask for your guidance."

Page 8

As Linnea spoke, the stone on the sled pulsed with a warm light. The heat haze flickered and vanished, revealing a sturdy ice bridge spanning the chasm.
As Linnea spoke, the stone on the sled pulsed with a warm light. The heat haze flickered and vanished, revealing a sturdy ice bridge spanning the chasm. "It worked!" Jun cried, his face lighting up. Just then, they saw Sama stumble and fall, the ice cracking beneath her feet! "Sama!" Linnea shouted. Without hesitation, Linnea grabbed the sled rope and raced across the bridge. "Don't worry, Sama, we'll get you out of there!" she cried.

As Linnea spoke, the stone on the sled pulsed with a warm light. The heat haze flickered and vanished, revealing a sturdy ice bridge spanning the chasm. "It worked!" Jun cried, his face lighting up. Just then, they saw Sama stumble and fall, the ice cracking beneath her feet! "Sama!" Linnea shouted. Without hesitation, Linnea grabbed the sled rope and raced across the bridge. "Don't worry, Sama, we'll get you out of there!" she cried. Linnea was now neck and neck with the leading team.

Page 9

They reached Sama and helped her to safety. "Thank you," Sama said, her voice trembling. "I was wrong. It's not just about winning." Linnea smiled.
They reached Sama and helped her to safety. "Thank you," Sama said, her voice trembling. "I was wrong. It's not just about winning." Linnea smiled. "We still have a chance," she said, pointing to the finish line in the distance. Together, the three of them pulled the sled across the ice, their determination renewed.

They reached Sama and helped her to safety. "Thank you," Sama said, her voice trembling. "I was wrong. It's not just about winning." Linnea smiled. "We still have a chance," she said, pointing to the finish line in the distance. Together, the three of them pulled the sled across the ice, their determination renewed.

Page 10

They didn't win the race, but they finished together, stronger than before. "We learned something important today," Linnea said, smiling at her friends.
They didn't win the race, but they finished together, stronger than before. "We learned something important today," Linnea said, smiling at her friends. "Sometimes, the greatest victory is not about crossing the finish line first, but about helping each other along the way." Jun nodded in agreement.

They didn't win the race, but they finished together, stronger than before. "We learned something important today," Linnea said, smiling at her friends. "Sometimes, the greatest victory is not about crossing the finish line first, but about helping each other along the way." Jun nodded in agreement. "As the great Leonardo da Vinci once said, 'Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity, and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.' The race taught us not to lose vigor in the face of adversity." Sama smiled. "And to respect the spirits of the ice," she added, winking.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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