WishingTalesAges 8-12

Latest story · Ages 8-12

A story for tonight, in about ten minutes.

When a new fence goes up between two yards, Maya worries the old apricot tree will be lost. But a shared harvest and a knock on the door show her that neighbors can grow closer, even with a fence between them.

The Apricot Tree Next Door · 9 min read · WishingTales

Read “The Apricot Tree Next Door” (9 min)Browse all stories
A girl stands on a stepladder reaching for apricots while a neighbor boy holds a basket below, the new wooden fence between their yards.

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A boy in a patched cloak holds up a small lantern on a dark hillside while a white goat beside him looks up at a sky missing one bright star.

Myth and legend10 min read

The Shepherd Who Counted Stars

Ages 8-12

A young shepherd who can count every star in the sky is asked by the Moon to find one that has vanished. With a borrowed lantern and a nervous goat, he sets out to bring it home before dawn.

A scruffy white goat with frosting on its chin stands proudly beside an overturned wedding cake table while two children in party clothes stare in dismay.

Funny12 min read

The Goat Who Ate the Wedding Cake

Ages 8-12

When a hungry goat crashes a garden wedding and eats the cake, two kids must bake a replacement before the bride notices — using a recipe that calls for far stranger things than flour.

A girl and her little brother stand at the top of a dim hallway, holding hands, while the wallpaper seems to ripple and lean inward around them.

Spooky11 min read

The Hallway That Held Its Breath

Ages 8-12

When the hallway outside Ana's bedroom starts holding its breath, she and her little brother must find out why before the whole house goes still.

Elara, a girl in a yellow raincoat, holds a lantern high as she climbs a rocky path toward a dark lighthouse, the sea churning below.

Quest10 min read

The Lighthouse Keeper's Lost Bell

Ages 8-12

When the lighthouse bell that guides ships home goes missing, young keeper's daughter Elara must follow a trail of clues through the night to bring it back before the fog rolls in.

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A woman in flowing robes rises through an open window toward a full moon, a small crystal castle glowing on its surface, while a shadowy figure chops at a tree below.

Retold classicMyth and legend12 min read

Chang'e and the Cold Bright Castle

Ages 8-12

When ten suns scorch the earth, the archer Hou Yi shoots nine down and wins a herb of immortality. His wife Chang'e is left alone with it, and must choose what to do when the sky calls her name.

Retold from The Lady of the Moon

A small wooden trough bobs on bright blue water as a great dark whale-shape sinks beneath it and a distant ship turns toward the swimmer.

Retold classicAdventure10 min read

Sinbad and the Whale That Was an Island

Ages 8-12

A tired porter grumbles outside a rich man's door, and the rich man invites him in to hear how a sailor's luck really works: a green island that dives, and a valley full of diamonds.

Retold from Sinbad the Sailor

A girl in a patched coat kneels to tie a red ribbon on a white birch while a heavy gate watches with oiled hinges and two dogs wait nearby.

Retold classicFolk tale10 min read

The Girl Who Fed the Gate

Ages 8-12

A widower's new wife sends his daughter to a hungry aunt in the forest. The girl survives by giving the birch, the gate, the dogs, and the cat exactly what they want.

Retold from The Baba Yaga

An old man kneels on a forest path beside a small sparrow holding a tiny bowl, with a warm village of bird-sized houses glowing behind them.

Retold classicFolk tale11 min read

The Sparrow Who Shared a Bowl

Ages 8-12

An old man shares his breakfast with a bold little sparrow, but a moment of temper drives the bird away. His search for it leads to a hidden village and a choice between two baskets.

Retold from The Tongue-Cut Sparrow

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