Short Stories
July 31, 2005
'The Mystery of the Open Gate'
Carl and Carrie, Laketon's youngest detectives, were passing by Mrs. Dixon's fenced-in yard when she called out to them.
September 11, 2005
'The Mystery of the Bugged Cake'
CARRIE and Carl, Laketon's youngest detectives, were enjoying a family picnic when their cousin Betsy came running over.
March 19, 2006
'The Mystery of the Missing Shoes'
CARRIE and Carl, Laketon's youngest detectives, were talking to the middle school coach.
March 14, 2010
March 14, 2010
'A Lot of Mystery'
Carrie and Carl, Laketon's youngest detectives, were walking past Bowen's Realty Company when Mr. Bowen came rushing out the door. "Just the two I wanted to see!" he cried. "I need you to solve a mystery."
December 21, 2003
December 21, 2003
'Mystery of the Egged House'
Carrie and Carl are twins and Laketon's youngest detectives. They were talking as they walked to the video store. "Too bad this movie has to be back this morning," Carrie said. "We didn't even get to see it."
April 29, 2007
April 29, 2007
'Mystery of the Silly Flamingos'
Carrie and Carl, Laketon's youngest detectives, were trying not to laugh as their neighbor pointed at a flock of large plastic birds on her front lawn.
September 14, 2003
September 14, 2003
'Mystery in Mr. Reeder's Yard'
Carrie and Carl are twins and Laketon's youngest detectives. Today they have a new case to solve. They are in Mr. Reeder's backyard, looking at the mess that somebody made.
March 14, 2004
March 14, 2004
'Mystery of the Hot Pink Skateboard'
Carrie and Carl are twins and Laketon's youngest detectives. They were watching TV when the phone rang.
July 5, 2009
July 5, 2009
A Little Green Man?
Carrie and Carl, Laketon's youngest detectives, were walking to soccer practice when a neighbor called to them.
November 23, 2003
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'A Traditional Thanksgiving'
Alisa was fitting the brown paper tail of her Thanksgiving turkey into the pine cone when her mother put down the phone and said, "Your Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Ed are coming to visit. Ed has business out here for a few days."
May 6, 2007
SHORT STORY
'I Can't Write'
"It's due on Friday and I don't know what to do. I can't write!" Kurt was walking home with his friend Lavina.
May 2, 2004
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Drawing From Nature'
POP! POP! POPCORN! Bet you can't wait to eat some. Sorry! If you're talking about small wildflowers commonly found in the Santa Monica Mountains, you can't eat them, but you can let Chloe Chais, 10, and brother Jonathan, 7, of Beverly Hills, show you how to do an art project. They first did research on popcorn flowers, then made this illustration using tissue paper and real popcorn.
April 25, 2004
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Drawing From Nature'
When you hear the word "beetles," do you think of insects or the famous '60s rock group whose name sounds the same but is spelled B-E-A-T-L-E-S? There were only four Beatles musicians, but there are more than 300,000 kinds of beetle insects living all over the world!
February 1, 2004
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Drawing From Nature'
'Tis said, "April showers bring May flowers." For California, this means that the rain we get in winter and early spring usually results in an explosion of flowers later on.
December 7, 2003
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Drawing From Nature'
What grows on trees and can look like feathers, fingers or fans? Why, leaves, of course!
January 4, 2004
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Drawing From Nature'
Have you ever been awakened at night by a "hoot -- hoot -- hoot" sound? This is the call of a great horned owl -- the largest owl in North America. It is sometimes called a "cat owl" because it has large tufts of feathers on its head that look like a cat's ears.
June 6, 2004
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Drawing From Nature'
"Beep-BEEP — Beep-Beep" goes the Road Runner when he's running from Wile E. Coyote! If Wile E. were a real coyote and not a cartoon character, what sound would he make?
November 2, 2003
A SCIENCE AND ART LESSON FOR KIDS
'Drawing From Nature'
Have whispers of wings and flashes of color ever surprised you? If so, you may have been visited by butterflies! Sisters Jamie Leeds, 8, and Erin, 5, planted a butterfly garden at their La Cañada Flintridge home. They have made this illustration using dried flowers arranged around crayon drawings of a butterfly common to this area called the California Sister.
August 3, 2003
A SCIENCE AND ART LESSON FOR KIDS
'Drawing From Nature'
What large, colorful fish are often mistaken for giant goldfish? They are called koi and can be found in freshwater ponds all over the world. Koi have been bred in Japan and China for thousands of years. Their Japanese name is nishikigoi (ni-shi-ki-GOY). Both koi and goldfish are members of the carp family.
March 7, 2004
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Drawing From Nature'
There are tree frogs all over the world, but you won't always find them in a tree. They need to stay cool and moist. You see, tree frogs can't drink water; they have to absorb it through their skin. So in warm climates, tree frogs are most often found on rocks near the banks of streams.
READ ALOUD
'Drawing From Nature'
Have you heard the saying "Tall oaks from little acorns grow"? It means that no matter how tall or majestic the tree, it got its start as a tiny acorn.
July 6, 2003
AN ART LESSON FOR KIDS
'Drawing From Nature'
What bird makes a humming sound as it flies, lives off the sweet nectar of flowers, flies both forward and backward and can even hover in midair? If you said a hummingbird, you are right!
January 4, 2009
'Moon Daydreams'
It is a full moon tonight. Skip peers through binoculars at its bright surface. The reflected sunlight is blinding white against the dark sky. He knows that the moon reflects the sun's light, which is why we are able to see the moon at all.
September 25, 2011
'Jupiter and Juno'
The ancient Romans made up stories about gods and goddesses. These stories are called myths.
September 12, 2010
'A Solar System Is Born'
Besides our one beautiful star, the sun, we have eight planets, several dwarf planets, dozens of moons, millions of asteroids, a trillion comets and — most important of all — us! We call it: our solar system. How did our solar system even get here? What were the ingredients that made the sun and all the planets and other objects?
April 24, 2011
April 24, 2011
'Celebrity Comet'
Comet Tempel 1 has received more attention than any other comet in the universe -- at least as far as we know!
April 19, 2009
'Stay Awhile'
CIRCUS Jeanne has been delayed by Nazi solders just outside Boulogne, France. The year is 1942.
October 18, 2009
'Today You Are My Brother'
WORMHOUDT, France, 1942. My name is Milo. I am the new clown at Circus Jeanne.
July 18, 2010
'Patterns For Life'
Circus Jeanne, in the second season under the Nazi occupation in Wormhouldt, France, 1942.
April 3, 2011
'The Colorful Spy'
It is 1942 in Wormhoudt, France. Circus Jeanne remains under German occupation.
November 28, 2010
November 28, 2010
'A Feast for Heroes'
Dear Nana, I wish you could have been here at Thanksgiving, it was awesome! You could have heard Batman tell about escaping from Iran in the dark of night wearing three sets of clothes. Well, not really Batman but... Anyway, this is what happened.
'Thanksgiving'
"Mom," Kacie said as she gazed out the kitchen window, "will Dad be back in time for Thanksgiving?"
November 22, 2009
A Thanksgiving Blessing
Allie and Grace were going shopping with their mother to buy food for their Thanksgiving dinner. They had gone to the supermarket the day before and now their mother was taking them to a new place that had just opened. Their mother said it was a Farmerยs Market where people brought food to sell that they had grown. The girls were excited as they arrived.
November 18, 2007
'A Fowl Deed'
FOR weeks now, the feeling of something dangerous in the air caused unrest in the barnyard. There was a whirring sound and a buzz that caused the entire flock of turkeys to crane their wattled necks skyward. Immediately there was a mutter of fear from the ladies.
October 25, 2009
Special thanks to Patricia Cantor for this week's illustration.
'The Moonsters'
ONE Halloweennight, Charles kissed his parents good night and went to bed. He had really scored at trick-or-treating and he was tired. Outside the moon was full and bright white! He took his best friend, a toy dinosaur named Max, climbed under the thick covers and held Max real tight. Only Max knew about Charles being afraid of the dark.
October 31, 2010
October 31, 2010
'Our Witch'
On Halloween night Hannah and I went out trick-or-treating. On the way we almost bumped into Miss Crumm, dressed in the usual black coat and knitted hat.
March 13, 2011
March 13, 2011
'Scotty's Treasure Hunt'
The fact that Jason was out of school Wednesday was not the surprising thing. The surprise was that when he came back on Thursday, he didn't make a single bad joke. He didn't even smile.
March 21, 2010
March 21, 2010
'Our Message to the Milky Way'
"Hello, from the children of planet Earth!"
July 4, 2005
'Freedom's Words'
THOMAS Jefferson looked at the papers in his hand. He had written down the best words he could think of. Jefferson hoped the other colonists would like those words.
May 25, 2008
'Remembering'
DAVID AND his mother gathered lilacs, daffodils and yellow and pink wildflowers that grew by the side of the road.
May 24, 2009
'Escape to Freedom'
Standing at the ship's wheel, wearing the captain's broad-brimmed hat, Robert's shaking hands tried to button the long-tailed coat. "I hope they can't see my face," he said to Philip.
June 20, 2011
'Happy Father's Day'
"Happy Father's Day, Dad!" yelled Corey and Erin. The baby, Teddy just said, "Da, Da."
June 15, 2008
'A Day For Grand-daddy'
DAD THREW the ball, but Buddy missed the catch, and the ball bounced across the driveway into Mr. Dixon's flower bed just as Mom called Dad inside.
June 21, 2009
Dad's Special Gift
IT was Saturday and Liana's Dad didn't have to work so he took her and her little sister Kelsi on a walk by the river. It was a warm and sunny day and the water made a gurgling sound as it hit against the rocks that were in it. The sand was warm and white and had lots of small stones. Liana's little sister found a flat sandy place and sat down. Right away she started to make a circle of small pebbles. But Liana trotted along the soft earth of the river bank under the bright blue sky with her dad. She picked up an egg-shaped pebble and threw it, kerplunk, trying to see how far out on the river she could throw it.
May 30, 2010
May 30, 2010
'Two Heroes'
Five-year-old Bennie woke up at the sound of his mother's voice.
May 11, 2008
'The Mystery of the Yellow Cap'
OLIVIA first saw the yellow cap, decorated with two bluebirds, on the kitchen table. What a wonderful surprise. From Mom? Or maybe Grandmother? Special, also, because the cap was exactly like Carly's. Carly was Olivia's friend who lived at the beach. And today was Saturday, their beach day. They could wear their yellow caps together. And be twins all afternoon. Olivia could hardly wait.
May 9, 2010
'Worms for Mother'
"Oh joy!" said Emma's mother, as she lifted a container of earthworms.
September 28, 2003
'Dolores Huerta Is a Friend of Mine'
Dolores Huerta is a friend of mine. Well, kind of. I never met her, but she has done great things for my Papa and Mama.
April 17, 2011
April 17, 2011
'The Magic Home Run Bat'
Matt was no good at softball. When he tried to hit the ball, he did not hear Thwack! Instead he heard Ka-ping or Ka-pop. But, more often, only Sw-i-i-ssh, as the ball whizzed by. When it came time to choose up teams, Matt was always the last one picked.
April 10, 2011
April 10, 2011
'Two Pennies'
Crawling out of their tent, Jake Crawford and Rollie Adler gasped when they saw the kaleidoscope sky of the Nevada high desert at dawn. The boys had set camp at dusk, both too exhausted to see past their noses.
March 27, 2011
March 27, 2011
'Pullman Story'
"Mommy, why are we moving?" Sally asked. "Don't you like where we live?"
January 16, 2011
January 16, 2011
'Cowboy Artist'
In the shadow of the schoolhouse, twelve-year-old Charlie's long fingers shaped and squeezed a lump of clay.
February 27, 2011
February 27, 2011
'A Mushy History'
Norman Vaughan was born on Dec. 19, 1905. He spent his whole life chasing adventures.
March 6, 2011
March 6, 2011
'Whirling Dervish'
Franklin Fisher "Ish" Fitzgerald and his dad lived in the big city. But one day they were in the country for the Lyon family's town fair. Wonderful smells and sounds filled the air. Kids in jeans and T-shirts ran everywhere.
November 7, 2010
November 7, 2010
'Abuelita's Ranch'
My Abuelita lives in a big, old, yellow house near the freeway. In case you don't know, "Abuelita" means "Grandmother" in Spanish.
July 25, 2010
July 25, 2010
'A Very Bitter Man'
Long ago, at the far end of the town, there lived a very bitter man. Some said he was born bitter. Others said he became bitter slowly, year by year, because his parents were not nice people.
November 1, 2009
Special thanks to Andrew Huerta for this week's illustration.
'The Reader'
Valo, also known as Smiley, is a lanky kid who cracks jokes all the time. While Ms. Cher is Valo's favorite teacher, that didn't stop him from giving her a wacky nickname, Ms. Ronald McDonald, due to her big, curly red hair. He's nicknamed most of the kids at East L.A.'s Ramona Gardens housing projects: Peanut Butter, Fat Ritchie, Mayo and Nene.
July 19, 2009
Special Thanks to Andrew Huerta For This Week's Illustrataion.
'The Dreamer'
Mayto is full of big dreams.
February 22, 2009
'An Average Villager?'
Mrs. Miller pointed to the calendar and faced her fifth-grade class. "Last week we had Presidents Day," she said. "But this Sunday is a special day too. Do you know why?"
February 15, 2009
Nancy's Boy
Only a few people ever knew Nancy. She was born on February 5, 1784, at the foot of New Creek Mountain in what is now Mineral County, West Virginia ย a rural area far from cities and towns. Winter is bleak and cold in these mountains where she lived, but when spring comes, the hillsides are covered in mountain laurel with shiny, dark green leaves and pink blossoms.
February 21, 2010
'What's In a Name?'
"Harriet" Mother called. "I need your help making chili sauce."
March 1, 2009
'Biddy Mason'
Biddy was born a slave in 1818 in Georgia or Mississippi. She died in Los Angeles in 1891, a free woman ย and one of the richest women in Southern California.
'Daredevil of the Sky: The Bessie Coleman Story'
BESSIE COLEMAN made flying look easy. If she were afraid, she never showed it. People nicknamed her "Brave Bessie" because she had nerves of steel.
September 19, 2010
Sepember 19, 2010
'Bore-ified to the Ninth Dimension!'
She slyly stepped into the classroom. She had steely eyes, a pinched nose, and knitting needles woven through her layered hair. In a nasal voice she said, "Class. My name is Mrs. Prattler."
August 24, 2003
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Brownie's Summer Vacation'
My folks were going on a vacation, but they weren't planning to take me.
July 13, 2003
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Stranded in the Desert: A Diary of Yesteryear'
July 13, 1957, Los Angeles
August 22, 2010
August 22, 2010
'Different Duncan'
There was definitely something different about Duncan.
August 31, 2003
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Rescue at the Railroad Station: A Diary of Yesteryear'
Aug. 31, 1862
August 15, 2010
August 15, 2010
'The Boy and His Bow'
"Zander William Pruette!" Mrs. Pruette roared. "You stop that racket right now!"
June 27, 2010
June 27, 2010
'Young Tom Flooey'
Young Tom Flooey slept with one eye open. He was not afraid of monsters or maniacs; not vampires, werewolves, goblins or ghosts. Tom Flooey knew there were no boogeymen under the bed; no creatures with claws in the closet.
April 25, 2010
April 25, 2010
'My Cow Ate My Homework'
Five-year-old Alan stumbled into his worn overalls and into the barn. The stench of manure mixed with the sweet scent of hay, created a perfume that jolted him awake. "Hey Bertha," Alan croaked, patting the cow's warm back. "Time for breakfast."
May 23, 2010
'The Heroic Dog'
His terrible jaws lunged out of the water and clamped onto my leg, digging deep and hard. The pain was horrifying, the worst I had ever felt and my howling was terrible to hear.
April 11, 2010
April 11, 2010
'Roll Call'
The boy closed his eyes. He hated this moment. Knowing it was coming just made it worse.
March 7, 2010
March 7, 2010
'The Gift of Hope'
There once was a young girl who lived in a box. Well, it was more of a shack than a box. Her family had lost their home, their money, their jobs -- everything. She was about to encounter something that would change her life forever.
February 28, 2010
February 28, 2010
'The Super Hero'
"Attention!" called out Professor Ravendish. The classroom bustled with activity as the aspiring magicians of Conjurers 101 prepared for the day's lesson. "Today's assignment calls for your utmost attention. Please take care to follow the instructions."
October 11, 2009
Special thanks to Julius Mann for this week's illustration.
'The Fifth Grade's Fig Tree'
Emily and Danny lived on a farm, and it was time to plant vegetables. Father plowed the field. Mother, Emily and Danny divided the area into neat vegetable beds.
January 31, 2010
January 31, 2010
'Grandma Jenkins, Race Car Driver'
Zoom! Zoom! Vroom! Vroom! oom! Zoom! Vroom! Vroom! Grandma Jenkins sped down the track in her banged-up old Chevy, glory galloping through her veins.
October 14, 2007
The Sandaryn
THERE once was a young boy and girl who lived by the sea. They had heard a fantastic story from their uncle about magical blue-green dust that could appear at the shore by the light of a full moon, but they never believed it -- until after this unusual encounter.
October 24, 2010
October 24, 2010
'My Aunt the Werewolf'
"Do you hear that — that wolf howl?" asked Adam.
November 14, 2010
November 14, 2010
'Per & Fect School'
Special thanks to Andrew Mitchell for his illustration. To see more of his work, visit ajmitchellart.com.
December 12, 2010
December 12, 2010
'A Wiggly Wish'
"Mom! Dad! Look!" Maria tapped the pet store window. Maria had begged her parents to come to see something special. She tapped the window again. "Wake up, Buttons."
December 19, 2010
December 19, 2010
'Sandy Claws'
Mom and Joanne spent the day stringing strings of popcorn and cranberries. Now that the tree was in place, Dad strung the lights. Joanne placed the streamers as high as her 4-year old arms could reach. Dillon put the decorations on the middle of the tree. Dillon and Joanne stood in awe as Dad plugged in the lights.
December 26, 2010
December 26, 2010
'The Snowman'
They floated and fluttered. Zigzagged and swirled. Giant snowflakes fell from the sky, painting the whole world white.
July 3, 2011
July 3, 2011
'The Declaration'
It was June, 1776. Thomas sat in his swivel chair with his lap desk balanced on his knees, thinking deeply. With his open palm, he swatted the flies buzzing around his head. He'd left his hotel in the city to get away from the noisy clip-clopping of horses' hooves on Philadelphia's cobblestone streets. The rooms he rented in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Graff were quiet, but there were flies from the stable across the street. He'd just have to put up with them. He picked up his pen, dipped it in the ink bottle, and began to write.
July 24, 2011
July 24, 2011
'America's First Cowgirl'
"Lucille, honey, you'll have to rip out all those stitches," her mother said. "They're all wrong."
July 17, 2011
July 17, 2011
'The Errand'
Late one afternoon a young girl with a large basket was seen hurrying along a dirt road toward a distant forest. Suddenly from out of the bushes jumped an impish man dressed in a red velvet vest and leather breeches. The girl came to a startled halt.
August 7, 2011
August 7, 2011
'The Mysterious Warning'
Carrie and Carl, Laketon's youngest detectives, were pedaling their bikes to River Park.
August 14, 2011
August 14, 2011
'The Teddy Bear Test'
"There," Bernie said. She had finished converting an old pair of favorite jeans into a hand-made teddy bear, which she placed on her bed. During the summer in this new neighborhood, Bernie only had to look at the bear to be reminded of happier times. The day before school, Bernie sewed a key ring to the back of the bear, and attached it to her backpack.
August 21, 2011
'The Letter'
Jenny doesn't like dolls. In fact, for the past two years she has hated dolls. Ever since her brother shattered her favorite one, something in Jenny broke too.
August 28, 2011
'The Clown Noses'
As soon as my cousin Jennifer arrived for her visit, I asked, "What do you want to do?"
September 4, 2011
'The Labor Day Hats'
It was going to be one of those topsy-turvy Isobel Iversy days. It was Labor Day and Isobel and Jennifer were trying on hats to wear to the town parade.
September 11, 2011
'September 11, 2001'
The little boy held tightly to his grandfather's hand as they walked slowly along the city street. "Where are we going, Papa?" he asked, craning his neck to look up at the old man's face.
October 2, 2011
'Brushfire'
The air was hot and smoky. Tyler looked up with horror at the boundary of the red, glowing tongues of brush fire that started that afternoon.
October 16, 2011
'Digging to China'
On a warm, sunny day with bees buzzing around the azalea bushes, Abby and her cousin Noah played in the big backyard at Noah's house. Noah's mother had a new baby and Abby and her parents were visiting.
October 30, 2011
'The Halloween App'
When Jim rang the bell of Uncle Ynar's old house, the front door slid aside. He was greeted by a tall silver robot who stared at him with glowing eyes.
November 6, 2011
'The Enemy and Me'
Our Yankee feet are marching through Georgia. Thousands of us from the North are here to beat the Southern Rebels. But our supplies are running low. We have to live off the land and that means forage for food wherever we go. A while back we found plenty — chickens and hams and sweet potatoes at the farms and plantations. But there aren't any along here, just swampland, and I'm mighty hungry.
November 13, 2011
'And Then What?'
A blue-gray fog floated eerily over the neighborhood giving our mission a dramatic mood.
November 20, 2011
'Sarah Saves Thanksgiving'
Did you know there was a time in American history when, little by little, we stopped celebrating Thanksgiving? It's true. By the mid-1800s, this special day of thanks was at serious risk of extinction. Fortunately for us, there was a very persistent woman named Sarah Josepha Hale who never stopped believing in Thanksgiving.
November 27, 2011
'Mustard and Pea'
On Polka Frost Mountain, when the sun rose, Mother Moss gently woke Pea up and asked him to come to Moss Chamber. He ran downstairs without brushing his teeth.
December 11, 2011
'The Old Christmas Tree'
"Grandma, in 13 days I'll be hanging up my stocking! I need to write my list for Santa before it's too late!"
December 18, 2011
'Move Over, Scrooge'
Bernadine held her breath as Ms. Stickler announced the cast of "A Christmas Carol." Every year, the fourth-grade class at Franklin Elementary performed the Charles Dickens classic.
January 8, 2012
'What's Wrong With Winifred?'
Late, as usual, Princess Winifred ran to catch up with her father, the king. She couldn't stop in time, tripped over the train of his purple velvet robe and fell flat on her face.
January 15, 2012
'Rupert's Hairiest Morning'
Rupert was an ordinary child who wore glasses with black Croakies attached to prevent their slipping off. He was a wizard at Super Mario Brothers, yet his poor marks at school were a constant topic of discussion at the family dinner table. He was pudgy and wheezed if he became excited, petted a cat, or he ran too much. Soccer was out. He was, however, a very good flag-football center as centers run very little.
February 5, 2012
'The Amazing Artist'
"I have no color on the brain; all I have on the brain is paint." — Robert Duncanson
August 23, 2009
March 4, 2011
'My Stinkin' Birthday'
"Good morning, Leo," my mom said as I strolled into the kitchen. She was frying hash browns and eggs.
February 20, 2011
February 20, 2011
'George Washington'
"I remember reading in my youth a small book — 'The Life of Washington' — and of all his struggles none fixed itself on my mind so indelibly as the crossing of the Delaware preceding the Battle of Trenton…" — Abraham Lincoln, Feb. 21, 1861
July 4, 2010
July 4, 2010
'The American: A Fourth of July Tribute'
"He seized the lightning from heaven and the scepter from tyrants."
February 14, 2010
February 14, 2010
'The Boy by the Fire'
The boy's only light was the firelight. It flickered on the walls of the log cabin and danced in his deep, serious brown eyes. It was late -- the middle of the night -- his favorite time of day -- his time for reading. He especially liked to read Aesop's fables, the Bible and "The Life of Washington."
March 29, 2009
March 29, 2009
'Keeper of the Flame'
SYDNEY looked around the familiar lobby with its magnificent globe slowly rotating in the center. She loved it here. The photographs and famous front pages from the year 1881 to the present dazzled her. There were plaques with names of journalists who had given their lives in pursuit of the truth, and of course, the busts of the founders of the paper, the beautiful murals that depicted early California, and an old Linotype machine. (Invented in 1893, the Linotype was an old-fashioned way of printing the newspaper.) The Los Angeles Times has been in existence for more than 125 years.
February 1, 2009
February 1, 2009
'Ruby Bridges'
Six-year-old Ruby smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Her mother had dressed her in a beautifully ironed white dress with matching shoes and socks. She even had a white ribbon in her hair. She was getting ready for her first day in a new school.
January 18, 2009
'He Had a Dream'
On Jan. 15, 1929, a baby boy was born in Atlanta to a Baptist minister and his wife. He was named Michael. Later on, the father would change the boy's name to Martin, in honor of Martin Luther, a minister and reformer who had lived in Germany in the 1500s.
November 23, 2008
Giving Thanks
It was Thanksgiving, and for the first time our whole family was together. Mom and Dad had to drive all night just to get here, but boy was it worth it! The Grandsters really know how to do it up right. The Grandsters being Grandpa and Grandma. We were all seated at the table, and I couldn't wait to dive into those mashed potatoes and gravy. And the smell of the turkey -- I thought I was going to faint with happiness.
September 7, 2008
September 7, 2008
'The Dancers'
It IS a chilly day in June, and Brittany Cherry and Brandon Armstrong are lunching with their moms at the Jazz Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. A trip to Disneyland was part of their prize on " "Dancing With the Stars."
September 18, 2006
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Treasure!' Part 1
"There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure."
September 19, 2006
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Treasure!' Part 2
"Gold mine found. In the newly made raceway of the Saw Mill recently erected by Captain Sutter, on the American Fork, gold has been found in considerable quantities … great chances here for scientific capitalists."
September 20, 2006
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Treasure!' Part 3
"All that fateful night we watched and prayed not knowing but that every hour might be the last " — Journal of Adeline Mills Easton, survivor of the shipwreck of the SS Central America
September 21, 2006
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Treasure!' Part 4
"An inventor is a man who asks 'Why?' of the universe and lets nothing stand between the answer and his mind." — Ayn Rand
September 22, 2006
THE KIDS' READING ROOM
'Treasure!' Part 5
"Americans, both as individuals and as a nation, are characterized as spirited, optimistic, visionary, forward-thinking, adaptable, and entrepreneurial, traits symbolized by the pioneers, adventurers, and nation builders aboard the Central America." — "America's Lost Treasure," by Tommy Thompson
January 6, 2003
'Being Scared'
I couldn't stop yelling. I yelled and yelled until finally I woke myself up. I was crying. It was terrible -- a very frightening dream.
April 20, 2003
'Good at Heart'
"IN spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart."
December 5, 2005
'Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas'
'Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas' * Part 1
January 6, 2008
Short Story
Trix Are For Kids?
THOSE kids. Always saying, "Silly rabbit! Trix are for kids!" Well, if I'm so silly, why am I on the cereal box? They should learn to share with me. I have feelings too!
Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times
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