The Tale of the Missing Story Spark
by

Thomas

A story about Reading
for your 5th Grader.

Willow Charms lived on a floating island high in the sky, surrounded by rainbows that formed bright bridges between the drifting lands. Each morning, she practiced little spells to organize her tall, curving bookshelves, hoping her magic would spark delight in every story she read.

One day, her best friend Ember Flare fluttered in, eyes wide. “Willow Charms,” Ember Flare exclaimed, “the words are vanishing from my favorite stories! All the pictures and sentences are turning blank!” Willow Charms felt her heart race, sensing that something powerful was amiss.

A polished, golden compass lay open, spinning wildly without direction. Its shiny needle trembled, as if searching for the missing spark of magic. The empty pages on the nearby book glowed faintly, hinting at an urgent mystery.

“The Story Spark must be gone,” Willow Charms whispered. “Without it, no book can truly come alive.” Ember Flare’s wings sagged, and a determined flame lit within the dragon's eyes. “Then let’s bring it back! We have to save the realm from losing its stories,” Ember Flare declared.

Hurrying across a rainbow bridge, Willow Charms felt the wind tug at her cloak. She reminded Ember Flare that even when you feel uncertain about what you will find in a book, it helps to keep reading—because new worlds might be waiting on the next page. Ember Flare nodded, trying to stay brave.

They entered an enchanted forest, where the leaves were shaped like tiny bookmarks. Willow Charms noticed the branches rustling as mischievous imps giggled, throwing illusions of tangled words to confuse them. Ember Flare’s tail swiped at the swirling letters, but they still felt lost among the creaking trees.

In the heart of a hollow tree trunk, a tall hourglass rested silently. Its sand pulsed with a pale glow, suggesting it once used to measure the creativity flowing through tales. Now, it stood dim and lifeless, a clue that the realm’s magic was waning.

“It’s impossible to read when nothing makes sense,” Ember Flare muttered. Willow Charms placed a gentle hand on Ember Flare’s shoulder. “Sometimes, you have to find hints inside a story, like a hidden treasure,” she advised. “Learning to ask questions can uncover answers.” The two friends decided to keep searching for the missing Story Spark, trusting that curiosity would guide them.