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The Goblins’ Christmas
Listen to the preface to Elizabeth Anderson’s poem “The Goblins’ Christmas”.

The Goblins’ Christmas

Title: The Goblins’ Christmas
Writer: Elizabeth Anderson
Genre: Poetry

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Preface to The Goblins’ Christmas poem

Once upon a time I visited Fairy-land and spent a day in Goblin-town.
The people there are much like ourselves, only they are very, very small
and roguish. They play pranks on one another and have great fun. They
are good natured and jolly, and rarely get angry. But if one does get
angry, he quickly recovers his good nature and joins again in the sport.

If a Goblin should continue angry he would take on some visible form.
Perhaps he would become a toad or a squirrel, or some other little
animal, and would have to live here on the Earth-plane forevermore. But,
if he keeps good natured, he can come here and have his fun, and not be
seen by any one except a Seer, or very wise person.

The Goblins are gracious to the wise people now, but they were not
always so. A long, long time ago, on a Christmas-eve, the Fairy-folk
were having great sport. All the little people of the Unseen-world had
gathered together in the Earth-realm. There were Brownies, and Gnomes,
and Elves; even some little Cherubs had joined them. They were having a
wild dance and a gay time when who should appear but Kris Kringle! Now
the Fairies did not know that he was a Magician, or Seer, and so they
tried to make sport of him. But Kris by his wonderful magic, changed
them into the most beautiful toys. They became straight little
jumping-jacks, and dolls in bright dresses, and the dearest little
rabbit with white, soft fur. And somewhere in the bottom of the sleigh
one was turned into a cute little Teddy-bear. Then old Kris tucked all
these toys into his roomy sleigh, and shook the reins of his waiting
steed. “Go on!” he said, “For I’ve many, many a chimney to reach
tonight.”

Now this is the tale of “The Goblins’ Christmas” that the moonbeams
told, as they heard it from the Fairy-Queen, who declares that every
word of it is perfectly true.

WordChecker
roguish (adjective): naughty; mischievous
good natured (adjective): in a happy mood
prank (noun): a joke or trick you play on someone for fun
jumping jack (noun): toy dancing man with strings
roomy (adjective): spacious; has lots of space
reins (noun): the straps attached to a horse and held by a driver
steed (noun): horse
declare (verb): to state firmly

 

The Bears’ Night Out
The four bears that couldn’t get comfortable.

The Bears’ Night Out

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Megan loved bears more than anything else in the whole world. She had a polar bear, a grizzly bear, a panda bear, and even a koala bear. She had other animals too, but it was only the bears that got to sleep in Megan’s bed at night.

Each night before bed, she gathered the bears around her and tucked them in. Before she closed her eyes she told each of the bears to behave. And, normally they did. But one summer night, the polar bear couldn’t sleep.

“It’s too hot in here,” he told the other bears. “I wish I were in the North Pole right now.”

“Where is the North Pole?” asked Panda.

“I’ll take you there if you want to go,” said Polar.

Panda did want to go and Grizzly and Koala did too.

So, the four bears slid down the bedpost and headed off North. When they arrived in the North Pole, Polar showed the other bears around. Koala did not feel very comfortable.

“It’s too cold!” said Koala. “I could never live here.”

“We polar bears have two kinds of fur,” Polar said, “some that is woolly and keeps us warm, and some that is spiky and keeps us dry. And even though we are as white as the snow we have thick black skin that keeps us comfortable.”

“It was nice to meet your friends and family,” said Koala, “but I wish I were somewhere warmer.”

So, the bears headed South, all the way down to Australia. Koala showed her friends around.

“Is there something to drink?” asked Grizzly. “It’s hot here, and I’m thirsty.”

“Koala bears eat eucalyptus,” said Koala. “We get all the water we need from the leaves.” Koala shared some eucalyptus with her bear friends, and they all got sleepy. But, just before they were about to have a nap, Grizzly’s tummy began to roar.

“I’m still hungry,” Grizzly said. “I wish I were in the mountains by a nice cold stream.

So, the bears headed West, all the way to Canada. Grizzly showed his friends all of the wonderful things to eat, like fish, and grapes, and even garbage left by nearby campers. Panda was exhausted from all of the travelling.

“I wish I were home where life is a whole lot slower,” said Panda.

So, the four bears headed East to China. As they were travelling, Panda looked very worried.

“Aren’t you happy to be going home for a visit?” Polar asked Panda.

“I am, but I’m afraid there won’t be any pandas left,” explained Panda.

When they arrived in China there were only a few other panda bears around. Panda and his friends had to share one small bamboo stick.

“Where is everybody?” asked Koala.

“Is this all there is to eat?” asked Grizzly.

“I’m afraid bears like me have almost gone extinct,” said Panda. “And most of the bamboo trees have been cut down so there isn’t much to eat.”

The bears were tired so they decided to head back to Megan’s house. All the way home, the bears were very quiet. They had enjoyed their trip around the world, but they felt sad that there were only a few panda bears left. When they had snuggled back in bed with Megan, Panda lifted up his head and smiled.

“I’m so thankful to have other bear friends like you,” Panda said. “Friends don’t have to be panda bears. Other kinds of bears are just as nice.”

The bears smiled and hugged each other and then closed their eyes and went to sleep. A moment later Koala sat up again.

“I have a secret to tell you,” she said. “I’m not really a bear at all. I wish I were a bear, but actually I’m a marsupial. I hope you’ll love me just the same.”

None of the bears said a word. They were already fast asleep. But, just when Koala thought her secret was still a secret she heard a tiny voice.

“I love you just the same as all the other bears, Koala,” Megan said. “And, sometimes I wish I were a bear too.”

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Wordchecker

• gather (verb): to bring together in a group
• tuck someone in (verb): to help someone get comfortable under the blankets in a bed
• eucalyptus (noun): a flowering tree native to Australia
• exhausted (adjective): very tired
• extinct (adjective): no longer a species on earth
• snuggle (verb): to get comfortable with soft or warm things or people
• marsupial (noun): a mammal that lives in its mother’s pouch after birth and continues to develop there

 

Maxwell Loses A Tooth
Maxwell’s classmates have different ideas about what he should do with his lost tooth.

Maxwell Loses A Tooth

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Maxwell put up his hand and waited for his teacher, Mrs. Gilbert, to notice him.

“Do you have a question, Maxwell?” she asked.

“It’s more like a problem,” Maxwell said. “I lost my tooth.”

Maxwell stood up and held out his hand to show his class his baby tooth.

“Congratulations,” Mrs. Gilbert said. Then she asked the class if anyone had any advice for Maxwell. Keiko put up her hand first. Keiko was from Japan.

“Is it an upper or a lower tooth?” Keiko asked.

“A lower tooth,” Maxwell said. He opened his mouth and showed the class the empty spot in the bottom of his mouth.

“You should throw your baby tooth over the roof of your house,” Keiko said.

“Why should I do that?” Maxwell said.

“Because then your new adult tooth will grow properly. When you lose an upper tooth you should put it under the floor.”

Mrs. Gilbert thought this was a good idea, but Frida disagreed. Frida was from Austria.

“You shouldn’t throw your baby tooth away, Maxwell. You should keep it and give it to your mother,” Frida said.

“Why should I do that?” asked Maxwell.

“She will make it into a necklace for you to wear.”

Jorge shook his head and put up his hand. He had some different advice for Maxwell. Jorge was from Mexico.

“You should take your tooth home. Then you should put it under your pillow when you go to sleep,” Jorge said.

“Why should I do that?” Maxwell said.

“Because then the tooth mouse will come. He will keep your tooth and pay you with good luck. Sometimes the tooth mouse even brings a small toy.”

Maxwell liked Jorge’s advice the best. Mrs. Gilbert gave him a box to keep his tooth in. She didn’t want him to lose his tooth again.

“Whatever you decide, you should show your mother your tooth when you get home,” Mrs. Gilbert said.

When Maxwell got home he showed his mother the empty spot in his mouth. Then he opened the box and showed her his tooth.

“Congratulations! What are you going to do with your tooth, Maxwell?” his mother asked.

“I’m going to put it under my pillow,” he said. And he did.

When Maxwell woke up the next morning he looked under his pillow. The tooth was gone. In its place, Maxwell found a one dollar bill. He also found a letter. This is what the letter said:

Dear Maxwell,
Congratulations! You lost your first tooth. I will keep it forever. You should buy something nice for yourself with this money.
Love,
The Tooth Fairy

“I should tell my class about the tooth fairy,” Maxwell thought. “Everyone should lose a tooth!”

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Maxwell Loses a Tooth is a useful story for reading in a multicultural classroom. It is also a nice introduction to giving advice with “should”.

Written and Read by: Tara Benwell

 

The Lucky Octopus
This unlucky octopus knows exactly what to wish for.

The Lucky Octopus

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Ollie the octopus only had seven legs.

“The last one will grow,” the ocean doctor said the day Ollie was born.

“But when?” asked Ollie’s mother. She was very sad.

“When Ollie turns eight years old,” the doctor said.

For seven years, Ollie’s brothers and sisters teased her about her missing leg. She was the youngest octopus in the family. Her sister Olivia was the oldest.

“Ollie only has seven legs because she isn’t part of our real family,” Olivia told the other sea creatures one day.

It was a lie, but everyone believed Olivia because she was the oldest.

When the other sea creatures played games like tag and hide and go seek, Ollie’s brother Oscar wouldn’t let Ollie play.

“You can’t catch a fish with only seven legs,” Oscar said. “Go and find a friend that has an extra leg to play with.”

Ollie searched around the ocean, but there weren’t any kind sea creatures to play with. She was very lonely.

One day Ollie’s brother Orlando saw Ollie playing by herself in the seaweed. He was very happy.

“Guess what I found today, Ollie!” Orlando said. “A treasure chest. It is from a ship and it is full of beautiful jewels.”

“Can I see it?” Ollie asked. “I have always dreamed of seeing a treasure chest.”

“I’m not showing it to anyone!” Orlando said. “Especially not a tiny octopus with only seven legs.”

Ollie went home and told her mother that she was sad. “Everyone treats me differently because I only have seven legs,” she said.

“Don’t worry,” her mother said. “Tomorrow is your eighth birthday and you will finally grow another leg! Then you will never be lonely.”

That night Ollie dreamed that she grew another leg. Everyone celebrated and ate delicious food. She was so happy. But the next day, when Ollie woke up and counted her legs, there were still only seven.

Ollie hid in the seaweed patch and cried. She was so sad. Suddenly a sea fairy appeared. It was the tiniest creature Ollie had ever seen.

“You are the lucky octopus I have been waiting for,” the sea fairy said.

“I am?” Ollie said.

“Yes. Only the luckiest octopus gets to make three wishes.”

Ollie knew exactly what to wish for.

“First I wish that Olivia was honest,” Ollie said.

“Your wish is granted. Now you have two more wishes,” the fairy said.

“Second I wish that Oscar was kind.”

“And now he is,” the fairy said. “And what is your last wish?”

“Lastly, I wish that Orlando was fair,” Ollie said.

Before the tiny sea fairy disappeared, she told Ollie that she was the kindest octopus in the whole sea. “I wish that all of your birthday dreams come true,” the sea fairy said before she swam away.

When Ollie got home her family was waiting for her. “Surprise!” they said all at once.

“I bought you a present,” Oscar said. “It’s a beautiful pearl necklace!”

“Thank you,” Ollie said. “You are very kind.”

“I baked a delicious cake for you,” Orlando said. “And I invited all of the sea creatures to share it with us.”

“You are very fair,” Ollie said. “Thank you for sharing.”

“I’m very sorry, I don’t have a present for you,” Olivia said. “I forgot it was your birthday.”

“That’s okay,” Ollie said. “You are very honest. Thank you.”

Ollie’s mother swam over to her daughter with a red birthday balloon.

“I’m so happy for you, Ollie,” she said.

“Why Mother?”

“Look, you’ve finally grown your eighth leg!” Ollie’s mother tied the balloon to her daughter’s new leg.

It was the happiest day of Ollie’s life.

 

Good Neighbours
Jack’s new neighbour Naoko is Japanese. Does she know how to make a snowman?

The Chickens Take A Holiday
Farming is hard work. Everyone needs a holiday. What will the farmer say?

Too Tiny For Tea
Marty is too tiny for almost everything.

Inky Pinky Pooh
This is the story of a very small cat who lived in a very big house.