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Click on the “Listen To This Story Now” link in the listings below to listen to the story in your browser. Use the “Download Audio” link to save the audio file to any device for later use on your smartphone or tablet. Stories read by Robert Topp.
Lace Round the Sky
by Cecilia
Aragon
Found in Cricket Magazine Vol 49, Num 9, July/Aug 2022
Catalina, daughter of the mechanic at the Cerro Tololo observatory in Chile, dreams of becoming an astronomer. Unfortunately everyone just considers her a nuisance, that is until she saves an astronomer after a tragic fall and prevents serious damage to the telescope. She is rewarded by the astronomer’s offer to help her with scholarship forms to the best schools in Chile for young scientists.
Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6
Rating
★★★★★ 5/5
8 Pages
Categories: Astronomy, Female Protagonist, Latino, STEM
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The San Jacinto Corn
by Diane
Bailey
Found in Cricket Magazine Vol 31, Num 2, Oct 2003
After Daniel’s and Joseph’s pa died at the Alamo, the boys joined Sam Houston’s brigade to fight for Texas independence. After Santa Anna’s surrender, Sam Houston passed around an ear of corn from their meager supplies and encouraged each soldier to take a kernel home so that they could cultivate the arts of peace as nobly as they had mastered the arts of war.
Grade Levels: 5
Rating
★★★★★ 5/5
5 Pages
Categories: Historical Fiction, War
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Gyffes Llaw
by Sharon
Bailly
Found in Cricket Magazine Vol 30, Num 7, March 2003
Gyffes Llaw is the finest shoemaker in Wales and the Princess of Wales goes barefoot for lack of good shoes. Well, as you might guess, Gyffes Llaw wins her heart while making her shoes.
Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5
Rating
★★★★★ 5/5
5 Pages
Categories: Folk Tale
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The Hare and the Flower
by Lynne Reid
Banks
Found in The Magic Hare
by Lynne Reid
Banks
A story from Ms Banks delightful anthology “The Magic Hare” in which the magic hare hears tiny bells after every good deed and discovers they are applause from a sad, unnamed flower. In gratitude, the magic hare gives the flower a name, ‘harebell,’ or ‘Campanula rotundifolia.’
Grade Levels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Rating
★★★★★ 5/5
3 Pages
Categories: Animal Stories, Fantasy, Humor
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The Hare and the Orphan
by Lynne Reid
Banks
Found in The Magic Hare
by Lynne Reid
Banks
A story from Ms Banks delightful anthology “The Magic Hare” in which the magic hare is snared by an orphan for dinner. The hare continues to suggest ingredients that would make him taste better but the final one is through the dark forest where the orphan has never gone. The hare leads the way, the orphan overcomes her fear and both live happily, but separately, ever after.
Grade Levels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Rating
★★★★★ 5/5
3 Pages
Categories: Animal Stories, Fantasy, Humor
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The Hare and the Spoiled Queen
by Lynne Reid
Banks
Found in The Magic Hare
by Lynne Reid
Banks
From Ms Banks delightful anthology “The Magic Hare,” a Dickensian tale in which a hateful queen is transformed by the practical and kind suggestions of the magic hare.
Grade Levels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Rating
★★★★★ 5/5
4 Pages
Categories: Animal Stories, Fantasy, Humor
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Katya and the Goat with the Silver Hoof
by Bob
Barton
Found in The Bear Says North: Tales from Northern Lands
by Bob
Barton
When a young orphaned girl come to live with Old Vanka, he tells her of his yearly hunt for the Goat that leaves jewels wherever he stamps his silver hoof.
Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5
Rating
★★★★★ 5/5
8 Pages
Categories: Female Protagonist, Folk Tale
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Good Neighbors
by Bob
Barton
Found in The Bear Says North: Tales from Northern Lands
by Bob
Barton
When a young couple moves into a remote valley, they assure the local trolls that they mean no harm. As the years pass the trolls come to love the couple and they the trolls. Unfortunately the family’s prosperity brings development to the valley and eventually the trolls have to move north, leaving behind a precious gift for their friends.
Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5
Rating
★★★★★ 5/5
6 Pages
Categories: Folk Tale
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A Snow Battle
by Daniel C.
Beard
Found in A St. Nicholas Anthology: The Early Years
by Burton
Frye
During recess from school a full scale snowball war forms, complete with ammunition sleds, forts and commanders.
Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5
Rating
★★★★★ 4/5
2 Pages
Categories: Historical Fiction, School, United States, Winter
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Noah Count and the Arkansas Ark
by Gary
Blackwood
Found in Cricket Magazine, Vol 43, Num 6, March 2016
Mama, Papa and Granny all have peculiar ways of knowing that a big rain is coming – none of them very scientific. But that doesn’t stop Papa from building a raft the size of an ark for the great flood of 1908.
Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5
Rating
★★★★★ 5/5
4 Pages
Categories: American, Historical Fiction, Humor
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