Catalogue Page for Modern Stories
The Mushroom Virus

Mushrooms invade town and turn some people into zombies.
By Mathew Heinecke
Age range: 6 to 8, 9 to12, Teen Tags: Funny, Modern, Original Reading time: 05 - 10 minsToilet Paper Caper

A detective solves a mysterious case of missing toilet paper.
By Mathew Heinecke
Age range: 6 to 8, 9 to12, Teen Tags: Funny, Modern, Original Reading time: 05 - 10 minsLittle Ania

Little Ania is so unusual that trying to be normal makes her sicker and sicker, until one day a mysterious old man reveals to her a great family secret.
By William Hugel
Age range: 6 to 8, 9 to12, Teen Tags: Fantasy, Funny, Illustrated, Modern, Original Reading time: 10 - 15 mins, 15 - 20 minsPendulum Clock

A kid spends time in his grandfather’s clock shop and tries to answer the age-old, unanswerable question: What is time?
By Larry A. Kayser
Age range: 6 to 8, 9 to12, Teen Tags: Modern, Original Reading time: 01 - 05 minsThe Hummingbirds

A girl recounts her fond memories of beautiful hummingbirds in her grandmother’s garden and includes a poem entitled “The Hummingbird” paying tribute to them.
By Sharon Krager
Age range: 3 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to12 Tags: Illustrated, Modern, Original, Poem Animals: Bird, Hummingbird Reading time: 01 - 05 minsThe Santa Flower

When the annual Santa Flower doesn’t bloom properly, everyone is worried. Then Annika gets a visit from a famous reindeer and takes a magical trip to the North Pole. Can she help Santa and save Christmas?
By Brian Martin
Age range: 3 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to12 Tags: Christmas, Modern, Original Animals: Reindeer Reading time: 05 - 10 mins, 10 - 15 minsNaughty Noel

It’s not easy for Noel being the son of Santa, especially when he’s the naughtiest kid in the North Pole.
By Nathan Oser
Age range: 6 to 8, 9 to12 Tags: Christmas, Illustrated, Modern, Original Reading time: 10 - 15 minsThe Heart of Christmas

It’s Christmas-time, and Santa is tired – too tired to visit all the children of the world. Who can he possibly find to take his place? Can he find someone who understands what it takes to be Santa – who understands the heart of Christmas?
By Brendan Farrell
Age range: 6 to 8 Tags: Christmas, Modern, Original Animals: Bird, Robin Reading time: 05 - 10 mins, 10 - 15 minsThe Seagull who couldn’t fly

Flying was impossible for Sammy Seagull. His wings would just not open!
Last to leave his safe nest he had to find food and shelter before Christmas. Does he manage to do this?
By Ann Lang
Tags: Christmas, Illustrated, Modern, Original Animals: Bird, Seagull Reading time: 05 - 10 minsThe Nervous Spider

Adrian is a spider who doesn’t like to eat insects. One day a fly lands in his web who can speak and tells him about a whole different world.
By Brian Martin
Age range: 6 to 8, 9 to12 Tags: Modern, Original Animals: Spider Reading time: Over 20 minsA Child of Light

A re-telling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Matchseller set in modern times. It is the story of a child without a family who finds an older woman living on the streets and befriends her on Christmas Eve.