Passages

Paris: September 1792

The novel The Scarlet Pimpernel is about the band of mysterious Englishmen who rescue French nobles from the guillotine during the French Revolution. The leader uses a red flower, know as a scarlet pimpernel, as his trademark. This passage is from the opening of the book. Bibot is a French…

President Theodore Roosevelt’s 7th Annual Message to Congress

Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. He was a enthusiastic outdoorsman and conservationist. Among the many accomplishments under his leadership was the establishment of the National Forest Service, the creation of five national parks and 150 national forests. Below is part…

Two Little Foxes

Mabel and Marty lived in the forest. The little foxes liked to play in the sun, so they woke up early and ran off to the meadow each morning. The meadow was bright and sunny. One hot day, Mabel and Marty grew tired of the meadow. They wanted to rest…

The Creature Finds Fire

In the 1818 novel, Frankenstein, scientist Victor Frankenstein has brought to life a ugly being who is called “the Creature.” Victor immediately rejects his creation. The Creature, newly alive and totally unaware of the world around him, wanders into the forest where he learns to survive. Here the Creature tells…

Cielito Lindo

Spanish De la Sierra Morena, cielito lindo, vienen bajando, Un par de ojitos negros, cielito lindo, de contrabando. Estribillo: Ay, ay, ay, ay, Canta y no llores, Porque cantando se alegran, cielito lindo, los corazones. Pájaro que abandona, cielito lindo, su primer nido, Si lo encuentra ocupado, cielito lindo, bien…

Uncles

This passage is from Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. It’s the story of Rose Campbell whose parents have both died. She is living with her wealthy aunts in Boston. The aunts have seven sons, so Rose is the eighth cousin and only girl. She has been sick a great…

The Phone Call

Gerry loved to read stories before bed. He was a good reader and had plenty of books that he could read to himself. Reading on his own was fun, but Gerry also liked listening to his parents read books aloud. That way he could hear the stories in the thick…

Abigail Smith Gets to Know John Adams

Mary rushed into her sister’s room. “Abigail! Abigail! Richard’s friend John Adams, our third cousin, wants to visit with you. He was at the outing we had last week and took a fancy to your intelligence.” Abigail spun around with a big smile. “Oh, yes. He has a wonderful sense…

Lunch Bag Surprise

The bell rang. Jacob smiled. It had been a busy morning, and he was glad his math class was finished. He grabbed his lunch bag out of his backpack. He unzipped it and looked inside. He blinked. He looked again. Beside his usual salami sandwich and juice box, there was…

The Little Pumpkin

Once there was a little pumpkin that grew on a vine in a field. All day long the sun shone on him, and the wind blew gently around him. Sometimes the welcome rain fell softly upon him, and as the vine sent her roots deep down into the earth and…