Passages

The Witch Tells Fortunes

Hallowe’en at Merryvale is a book about a group of boys who attend a Halloween party at the home of one of the boys. It takes place in the early 20th century in a small town called Merryvale. The boys are good friends,and most have nicknames: Reddy, Toad, Fat, etc.…

Ella’s First Fashion Creation

Ella walked into the kitchen and twirled. She was wearing a new dress and she felt like a famous model. Even better, it was a dress she made! Her very first piece of fashion! “What do you think?” she asked her family. They were all gathered at the kitchen table…

The Laurence Boy

Little Women is the story of four sisters; Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March; during the Civil War. While once the March family had a good deal of money, the family has fallen onto hard times. The wealthy Mr. Laurence and his grandson live next door to the March family.…

Pygmalion: Henry and Eliza

George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion was the basis for the famous musical My Fair Lady. First performed in 1913, Pygmalion is the story of Eliza Doolittle, a poor and unsophisticated flower seller on the streets of London, who wants to learn to speak “like a lady.” In this passage from…

Diana Visits the Farm

“Happy birthday to me!” Diana opened her eyes. It was very early, but her little brother Carl was already awake. Was it really Carl’s birthday? Diana went downstairs. Mom was making pancakes and decorating them with chocolate chips. Diana knew it really was Carl’s birthday because these pancakes were his favorite.…

Radio Station Contest

Alexis and Zoe were sitting at the kitchen table doing homework. They were having a hard time concentrating on their assignment because the radio station was playing music from their favourite band, the Shape Shifters.  “I can’t believe the Shifters are going to be playing here and we can’t go!”…

Biography: Dorothea Lynde Dix

Dorothea Dix (1802-1887) was born in Massachusetts. Her early childhood with her parents was unhappy. When she was 12 years old, she went to live with her wealthy grandmother in her house called Orange Court. That is where the passage begins. —————————— At Orange Court, Dorothea was allowed no time…

A Place for Everything

“Jackson, I love you. But you may be the messiest boy in the world,” Jackson’s mother said as she placed a stack of clean clothes on his already crowded dresser. “No way, Mom.” “No? Why not?” “Because you haven’t met every boy in the world, so there is no way…

5 Easy Steps To Tell The Difference Between An Alligator and A Crocodile

You and your best friend decided to go on a boating trip!  You are exploring the water and looking all around, when suddenly, you realize you are not alone. Two eyes are looking at you from the water! “What’s that?!” your friend yells.  “Do you know the difference between an…

Carving Mount Rushmore

The granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln tower amidst southwestern South Dakota’s pine-covered mountains. Sometimes called the Shrine of Democracy, Mt. Rushmore National Monument is one of the most recognized monuments or memorials in the United States. The story behind this beloved monument is complicated…