• Ten Facts about the Life of Pablo Picasso - 01/17/2014

    Pablo Picasso’s artwork is some of the world’s most famous and recognizable art . He was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, stage designer and ceramist, but is most known for his paintings. As an adult, he spent most of his time in France.  He is considered on of the prolific and...

  • Forgiven Now - 01/16/2014

    Upset, Christopher buried his face deep into his pillow. He didn't hear anyone come into his room, but a gentle touch caused him to look up from his bed and see his mother. "What's the matter, honey?" she asked as she sat down beside him. "Is there some problem I can help with?" Christopher hesitated....

  • Part of the Family - 01/15/2014

    Olivia had always liked to hear how her parents loved her from the time they first saw her at the adoption agency. But as she approached her twelfth birthday, the fact that she was adopted didn't seem so entertaining any more. I don't really belong to anybody, she thought one day as she picked wild...

  • Good Ugli Fruit - 01/14/2014

    "Jason," said Mom, "I heard that our new neighbors have a boy about your age. Have you met him?" "Yeah," mumbled Jason. "His name is Mark. He's in my class, but . . . I don't want the kids making fun of me because I hang around with him. He looks weird." "Weird?" asked his sister Meg. "What do you...

  • I Wish I Could . . . - 01/13/2014

    Jody stared at the church bulletin as her classmate Laura walked to the piano. When Laura began to play a piano solo, Jody took out her Sunday school paper. I'll see if there are any good stories in here, she thought. Jody didn't want to hear Laura's solo. After church everyone will talk about how...

  • PK - 01/12/2014

    The boys outside Paul's Sunday school room were talking and laughing loudly, but when he approached, it got quiet. "What's up?" Paul asked. "Nothing--since you got here," muttered Kurt. "We gotta be careful what we say or do around a PK--a preacher's kid. Right, guys?" The boys laughed, but Paul...

  • Time to Move - 01/11/2014

    Joanna skipped up the walk and rang the doorbell. Then she burst into her neighbor's house. "Grammie! Guess what? Daddy's coming to get us. He'll be here tomorrow, and we'll leave next week!" Joanna spun around on tiptoes. Grammie sighed as she hobbled into the room. "I thought he was going to wait...

  • Together for Good - 01/10/2014

    Jon propped his chin in his hand as he watched his grandmother mix sugar and shortening. "I'm making your favorite cake--chocolate," she said. When Jon smiled faintly, Grandma added, "Why so quiet, Jon? Something wrong?" "Everything's wrong!" Jon complained. "Dad's being transferred, so we have to...

  • Study to Know - 01/09/2014

    "Well, Alex, what's on your schedule for tomorrow?" Dad asked as he sat down in an easy chair. "And could I have that newspaper when you're done with it, please?" Alex grinned. "Sure, Dad," he said. "I'm finished with the comic page--you can read it now." He handed his father the paper and picked...

  • Waiting Too Long - 01/08/2014

    Tina pulled a brightly colored paper from her desk drawer. What's this? she wondered, looking at it. Oh-h-h! It's my coupon for a free candy bar. I forgot all about it! She had cut the coupon out of a magazine some weeks before. Eager now to get the candy, she got Mom's permission and hurried to...

  • Flowers, Not Weeds - 01/07/2014

    Brianna scowled at her younger sister. "You're biting your nails again, Diane!" I can't stand it when you do that!" Brianna scolded. Their aunt, who was visiting for a few days, frowned. She had noticed that Brianna often criticized Diane about one thing or another. "Want to come help pick flowers...

  • The Strange Bird - 01/06/2014

    "Hi, Mom. We had fun at our Scout meeting today," said Ryan as he hung his jacket in the closet. "We're working on our bird badge. Did you know that a mockingbird has been known to change its tune eighty-seven times in seven minutes? They can imitate different kinds of birds and other things, too....

  • A Very Important Letter - 01/05/2014

    Kara chewed the end of her pencil as she tried to decide what to write next. "Whatcha doin'?" asked her brother Josh. "Is that your homework?" Kara shook her head. "No, I'm writing a letter to Mr. Sanborn," she said. "You know . . . he's the missionary to South America who came and spoke at our church...

  • From Whose Viewpoint? - 01/04/2014

    "Look there behind you, Mom," said Renee as she and her mother picked raspberries. "Down low. There are some berries you missed." "Oh, I see them," said Mom. "They're nice ones." She bent to pick the berries. "There are more in the bush behind those," Renee told her. Mom looked toward the berries...

  • Shots and Other Armor - 01/03/2014

    Kip squirmed as he sat in the doctor's office. It had been a long time since he had gotten a shot, and he felt nervous. "Ready for a little prick, Kip?" the nurse asked. He nodded, and she quickly gave him the needed shot in his arm. Then she pressed some gauze onto the spot and asked Kip to hold...

  • A Hopeless Case - 01/02/2014

    "Hey, guys, I . . . ah . . . I invited Mitch to join us. He said he'd think about it," said Ben as he and his friends set up tents to camp out in his back yard. "You're kidding!" Tom paused and stared at Ben. "Why did you do that? He always acts so tough!" "He uses bad language," said Bill. "Why...

  • Cat in the Window - 01/01/2014

    "Look at this, Mom." Megan pointed to a picture in a flyer from a department store. "I want an outfit like this. I really like it." "It's very nice," agreed Mom, "but we won't be ordering anything just now." "Aw, Mom!" whined Megan. "Can't I get it, please? It's so cute!" "And I want one of these...

  • In the Ditch - 12/31/2013

    "Ryan James!" exclaimed Mom when she picked him up at school after receiving a call from the principal. "I could hardly believe it when Mr. Jacobs called and said you had gotten into a fight!" "Wasn't my fault," muttered Ryan, too ashamed to look her in the eye. "I didn't start it. Cameron did. What...

  • End of Vacation - 12/30/2013

    Jack sat on the porch steps, one arm propping up his chin, the other poking at the snow with a stick. When his mother opened the door to call him in for lunch, she noticed his glum mood. "Problems, Son?" she asked. "What's wrong?" "Nothing, I guess," Jack mumbled. He put down the stick and went inside....

  • Strings Attached - 12/29/2013

    "Come here, little crab. I have something you'll like. Come on. Try it," Philip coaxed softly. "A little closer now. That's right. Keep coming. Another nibble. Closer . . . closer." There was a sudden splash in the water. "Gotcha!" shouted Grandpa. Holding up the dip net, he exclaimed, "This one...