Michael Harbut

Elina was the fastest girl in her village. She loved running, through the fields and along dusty roads everyday. She wanted to be a professional athlete but the villagers said that only boys went into sports.

When Salma walked into class wearing the hijab for the first time, she could tell everyone was whispering behind her back.

Zoey loved everything about her mother, but her favorite thing were her hands. For the longest time she used to sleep hugging her mother’s hand tightly to herself and she never let go of it whenever they went out of the house.

Luke sat on the living room floor, carefully flipping through a dusty old photo album his grandfather had brought over. It was Pearl Harbor Day, and Grandpa had promised to share the story of what the day meant to him and the country.

Oliver was curious about the commotion in his town. It was U.S. General Election Day, and his parents were taking him to the polling station for the first time to show him how voting worked.

Asiri loved Christmas, especially in her magical corner of the forest where snow sparkled like stars and animals whispered secrets in the wind. She lived in a cozy cottage with her magical fox, Lumina, whose fur glowed with a warm golden light during the holiday season.

The aroma of roasted turkey and freshly baked pie wafted through the Johnson household as the Thanksgiving preparations hit full swing. Ten-year-old Mia, with her curly brown hair tied up in a messy bun, darted around the kitchen, eager to help.

Tommy woke up early on Christmas morning, excited to see what Santa had left under the tree. The world outside was covered in a thick blanket of sparkling snow, but inside, something felt off. His little sister Lucy sat quietly by the tree, her eyes glistening with disappointment.

The 5: 00 p.m. rush-hour train ran through Steamville’s subway tunnels. Detective Steamboat Willie Mickey was riding home from a long day at work when he spotted smoke leaking from the back car.

Once upon a time, in a kingdom surrounded by tall mountains and sparkling rivers, there lived a little princess named Lily. She was not like other princesses who wore glittering crowns and fancy gowns every day.

In the Kingdom of Dandelion, there lived a young princess named Lila. She lived in a beautiful castle with her grandmother, Queen Maribel, and her playful kitten, Pippin. Lila was kind and curious, but she often felt like she was too small to make a big difference.

Snowflakes twirled gracefully through the air, blanketing the small town of Pinehaven in a crisp layer of white.

Lila loved New Year’s Eve—it was a night filled with magic, fun, and the promise of new beginnings. Her family always threw a party, inviting friends and neighbours to celebrate. This year, her parents had given her a special task: to help plan the evening’s activities.

Tommy was excited as he sat at the breakfast table. Today, his teacher had told the class all about George Washington, and now Tommy had so many questions. “Dad,” Tommy asked, “why is George Washington so important?”

Nate couldn’t wait for Groundhog’s Day. Every year, his small town held a big festival to see if the famous groundhog, Shadow, would predict an early spring or six more weeks of winter.

Ella loved birds. Her bedroom window overlooked a small forest, and she spent hours watching cardinals, blue jays, and robins dart between the trees. So, when her teacher announced that National Bird Day was coming up, Ella couldn’t wait to celebrate.

Claire sat in her fourth-grade classroom, listening as her teacher, Mr. Wilson, wrote the date on the board: “September 11”.

Sophie woke up early, eager to get started on her big plan. It was Grandparents Day, and she wanted to make it extra special for her grandma and grandpa. They were coming over for lunch, and Sophie had a surprise in store.

Lila couldn’t stop grinning. It was World Smile Day, and her teacher, Mrs. Reynolds, had given the class a challenge: "Spread as many smiles as you can today."

Jamie couldn’t believe it—National S’mores Day had finally arrived! Her family had planned a camping trip to celebrate the gooey, chocolaty treat in the best way possible: around a campfire in the great outdoors.