Drip, Dinosaurs, and Dreams

This book was written by the students of the 74th Street Elementary School in 2026.

This book was written by the students of the 74th Street Elementary School in 2026.

The views expressed in this book are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of 826LA. We support student publishing and are thrilled you picked up this book.

The views expressed in this book are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of 826LA. We support student publishing and are thrilled you picked up this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Este libro fue escrito por los alumnos de Mr. Ochoa de el Programa Culinario en la escuela secundaria de Manual Arts en la primavera de 2024.

Este libro fue escrito por los alumnos de la escuela primaria de la calle 74 en 2026.

Las opiniones expresadas en este libro son las de los autores y no reflejan necesariamente las de 826LA. Apoyamos la publicación de jóvenes autores y estamos felices que hayan recogido este libro.

Las opiniones expresadas en este libro son las de los autores y no reflejan necesariamente las de 826LA. Apoyamos la publicación de jóvenes autores y estamos felices que hayan recogido este libro.

Todos los derechos reservados. Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial de este libro sin autorización escrita del editor.

Todos los derechos reservados. Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial de este libro sin autorización escrita del editor.

Editors: Shani Foster

Editor(s): Shani Foster

Cover Artwork:

Book Design: Sandy Saravia

Cover Artwork: Ashlyn Anstee

Book Design: Sandy Saravia

Echo Park 1714 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90026

Mar Vista 12515 Venice Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90066

DRIP, DINOSAURS, AND DREAMS: THE 74TH STREET CHRONICLES

Written By The Students Of 74th Street Elementary School

INTRODUCTION

Shani Foster

Buckle up, because you aren’t holding just any book, you’ve just unlocked the top-secret archives of the 74th Street Innovation Lab.

While the rest of the world sees a normal elementary school, the student authors inside these pages know the truth: adventure is lurking around every corner. For the third year in a row, 826LA has partnered with the brilliant minds of 74th Street Elementary to document missions that would make a superhero sweat.

From the secret underground headquarters in New York City to the frozen plains of Planet Glacies, this collection is a high-stakes journey through the impossible. You will meet 1st Grade Visionaries like Speckles the Super-Scholar, who proves that intelligence is the ultimate power, and the 4th Grade Tactical Team, a crew with enough “drip” to travel through time and enough genius to turn radioactive dinosaurs into solid obsidian.

Whether they are dodging meteors in diamond-encrusted sneakers or brewing Floral-Time Potions to mask the smell of monster-fighting chemicals, these authors show us that imagination is the most powerful invention of all. In this lab, every idea is a breakthrough. Some missions were solo flights, while others were built through the combined brainpower of students and the 826LA team, ensuring that every inventor’s voice, no matter how quiet or loud, helped save the day.

So, put on your gold-rimmed goggles and check your supply of liquid nitrogen. The world is under attack, the time machine is fueled by a mop, and the only ones who can save us are the students of 74th Street.

Welcome to the mission. Are you ready for the Chronicles?

CHAPTER ONE

Teddy Snowflake Adventures - Part I,

Ms. Brissett-Claxton’s

Class

Once upon a time, there was a puppy named Teddy Snowflake. She had fluffy white fur. She wore a cute skirt, tiny boots, and glasses! One day, Teddy Snowflake went for a walk with her owner. They went to the nail salon. Teddy Snowflake got her nails trimmed and painted with gold polish.

She wanted to look her best because she was getting ready for a fashion show. It was a special show just for dogs! The winner would get a big pile of yummy dog treats.

Teddy Snowflake was at the fashion show with her friends. She looked up and saw a boy dog. She walked over to him.

“Are you in the show?” Teddy asked.

“No,” he said. “I am just here to watch and see who wins.”

They told each other their names. She was Teddy Snowflake, and he was Jimmy Johnny.

Hi! It is nice to meet you,” said Jimmy Johnny.

“Good afternoon,” Teddy Snowflake said. “Do you want to be my friend? If I win the show, we can share the dog treats together!

As the lights dimmed and the music began to play, each dog at the fashion show stepped into the spotlight to reveal their own secret adventure…

Tyleigh B.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is ride my bike. Something I want to try is reading a 7th grader book.When my book is published I will share it with my mom.

Their names were Mia and Fluffy. They are bunnies.

They are funny, nice, cool and they love math. They are both 7 years old and love to play with yo-yos.

They were at the beach. It was a hot day at the beach and Mia learned how to swim.

They made sand stars and they found gold.

They had a good day at the beach.

Alisson B.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play with my family. Something I want to try is a front flip. When my book is published I will share it with my family.

Their names were Arya Nova, Teddy Snowflake and Jimmy Johnny. Teddy Snowflake has a pink dress.

Jimmy Johnny’s favorite thing to do is go to the dog park with Teddy Snowflake and eat treats together.

Gloria B.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play with O’Hara. Something I want to try is cheesecake. When my book is published I will share it with my mom and dad.

Her name was Isabella Snowflake.

She was a bossy girl, a silly girl, a mean girl, and a pretty girl.

She was also a happy girl, a rich girl, a smart girl, a teacher girl, a famous girl, and a cute girl.

They were at a park. They were playing and having fun. There was a singer, and they got ice cream, went home, watched TV, and ate snacks. And then, they went to the store for juice, got books and school supplies, and went back to the park to play tag.

Cardale B.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is play on my Playstation 5. Something I want to try is skydiving. When my book is published I will share it with my mom and dad.

His name was John. He is Tiger John, wearing blue pants, a blue shirt, and a red hat with red glasses. Then, he sees a girl that he likes. He says, “Hi, nice to meet you.” She says, “Do you want to go to the shop?” and he says, “Yes.”

They were in Brazil.

The brightest color he sees is blue. It is a sunny day because the sun is out in this place today. He sees birds. Everything looks bright because the beautiful day, and he wants to see new places.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is watch tv. Something I want to try is doing cool stuff. When my book is published I will share it with Ms. Brissett.

Their name is Tim.

Tim is black, big, and fluffy. He is wearing a red sweater with black stripes, blue pants, and a black hat, and he loves his ball. They were at the beach.

Mekhi C.

Their name was Malik Cavalier.

Malik doesn’t like candy and Malik is silly.

Malik likes to wear red jeans, a white shirt, and black shoes.

Malik likes his owners, and as a dog, his favorite month is January.

They were at a water park.

It was sunny and warm, and Malik enjoyed the water park.

The ground was covered in water, and everything looked bright. It felt windy.

I am 6 ½ years old. My favorite thing to do is go to the movies. Something I want to try is doing hair. When my book is published, I will share it with my mommy.

Their names were CJ and JJ the Badies.

JJ is wearing a crop top, and JJ’s side hands out cash up.

JJ loved his girlfriend, and that BB asked, “Why are you mean?”

They were at the USC game.

The game was on Friday for the dog’s birthday.

She is turning two and a half.

My dog is happy.

Sarae F.

I am 6 ½ years old. My favorite thing to do is play with my twin. Something I want to try is doing tricks. When my book is published, I will share it with my mom.

Their names were the Snowsky Twins. They are so bossy. The twins wear shorts, skirts, and shoes. They were in Hawaii. There were coconuts, palm trees, people, and dogs. The trees are green and one twin is wearing orange.

Elaia F.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is watch TV with Ka’land.

Something I want to try is to do a backflip.

When my book is published, I will share it with Ka’land and another friend.

Their names were Teddy and Eimmle.

She is funny and she has short black hair.

The dog can talk, and the dog is very pretty and she likes playing games. Eimmle and Teddy hang out.

They were at the Night Club.

It was dark and the pets were dancing and playing music.

Pets like it a lot.Amazing.

The Night Club is very, very, very, very, very, very fun!

Elijah H.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is go to Six Flags. Something I want to try is Sho’s Pizza. When my book is published, I will share it with my family.

Their names were Black Clad and Snowflake. They like to spin around and eat well. They were on the moon. And I saw an alien, and I saw seven stars, and I saw the moon. I saw Mars and the sun when I went on a spaceship.

O’Hara J.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play with Gloria.

Their name was Jise. She was wearing a black skirt and a nice white shirt. Her favorite color is black.

Then, they were on a plane.

The sky looked like a big blue monster. It looked like the monster was going to smash the airplane. I am scared.

Samiah N.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is sleep and play. Something I want to try is mushroom pizza. When my book is published, I will share it with my teachers and my mom.

Their names were Sarie H. and Carie B.

Sarie has a blue skirt and a shirt, and Carie has on a dress. They were at daycare. Carie has a blue shirt and a blue skirt.

Manell has a shirt and a skirt.

Satell has a skirt and a shirt.

Ethan O.

I am 6 ½ years old. My favorite thing to do is play video games. Something I want to try is backflip. When my book is published, I will share it with my family.

Their names were Cupcake and Lee.

Cupcake is wearing a dress and boots.

Lee is wearing a hat, a shirt, and pants.

Lee likes Cupcake.

Lee wants to marry Cupcake, and Cupcake likes Lee too, and then they get married.

They were in Florida at the hotel.

They were in the hotel in their room; their room was 55.

Chisom P.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is play soccer with my sister. Something I want to try is to do the splits.

Their names were Queen and Fluffy.

Fluffy is wearing a crown, and the Queen is wearing a dress.

The Queen has hair that is gray, cute, and beautiful. They were at the playground.

They have a bench, a slide, a swing, and stairs.

There are two dogs, grass, dog treats, and a sun.

Jaelyn R.

Their names were Ms. McK, Teddy Snowflake, and Jimmy Johnny.

Teddy Snowflake likes the color pink, and Jimmy Johnny likes books.

Teddy Snowflake was wearing a red skirt to the fashion show that they met at, at the dog park.

They were at a house in the winter.

They were in a house in the winter, and in the cold winter, the women wore nice, warm black coats and matching sweatpants. The dogs were cold but happy.

Eliana S.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is play with my siblings. Something I want to try is to do the splits. When my book is published, I will share it with my family.

Their name was Eille.

Eille’s hairstyle was down.

She was happy.

She is wearing a pink skirt, a yellow shirt, and red shoes.

She had a cute dog.

She went on a hike.

They were at a restaurant. It was dark; it was 3:00 am.

Karley S.

I am a great student and love to play. My favorite thing to do is hang with my friends.When my book is published, I will share it with everyone.

Their names were Starry and Sparkle.

Starry is a puppy with golden fur, and Sparkle is a kitty who likes to wear a purple bow. Starry was wearing a shiny blue cape and silver sneakers. Sparkle was wearing a tutu and tiny sunglasses.

They were at the Magic Carnival. It was a bright and sunny day

Teddy Snowflake Adventures - Part II, Ms. Brissett-Claxton’s

Class

When Teddy Snowflake and Jimmy Johnny arrived at the stage, they got a big surprise!

Suddenly, a loud noise filled the air. It sounded like a rolling thunderstorm, and all the cats and dogs started to freak out. The air smelled like salty seawater and campfire smoke.

Teddy Snowflake and Jimmy Johnny felt very scared. They decided to walk out of the fashion show because the bad weather had ruined everything. They waited and waited, but their owners never came to pick them up.

Soon, the two friends started to argue. They only had one umbrella, and they didn’t want to share! They both pulled and pulled until—rip! The umbrella tore in half. Now, they were both very cold and very wet.

Tyleigh B.

Then, the owners show up and they take their dogs home.

But Teddy and Jimmy are still friends. And they went to the park for 1 hour

Alisson B.

Then Teddy Snowflake and Jimmy Johnny found Teddy’s house and they noticed that their owners were friends.

Then Teddy Snowflake and Jimmy Johnny were talking with their owner.

Gloria B.

Then they hugged it out.

They said, “I’m sorry,” and they ran into a store and bought some dog food near their home.Then, the owners came back, told them they were sorry, and hugged it out.

Cardale B.

Then, they ask, “Do you still want to be friends?”

The boy says, “Yes,” and they apologize and walk home.

Then, they find Jimmy Johnny’s home and they come into his house. It looks cool inside and it looks like a mansion.

Then, they get outside and Teddy says, “Do you want to get an Uber?”

Jimmy says, “No.”

Teddy says, “OK, don’t ask for one later,” and Jimmy says, “Can I have one?” and then Teddy says, “No.”

And then they get the umbrella.

Then Jimmy Johnny said, “I’m sorry, would you marry me?”

She said, “Yes, let’s have our wedding tomorrow.”

Jimmy Johnny says, “Yes.”

Then, Teddy Snowflake and Jimmy Johnny apologized to each other and said, “I’m sorry.”

Elaia F.

Then, they said, “We have shelters.” So they decided they will be friends again.

Elijah H.

Then, the sun came out and the owners became a couple, and Teddy Snowflake and Jimmy Johnny were the winners.

O’Hara J.

Then, the owners showed up.

They hugged and went home.

They got sad, called each other to apologize, and said, “I accept your apology.”

Samiah N.

Then Teddy gets a second jacket from her pocket. When Teddy Snowflake and Jimmy Johnny stepped onto the stage, everyone cheered!

Then, they find a map on the floor, and then they walk in the water.

Then, they stop by a store and eat some food, and they continue on their journey.

Then, they find a taxi, but the taxi driver says, “You need to pay $1.50,” but they only have 50 cents.

The taxi driver says, “Yes, you can pay me 50 cents.”

Then, they got a ride home.

Then, in the end, Jimmy Johnny apologized to Teddy Snowflake, and then Teddy Snowflake said, “I’m sorry to you because I didn’t share my umbrella.”

Jaelyn R.

Then, they go to the food place not too far away. The owner pulled the leashes when they were fighting over the umbrella. She tied the leashes not too tight to the dogs, and then she took them to eat very, very good food, and the dogs were happy again.

Eliana S.

Then the owners show up and they both say, “Time out!” to the dogs.

And then the dogs get mad.

Then they say, “Fine.”

After they hug each other, they both say, “Sorry.”

The owners said, “Get in the car!”

Karley S.

Then, they went to the snack stand. They ate popcorn and drank pink lemonade.

Starry saw a big stage and said, “Do you want to dance?” Sparkle said, “Yes!”

They danced on the stage, and everyone clapped. It was the best day ever!

Brave Kids That Save The Day - Part I,

Ms. Collins’ Class

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Speckles, who was short and had powers to let her fly and control animals. She is six years old and is super smart. When she flies she loves to look at pink flowers. She has a friend named Froggy the Dinosaur, who has green and red skin. They both like to hang out with their other friend named Emma and her pet. They decided to hang out together and eat popcorn, watch a movie which made them feel happy.

It is a scary movie but they are dancing, having a sleepover, eating ice cream and playing a video game called Zeno. The next day they woke up when a monster appeared in front of them! It sounded like a yeti, but it was actually a talking blue statue.

The blue statue said ‘Hi’. Speckles and Emma started to scream and Froggy the Dinosaur passed out. Speckles and Emma left Froggy and ran while the statue says “don’t be afraid”.Speckles and Emma go to the police station and tell them what happened. While the firefighters go and help Froggy who has passed out. The blue statue runs after Speckles and Emma.When the Blue Statue arrived at the police station, something surprised them!Suddenly, a spooky voice went “BOO!” but the air smelled sweet, just like chocolate chip ice cream. Speckles, Froggy the Dinosaur, and Emma felt very scared, but they also felt very hungry.

It was a ghost from a haunted house! This was a big problem because the ghost was scary and dangerous. Speckles, Froggy the Dinosaur, and Emma knew they had to find a way to solve the problem and save the day.

Aamy C.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is make rainbows. Something I want to try is riding a bike. When my book is published, I will share it with my mom and dad.

Their name was Sister. She is small and her hair is green. They were in the garden. She looked like a little flower in the grass.

Ahkirah P.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play. Something I want to try is making slime. When my book is published, I will share it with Cheese.

Their name was Bear. They were at the bakery. He smelled the yummy cookies cooking in the oven.

Aiyanna J.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play. Something I want to try is go play. When my book is published, I will share it with my mom.

Their name was Josephine Zena. She liked sparkles. They were at the park and they loved it. Her dress was shiny and sparkly in the sun.

Alexandra A.

Their name was Egg Zoe. Zoe liked apples. They were at the movies. In the movies they saw funny animals. They shared a giant bag of popcorn while they watched.

Analia R.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play. When my book is published, I will share it with my family.

Their name was Ana.

They were at the Thanksgiving party. They ate a very big turkey for dinner.

Sofia H.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is slime. Something I want to try is lemon. When my book is published, I will share it with my mom.

Their name was Ceeno. She likes Wicked.

They were at the theater. I hear the music playing. She sang a beautiful song on the stage.

Daniel G.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is watch youtube. When my book is published, I will share it with my friends.

Their names was SinSori. He gave a nice stomp.

They were at the park and saw some trees. He stomped on the dry leaves under the tree.

Darnell G.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is play Roblox. Something I want to try is sushi. When my book is published, I will share it with my baby sister.

Their name was DJ. He doesn’t like apples. They were at the beach and the sky looked bright blue. He played in the waves all day long.

Jacob M.R.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play games. When my book is published, I will share it with my family.

Their name was Jacob M. R. They went to the moon.

Juliet G.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is playing with my tablet. Something I want to try is swimming with my mom. When my book is published, I will share it with my mom.

Their name was Joy.

She wears a blue shirt and pink skirt. They were at Ice Cream Land.

It has rainbows and it smells like ice cream. She got a big scoop of strawberry ice cream.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is play Roblox. Something I want to try is an apple. When my book is published, I will share it with my mom.

Their name was Kartl. They looked like tomatoes. He was very round and bright red in the garden.

Nyla W.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play Roblox. Something I want to try is ice cream. When my book is published, I will share it with my mom and dad.

Their name was Soye Lbboow. She is a K-POP star.

They were at the water park and there were waterslides and pools. She splashed into the blue water with a big smile.

Susy S.

I am 6 years old. Something I want to try is ice cream.When my book is published, I will share it with my mom, dad, and sister.

Their name was Wozm. She likes popcorn. They were at the movies. The popcorn was very salty and crunchy.

Winter S.

Their name was Klu JJ. She likes apples. They were at the park. It was a hot day.

She ate a cold apple to stay cool.

Amir B.

I am 7 years old. When my book is published, I will share it with my uncle.

Their name was Iron Man. They were at the ice cream fun. He used his suit to fly into the sky.

Brave Kids That Save The Day - Part II, Ms. Collins’ Class

After that, they all ate yummy ice cream to feel better. But the day wasn’t over yet! They grabbed a big vacuum cleaner and slurp! They sucked up the ghost just like that.

In the end, they found their friend Froggy the dinosaur. Everyone was happy again, so they all went out to eat one more time!

Now that the adventure is over, take a look at the students’ final drawings and the parting thoughts they shared to close out the story.

Ahkirah P.

Then ice cream.

Aiyanna J.

Then, a ghost!

Emma and Speckles bring back the ghost.

Alexandra A.

Analia R.

Sofia H.

Daniel G.

Darnell G.

Jacob M.R.

Juliet G.

Then, Froggy the Dinosaur got back up.

Then, they finished eating the ghosts. Then they wiped their faces.

Then they went to the pool.

Niema M.

Nyla W.

Susy S.

Winter S.

The Space Story - Part I,

Mr. Mirabal’s Class

Once upon a time, there was an astronaut named Julius, the Ketchup Boy. Julius lived in space in a giant astronaut suit filled with his favorite snacks! He was ten feet tall and had amazing Go-Koo powers that let him fly through the stars.

Julius flew in a bright green and black rocket ship. Inside, there was a cozy bed for him to rest in. He wasn’t alone, though! His friend Little Bro lived in the rocket ship, too. Little Bro even brought his dog along, and the dog’s name was Yeah-Man.

As the rocket ship’s engines hummed and Yeah-Man barked at a passing comet, Julius looked out the window and realized that their cosmic journey was only just beginning…

Samantha R.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is draw. When my book is published, I will share it with my sister.

Their name was Lala.

Little Bro looks like a dog. They were at the beach. She likes to dig in the warm, yellow sand for shells.

Rhy’Ian E.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is Roblox. When my book is published, I will share it with my family.

Little bro looks like a turkey. They were in Los Angeles. He likes to gobble up some yummy pizza.

Aiden G.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is playing Roblox. When my book is published, I will share it with Alex.

Their name was Little Bro, and they looked like a streamer. They were in Minecraft. The Minecraft grass and tall trees were made of green blocks.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play. When my book is published, I will share it with Aiden.

Little Bro looks like a police officer.

They were at a park.

He used his shiny silver badge and his whistle to keep the park safe.

Ayden N.

I am 6 years old. My favorite thing to do is play Roblox. Something I want to try is riding a bike. When my book is published, I will share it with my family.

Their name was Sam. Little Bro looks like a clown. They were in Las Vegas. He did a funny dance and a big wiggle to make people laugh.

Joziah P.

My favorite thing to do is fly a kite. Something I want to try is math. When my book is published, I will share it with my mom.

Their name was Little Bro, and he looked like a brave astronaut. They were in space. He jumped over a giant white moon rock on the moon.

Their name was Julius the Ketchup Boy, and he looks like a giant red bottle.

They were at the park. He played on the big red slide with his friends.

Logan M.

I am 7 years old. My favorite thing to do is cheer on people. When my book is published, I will share it with my family.

Their name was Monster Man. He had a friend named Julius the Ketchup Boy. Julius looked very silly and a little bit scary.

One day, they went to space. They saw bright stars and a big, round moon.

Anthony

H.

My favorite thing to do is play with my friends. When my book is published, I will share it with my family.

Their name was Super Bot. Super Bot was a robot dog who had wheels for feet. They were at a Space Party.

It was a bright day in the stars. Everything was purple and blue.

The Space Story - Part II, Mr. Mirabal’s Class

When Julius the Ketchup Boy and Little Bro reached the Sun, they found something very strange.

First, they heard a high scream: “HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Then, they smelled onions and roasted lemon chicken. Julius and Little Bro were scared, but their tummies were growling!

It was a VAMPIRE! Because the vampire tried to eat them, Julius and Little Bro threw a toilet at him. Bonk! The toilet hit the vampire. He jumped up and started chasing them as fast as he could!

Then, the Vampire jumped all the way to the gate on Mercury!

Finally, Julius the Ketchup Boy and his dog, Yeah-man, flew back to Earth. They shouted, “YIPEEEEEEEE!” together. They tilted their heads back, looked up at the bright sun, and felt happy.

We wrote the end of this story together as a class, and we hope you love looking at our drawings!

Rhy’Ian E.

Aiden G.

Axel H.

Joziah P.

Kenzye P.

Logan M.

CHAPTER TWO

Project Apocalypse: Room 7’s Race Against Time - Ms. Reed’s Class

Once upon a time, there was a group of inventors from Room 7 at 74th Street Elementary School. Everyone knew they were inventors because of their legendary uniforms. Some rocked pink boots and cowboy suits, while others wore sleek quarter-zip sweaters and Nikes, calmly drinking Matcha while they calculated complex formulas.

Every inventor wore a heavy scientist tool belt loaded with laserwrenches and holographic blueprints. They topped off the look with Meta glasses and carried reinforced suitcases filled with glowing radioactive materials.

They traveled quickly to their Innovation Lab, a massive, bustling headquarters. It was a wild scene: scientific ingredients were bubbling over in glass beakers, and in one corner, there was a specialized sanctuary where massive dinosaurs were being cared for.

Between the high-tech skincare stations and the glowing experiments, the lab filled your nose with the scent of fresh mint and sweet fruit, mixed with the adventurous smell of smoke and flickering fire.

All of a sudden, they got an urgent alert. Their robotic assistant came strutting through the lab, its metallic feet clanging against the floor as it blurted out a loud, piercing siren.

The message was terrifying: a radioactive meteor was screaming toward Earth, and it was carrying a zombie apocalypse inside it! If the meteor hit, the radiation would turn everyone into the walking dead. To fix the problem, the inventors knew they needed to create something brand new. This wasn’t a job for just one tool, it was a global emergency.

They decided to split up and each design a unique invention to tackle a different part of the issue. Some focused on the meteor’s flight path, while others prepared for the zombie threat.

They went to their individual workstations, pushed their Meta glasses up onto their foreheads, took one last sip of Matcha, and got to work.

With their Meta glasses synced and their glowing materials ready, the inventors of Room 7 activated their individual blueprints to design the unique solutions needed to save the world!

Author: Jai’or B.

Jai’or is a kind person. She loved family. Her favorite thing to do is hair. She hopes you enjoy her story.

Invention Name: Lulu V

To save the day, Lulu V will shoot powerful lasers and drop heavy bombs to defeat the monsters. But first, I need to gather my secret materials! My first stop is the nearest Home Depot to pick up radioactive supplies and extra-long rolls of blueprint paper. Next, I have an emergency trip to the mall. I need fresh Lululemon outfits for the team so we stay stylish even when we get dirty on the job! I’ll grab my drone to help me scout for monsters. Now that I have my gear and my Lululemon, it’s time to head back to the Innovation Lab. With my supplies ready, I can finally start building the invention that will stop the apocalypse

Author: Autumn B.

Autumn is a kid who likes to sleep and her favorite thing to do is sleep. She hopes you like her story.

Invention Name: EX72626

My invention is called EX72626, and it is a powerful robot designed to save the world.To build it, I had to travel through time to gather the rare materials I needed. It was a long journey, and it took me 20 days of hard work in the lab to finish the construction.

The EX72626 has a massive boom to take down the zombies, but it also has a secret weapon. The invention is so moist that it traps the zombies! Since the zombies have no food in their carts, they eventually give up. In the end, everyone is happy again, and the world is safe from the apocalypse!

Author: Bailey C.

Bailey loves K-Pop. My favorite thing to do is croquet. I hope you love my story.

Invention Name: Baddie Strawberry

My invention is called the Baddie Strawberry. It is equipped with a sharp sniper tool that is so precise it turns zombies instantly into water! Once the zombies are gone, the true magic begins.

The hero of this story is a mesmerizing Mermaid who is a total Chanel girl. She loves luxury and vintage dresses, but she is also a fierce warrior. To create the ultimate defense, we found a rare, mutated strawberry and combined it with ‘Chinese Power Fruit.’ We placed these ingredients on a magical mannequin to merge them together.

Using her legendary Summer Power Fruit, the Mermaid activated the invention. With a final ‘Slay,’ the transformation was complete! The Baddie Strawberry now protects the world with style, beauty, and hightech power, making sure the zombies never stand a chance.

Author: Francisco F.

Francisco is a soccer star who loves chips. His favorite thing to do is play outside. He hopes you enjoy his story.

Invention Name: Lazer

To save the planet, I first had to gather my top-secret materials. I headed deep into my hidden headquarters where I kept a secret room filled with high-tech weapons and rockets. My plan was bold: I was going to use a rocket to explode the radioactive meteor while it was still mid-air!

I wasn't alone in this mission, though. I found a new pet named Tom, and together, we worked around the clock to build a super-charged laser gun. Just as the meteor was screaming toward Earth, I realized the gun wasn't loaded! It was a race against time. I did a quick-load, took a deep breath, and, BOOM! The meteor exploded into a million tiny pieces. Because of my invention and Tom’s help, I became the hero of the entire world. The apocalypse was cancelled, and the Earth was safe once again.

Author: Angel G.

Angel likes pizza. He hopes you enjoy his story.

Invention Name: Coco

To stop the big meteor, I knew I needed a friend from another planet. I started by raiding my house to find the best materials. I looked in the kitchen for glowing things and in the garage for old metal parts. After working very hard, I finally built my invention: a cool alien named Coco!

Coco was made to stop the zombies. He used his special alien powers to fix the radiation and turn the zombie germs into harmless dust. Raiding my house was a great idea! Because I found the right stuff, Coco was able to save the world, and now everyone is safe.

Author: Ebed H.

Ebed is a football player, who loves to win. He loves to draw and he loves his family. He hopes you like this book.

Invention Name: Gokugun (Black Knight and the Zombie)

The Gokugun is a powerful invention that can eliminate zombies—or basically anything! One day, I got an urgent message from my assistant about a zombie invasion. I put on my Nike tech gear and grabbed some spray ground, and then I went straight to work. My friend, who knows how to travel into the world of anime, helped me choose the best powers from Cell and Goku. I used my power tools to combine them all into the ultimate weapon: the Gokugun Cell.

As I was building, I looked up and saw the meteor. BOOM! They were here for Earth! “Haaaa!” I yelled as I grabbed my Gokugun. The zombies and I began to fight. I fought off the small ones, but then the King Zombie showed up! I grabbed my Gokugun and switched it to Power Mode. I fired a huge BLAST and everything went white. I wondered, “Am I dead?” But then everything went back to normal. Earth was saved and I did it, I didn’t die.

Author: O’Hani J.

O’Hani is a kind person who loves being creative in Art, solving problems in Math, and writing in ELA. Their favorite thing to do is dance! They hope you enjoy reading their story. Have a wonderful day.

Invention Name: Cute Fighter

One way the Cute Fighter helps is that she is a very fast warrior made specifically for girly girls. I decided to make a robot that is both stylish and tough. These robots have hair on their heads that you can actually change to different colors! While most are made from metal, the special ones made from solid diamond are worth millions or even billions of dollars. However, being a high-tech robot comes with some obstacles. Water is very dangerous because the Cute Fighter is powered by electricity. Wood is also a challenge; she is great at punching, but wood is too hard to chop through. Even giant planes are an obstacle because they are big enough to squash a robot!

If a zombie goes into the water, the standard Cute Fighter has to be very careful when reaching in. But for the diamond version, the water is no problem at all! No matter the obstacle, the Cute Fighter is always ready to save the day in style.

Author: Dream J.

Dream is a nice person who is kind. Their favorite thing to do is be cool and she hopes you are kind.

Invention

Name: Fruit Land in Atlanta

My invention helps save the world because when zombies take a bite of my special fruit, they turn good again! I decided to create Fruit Land to stop the apocalypse. To make my invention work, I first had to go on a long journey. I traveled all the way to Atlanta because it was important to get a special watermelon. In my opinion, watermelon is the best fruit in the world!

If the zombies eat the fruit from Fruit Land, they are allowed to stay on Earth because they become kind and helpful. But if they don’t eat the fruit, they have to leave. We can’t let them stay if they aren’t ‘Fruit Land zombies’ because they would ruin the world. Thanks to my trip to Atlanta and my special invention, the zombies are finally turning into good friends.

Author: Honestie M.

Honestie is a singer at church. She loves God, the pool, family, and TikTok. She hopes you enjoy her story.

Invention Name:The Matcha-Katana

The invention will have grand swords and Katanas to fight back, and they will put out ice so the zombies get stuck! I decided to make skincare and clothing, so I studied to make a business at Lululemon. grand swords and Katanas to fight back against the apocalypse! They also have a special power to put out ice so the zombies get stuck in place. Before the chaos started, I decided to make skincare and clothing, so I studied how to start a business at Lululemon and Sephora.

Suddenly, the zombies came! They started to throw rocks and hot lava at us. I started to run as fast as I could, but I spilled my Matcha and my Meta glasses fell off! I had to keep going, so I ran onto a plane. I was very scared at first, but I got over it. We were all working hard and facing our fears, but we knew we had to save the world.

Author: Maryah N.

Maryah loves her family. Her favorite thing to do is hang out with her family. She hopes you enjoy her story.

Invention Name: 80670 Maryah

I decided to make 80670. 80670 is a good robot, but to build him, we first need to find some special materials. I had to go all the way to the plasma pool to find what I needed. It was so scenic there! That is how 80670 became sacred. Now that I have all my things, let’s go back to the HQ and finish the job.

Author Name: Kahsani P.

Kahsani is a chill guy. He likes black and red. His favorite thing to do is play games. He hopes you like his story.

Invention Name: Ki-Venom Armor

My invention will help save the world by killing zombies with total precision! I decided to make a special suit of armor that can turn into a giant robot. This robot comes equipped with a powerful Ki-Gun and a sharp sword. To build this invention, I first had to travel to the Ki Volcano to find rare Ki-Gems.

The volcano was a dangerous place! I had to fight my way through KiLava, lava demons, and lava robots. There was even lava rain, lava rocks, and giant lava-robot-dinosaurs! After surviving the volcano, I traveled to the Symbiote Home to get the Venom Symbiote. I had to defeat the massive Symbiote Boss to prove I was strong enough to use its power. Finally, I went back to the lab to mix the armor, the weapons, and the symbiote together. Now, the Ki-Venom Armor is ready for battle.

Author: Roland P. III

Roland’s favorite thing to do is make things. He hopes you like his story.

Invention Name: The Blue Energy Watch

My invention can stop the zombie apocalypse so you never have to worry about turning into a zombie! To build it, I decided to create a Time Machine. I used it to travel back in time to gather a rare supply of Blue Energy. This energy is the secret ingredient I need to power my greatest weapons: the Kamehameha, the Hadouken, and my glowing Energy Sword.

I also invented a special Power Watch that stores all that Blue Energy. When I wear the watch, I have the strength to destroy all the zombies and protect the world. Once my team comes back to help, we will work together to repair all the damage and make the Earth beautiful again. The apocalypse doesn’t stand a chance!

Author: Danyel S.

Danyel loves books and the sun. Her favorite thing to do is tell stories. She hopes you enjoy her work.

Invention Name: Danyel*LOLS

To save the world, I decided to build a Great Dragon. This dragon is very powerful and can even turn into a fast boat to travel across the ocean. When the apocalypse started, my dragon flew into the sky to fight the monsters and protect everyone.

My dragon uses its fire and strength to stop the bad guys from ruining the world. Even though the apocalypse is scary, my dragon is brave and never gives up. Because of my invention, the world is safe again.

Author: Amado V. Jr.

Amado loves to play games, but his absolute favorite thing to do is play soccer. He is a huge fan and hopes that Ronaldo will win the World Cup! He is excited for you to read his story.

Invention: World Cup Time Traveler

I have the power to time travel, and I used it to see the history of the world. First, I traveled back to 2011 to see the great war. Then, I went back to 2006 to watch the World Cup final: Zidane vs. Italy. I wanted Zidane to win so badly that I had to be there to see it for myself.

But the mission became dangerous when the zombies arrived. It was important for me to build a massive army to protect the fans. My army has powerful tanks and high-tech guns, and they are ready for war. After my army finishes killing all the zombies, I am going to time travel again to see Ronaldo in the final of the World Cup! If the zombies are still here, I will just jump back to 2006 to hang out with Zidane again. No matter what year it is, I will make sure the zombies are gone and the soccer games are saved!

Author: Lyrik W.

Lyrik is a dancer and loves Tic-Tok. Her favorite thing to do is make Youtube videos. She hopes you like and read her story.

Invention Name: Sicking Green Matcha

My invention helps stop people from getting sick and turning into zombies! One day, I drank a cup of green matcha. Suddenly, I started feeling sick and my skin actually began turning green! Before I knew it, everyone else who drank the matcha was turning green too. It was a green matcha disaster.

Luckily, a girl named May invented a special Strawberry Matcha. As soon as I drank it, I turned back to normal! I started selling the Strawberry Matcha to everyone in town to cure them and turn them back into humans. I was so happy that I wasn’t sick anymore. I love strawberry matcha, and now green matcha is done for good!

Attack of the Lava-SaursMs. Terz’s Class

Once upon a time, there was a group of inventors from the Hawaii class at 74th Street Elementary School. While most people go to Hawaii to relax, these students were on a mission: they were busy inspecting glowing lava flows, swimming in steaming geysers, and collecting data from the peaks of active volcanoes.

Everyone knew they were inventors because of their specialized gear. They wore heavy-duty inventor coats over their clothes, topped with vibrant flower leis and hats made of living plants. With goggles resting on their heads, gloves pulled tight, and a clipboard and pen always ready to record a discovery, they looked like the ultimate tropical scientists.

They were currently stationed at their Innovation Lab, which was tucked right into the side of a volcanic mountain. The lab was crowded and humming with energy; it looked like a forest of wires and metal. The air was thick with the scent of harsh chemicals and volcanic smoke, mixed with the strange, metallic smell of high-tech machinery.

Everywhere you looked, there were shelves lined with ancient fossils and glowing DNA samples from creatures long forgotten.

All of a sudden—DING!—an urgent alert flashed across every screen in the lab. The message said the world needed their help solving a massive problem: the volcanoes were erupting, and instead of just lava, ancient, radioactive dinosaurs were rising out of the magma!

These fire-breathing prehistoric beasts were coming back to life, and the sudden surge of volcanic pollution was beginning to block out the sun.

To fix the problem, the inventors knew they needed to create something brand new. A regular fire extinguisher wouldn’t stop a lava-dinosaur! They decided to split up and each design a unique invention to tackle a different part of the issue, some focusing on cooling the lava, and others on calming the dinosaurs.

They rushed to their crowded workstations, grabbed their clipboards, and got to work.

The hum of the lab grew louder as the Hawaii class inventors sprang into action. Gears turned, chemical solutions bubbled, and the scratching of pens filled the room. Each scientist had a different plan to save the world, and there was no time to waste. From the depths of their workstations, the most incredible inventions began to take shape.

Here are the top-secret files of the inventions that saved the day:

Author: Trevor B.

Trevor likes to play sports and play games. His favorite thing to watch is Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn. He hopes you like his story.

Invention: Lava Cooling Mini-Gun

My invention is designed to cool down the lava so we don’t get burnt. To build it, I had to board a spaceship and travel to Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, and Uranus to collect the parts for my Mini-Gun.

After putting it together, I added the Special Sauce from the back room. But disaster struck, I realized one of the bolts was left behind on Mars! My spaceship was already moving, so I had to sprint to the Secret Nitro Room. I filled the ship with Nitro, and just one minute later, I was back on the Red Planet.

I forgot the password to the storage vault, so I used a Fake ID to get inside! I grabbed the bolt and made it back in only three minutes. I attached the bolt to the Special Sauce container with some tape to keep it steady on the side. I closed the lids, tucked it safely into the new UFO, and locked the storage spot. That is all I can tell you for now... I can’t reveal what happens next!

The End.

Author: Mari B.

Mari loves to dance and her favorite thing to do is listen to music and sing. She hopes that you like some things that she likes in her bio.

Invention: Mari B’s Time Travel 350

I invented a Time Machine, but there was just one problem: it didn’t have a power source! To make it work, I needed a special crystal called the Heat Crystal. This rare gem can only be found deep inside an underwater volcano.

I knew I couldn’t do it alone, so I gathered a team to help me. We got our gear ready and jumped into our Robotic Underwater Sea-Carver. But just as we were about to dive into the deep, we realized we forgot the most important item, the batteries! We ran as fast as we could to grab them and made it back just in time.

We dove deep into the boiling water, navigated the volcano, and successfully grabbed the crystal. We made it back home safely, and now my Time Machine is ready to change history.

Author: Ariana C.

Ariana is a dancer in the future. She loves empanadas. Her favorite thing to do is play Roblox on her device. She hopes you don’t make bad decisions and treat others how you want to be treated.

Invention Name: The Quick Fixer

My invention is a special spray that fixes any problem in the quickest way possible! When the crisis started, I rushed into my basement to find extra materials for my machines. I needed a secret chemical for my ‘Innovation Juice,’ so I had to travel to the future to find it.

But there was a problem! When I got to the future, the streets were crowded with people. I tried to push through the crowd over and over again because a giant meteor was almost here! Finally, I broke through. I strapped on a Jetpack, flew into space, and landed on the moon to collect the glowing juice I needed.

I rushed back to the present time and poured the juice into my invention. I sprayed it everywhere! In just one second, everything was fixed. The dinosaurs went back into the volcanoes, the lava retreated, and the meteor flew back into deep space. Everything was normal again. We went back to our lab to keep experimenting and making useful inventions for people who need them. We did all our adventures together as the best friends in the universe!

Author: Cali-Marie C.

Cali is sweet, but she can be a little bit mean when she wants to be! She is a creative spirit who loves singing and drawing. Her absolute favorite thing to do is spend time playing with her uncle’s dog, Louie.

Invention Name: The Fire-Extinguisher 10.0

My invention is the Fire-Extinguisher 10.0. And it is ten times better than a regular one! It solves the dinosaur problem by spraying a special mist that makes them incredibly sleepy. Once they breathe it in, they will stay asleep for twenty years!

To get the materials I need, I have to travel to Venus, Saturn, and the local hardware store. I’ll have to build some of the parts myself because they are very hard to find. The aliens better let me use their supplies, or I will take their snacks and throw them into the volcano!

After I get the materials from the aliens, I’ll head back to the lab to eat an egg salad sandwich for energy. Then, I’ll get started! But wait—Oh no! Our lab is broken because the dinosaurs attacked! I need even more materials to fix the building. Okay, everything is repaired now... let’s start the build!

Author: Taliyah C.

Invention Name: Sleepy Night Night

My invention solves the world’s biggest problem by playing a super-loud sound directly into the dinosaurs’ ears to make them fall fast asleep

First, I hopped onto my spaceship to meet some aliens and get a special Raygun. Then, I flew back to the lab to upload the sound into the machine. But suddenly, I realized I had a huge problem: I ran out of Sound Sticks! To get to the store quickly, I had to jump inside my Stitch movie so I could travel at top speed.

I finally got to the store, but I only had five minutes left! I hurried back to the lab as fast as I could and assembled all the pieces. Finally, it was finished. The Sleepy Night Night was officially invented, and the dinosaurs didn’t stand a chance against the nap of a lifetime.

Author: Lucas C.

Lucas is a huge basketball fan who loves playing the game, watching the pros, and listening to music. When he’s not on the court, he’s usually playing with his dog. Lucas dreams of playing in the NBA one day, and he hopes you absolutely love his story, ‘The Lava Trauma’!

Invention Name: The Megaphone 3000

The Megaphone 3000 is the ultimate tool for calming the chaos. It has a spray mode that sends out relaxing smells to calm down any creature. If that doesn’t work, you can switch the mode to send out a triggering sound with different levels of intensity. It has two heavy-duty handles because it is very heavy, a scope to aim at the monsters, and a special Obsidian Net for catching smaller creatures.

The device is made of pure Vibranium. The best blacksmith I know looked at our blueprints and forged the metal in a tank of molten lava at 3,000 degrees to bend it into the perfect shape!

There are some obstacles, of course. If you fire the net and an object is in the way, it can malfunction. Also, because it is so heavy, it can be hard to aim if a creature is charging at you quickly. To fix this, we are working on a smaller version that uses fewer resources! You also have to be careful with the sound mode, if something blocks the sound waves, they can backfire on you!

We finally finished it and placed the Megaphone 3000 on a podium inside an empty vault in the lab. A week later, the time finally came. We checked the thermometer and saw the heat rising, the dinosaurs were waking up! I rushed to the vault, grabbed the Megaphone 3000, put on my outfit, and got ready for action.

Author: Jolie E.

Jolie is an artist. She loves to eat. Her favorite thing to do is read. She hopes you love her story.

Invention Name: Dino Lullaby

My invention is designed to put the dinosaurs into a deep sleep so we can collect DNA samples and escape before they wake up! To build it, I first had to travel to the past to find a rare dinosaur tail. Then, I traveled to the future to find a special metal forged in fire to hold the chemicals for my Sleep Waves.

But then, disaster struck! Right as I was preparing to head home, the time machine malfunctioned. BOOM! It exploded into a million tiny pieces. I had to clean up the mess, but I didn’t give up. Instead, I invented something even better: the Time Remote. With just one push of a button, I can travel through time instantly!

I used the remote to zip back to the future, grabbed the fire-metal I needed, and returned to what was left of my lab. I worked hard among the ruins and finally succeeded. The Sleep-Wave Remote is finished! Thanks for reading my part of the story.

Author: Greyson E.

Greyson loves to eat and have fun. His favorite thing to do is play Roblox. He hopes to grow up to be a professional football player one day.

Invention Name: The Lava Cooling 3000

My invention is a special kind of water that cools down lava instantly. If you spray it on the magma, you can actually hold it in your hand and you won’t get burned!

To make enough of it, I have to go on a massive shopping trip to Target and Walmart. I’ll be buying lots and lots of ice to create the base for the solution. To test it out, we’ll spray it on a practice lava block to make sure it works perfectly.

But we have a major problem: the dinosaurs are only five minutes away! Our ice still needs to melt into water, and the volcano is set to erupt in exactly five minutes. We might be late, and the lava might cool down and harden before we can even get there to save the day. We have to move fast!

Author: Eliana F.

Eliana loves spending time with her family more than anything. Her favorite thing to do is play soccer with her dad. She is so excited to share her invention with you and hopes you enjoy her story!

Invention Name: Supergun of Liquid Ice

My invention solves the problem by launching Liquid Ice directly at the dinosaurs and the flowing lava to freeze them in their tracks.

To build it, I needed a special tube that can turn regular water into freezing Liquid Ice. The only place to find it was at the very top of Mount Everest. When I got close to the peak, it was much colder than I expected! Luckily, I was prepared; I reached into my bag and put on my four extra jackets to stay warm.

Once I made it down from the mountain, I rushed back to the lab to start building. While I was working, a baby dinosaur tried to break into my station! I stayed quiet and kept working until he finally gave up and left. Now, the invention is finally done. Let’s go stop the lava and the dinosaurs!

Author: Bella Hamilton-W.

Bella is a huge animal lover who cares for both dogs and cats. Between running track and playing Call of Duty, this inventor stays busy and active. Fast on the track and quick with big ideas.

Invention Name: Lava and Water

Rumble! The Lava Queen is hungry for power and wants more land for her kingdom. With a massive roar, her volcano erupts, sending rivers of fire flowing toward the valley.

Oh no! The eruption woke up the Water People. In their kingdom, a volcano eruption means only one thing: war. The Lava People prepared for battle, armed with ancient bones and magical lighters to keep their fires burning.

Terrified but brave, the Water People grabbed their kids and little ones, running to safety to plan their defense. Now, the ultimate battle is about to begin between the Lava Queen and the Water Queen. The world is shaking, and only one kingdom can win!

Author: Darell H.

Darell likes to play games online. His favorite thing to do is play basketball. He hopes you like the story about dinosaurs.

Invention Name: The Water Mecha

My invention is a giant Water Mecha built to stop the dinosaurs and put out their fires. It is so high-tech that it can even launch a fleet of Water Drones to save other areas while the Mecha fights!

To build it, I needed giant iron body parts and rare Water Gemstones for power. These gemstones are hidden in a secret river deep underground. This river could be anywhere at the center of the world, inside a booby-trapped cave, or even on a different planet! I used my specialized scanner to track the gems to a location deep under the ocean floor.

I jumped into my Drill-Submarine and headed for the coordinates. It was hard to navigate, but I used the drill to break through the rock until I finally reached the river. I collected the Water Gemstones and rushed back to the lab. I built a Power Sustainer for the gems, and they began to glow with blue energy! I attached the iron body parts and finished the build. The dinosaurs were coming soon, and I hadn’t even tested the robot yet! I hurried to the secret testing room, and it worked perfectly.

Author: Kaleb J.

Kaleb loves watching funny videos and riding a scooter.Looking ahead, Kaleb dreams of becoming a professional comedian or even a lawyer one day.

Invention Name: The Freeze Bomb 3000

My invention is designed to save the world from the dinosaur invasion! When the dinosaurs attack, we can throw a Freeze Bomb at them to turn them into ice statues for exactly one hour.

To build this powerful weapon, I needed very specific materials. I gathered 158 ice cubes and a secret radioactive formula from Area 51. Then, I hopped into my ship to grab a piece of metal from Jupiter and another from Mars.

An hour later, I was back at the lab and ready to start my experiment. I smashed all the ingredients together and prepared to freeze them, but then I realized I was missing one final thing! I rushed to the Alien Kingdom (which was only two minutes away) and managed to get a rare Alien Tongue.

I froze the tongue together with the space metal and the formula. After three hours of waiting for it to set, it was finally finished! The Freeze Bomb is ready to stop those dinosaurs in their tracks.

Author: Isabella M.

Isabella likes to play with her tablet. She hopes you enjoy her story!

Invention Name: The Water Gun 9000

My invention is the ultimate defense against the dinosaur invasion! When it sprays its powerful blast of water mixed with secret chemicals, it causes the radioactive dinosaurs to fall over and make the iconic ‘Oof’ sound from Roblox. The best part? It comes in any size!

To build it, I used a normal water gun and a special machine that makes objects grow to a massive size. I mixed the water with my secret chemical and loaded it into the gun. I was almost done, but then the giant-making machine stopped working!

I ran through the crowded lab, searching for a way to fix it. After four long minutes of sprinting back and forth, I knew I only had one minute left before the attack. The countdown began: 10, 9, 8... I started to panic. 6, 5... I thought I had it! 3...but the clock kept counting. 2, 1... ERROR!

‘A dinosaur bit the cable!’ someone shouted. A dinosaur was right there in the lab! I shot it with the small water gun, and luckily, it chased the dino away. While someone else fixed the cable, I finally made my water gun BIG! It was an intense battle, but our class won. Some dinosaurs ran away, and some were defeated, but most importantly, everyone in our class is okay!

Author: Benjamin M.

Benjamin loves soccer and pizza. His favorite thing to play is MineCraft. He hopes you enjoy his story.

Invention Name: Water Cannon 2000

My invention solves the problem by shooting down the fire-breathing dragons with a high-pressure water blast. To build it, I had to take my time machine back to World War II to find a Mag-043 and a precision scope. Once I had the military gear, I traveled back to 2026 and headed straight to Target. I bought a high-powered water gun, took out the water tank, and attached my vintage gear to it. I filled it up, reinforced the seals, and repeated the process until the weapon was perfect.

But I was almost out of time, the dinosaurs were already on the loose! I had to rush toward the volcano where they were gathering, but suddenly, a massive, fire-breathing dragon blocked my path. I had to fight for my life! During the battle, I was badly hurt and lost my leg. I was bleeding, but I knew I couldn’t quit.

I patched myself up and healed my wounds as fast as I could. Limping but determined, I pushed forward to the volcano where the dinosaurs were swarming. When I finally arrived, I looked at my watch and realized time had run out! It was finally time to face the dinosaurs and save the world.

Author: Zuleyka M.

Zuleyka is a singer. She loves drawing and she hopes you like her story.

Invention Name: The Portal of Time and Ice

While some of my crew worked on finding water and others tried to train the dinosaurs, I started a new experiment. My goal was to create a special formula that freezes my hands so I can touch the lava and stop it without getting burned. To do this, I needed ice water and a pinch of Fairy Dust.

Suddenly, a massive thunderstorm rolled in! We only had seven minutes left, but we needed ten minutes to finish. I had to pivot fast. I used Coal, Ruby, and Diamond to build a magical portal that leads to the past. Once I stepped through the portal, I had all the time I needed to finish my freezing formula!

When the work was done, I sent a team to control the dinosaurs while the others used the magical water to stay safe from the lava. After we saved the day, we celebrated our victory with a surprise donut party! That is the end of my part of the story.

Author: Chloë M.

Chloë is a girl who loves missions. She loves to be creative and learn about dinosaurs. Her favorite food is Korean corn dogs, and she likes to invent stuff with her friend Ariana.

Invention: The Time Mop Portal

My invention can take you back in time! If you pull the Time Mop, it acts like a steering wheel to point you in the right direction while you travel through the years.

To make the portal work, I have to go back in time to collect special Gas and Powerful Water. Once I pour them into the portal, it starts to hum and glow. But there is a catch: the fuel only lasts for three hours. Before the time runs out, I have to rush back and get more materials, or the portal will shut down and I’ll have to start all over again!

When the portal is ready, it creates a bright, flashing light and pulls in a huge gust of air. Sometimes it sucks you in fast, and sometimes it takes you gently, but it is always super, super fast!

Author: Heidi O.

Heidi is kind. She loves to cook. Her favorite thing is music and she wished you the best of luck.

Invention Name: Telescope Food 3,000

My invention is designed to trap dinosaurs without anyone getting hurt. It releases a special scent that makes the dinosaur crave food. It will follow the smell right into an Unbreakable Cage to get the meat inside. Once the dinosaur steps in, it hits a button and—snap!—it’s safely stuck!

To get the best bait, I boarded my spaceship and jumped off right onto the moon! I spawned a special telescope to find a space supermarket. But then, disaster struck! A screw fell off the Telescope Food 3000, and the entire invention fell apart. Even worse, a giant meteor was about to hit in just one minute!

I used my Stopwatch to stop time and tried to move at supersonic speed to fix it, but it broke again! I didn’t quit, though. I kept trying and trying. It took me 1,000 years of practice and fixing, but I finally got it to work.

Author: Skarlett P.

Skarlett is a girl who loves art. She listens to music. She wishes she can be a chef when she is older and hopes you like the book.

Invention Name: Ice Cold Machine

My invention solves the problem by cooling the dinosaurs down so they can stay calm for 48 hours. To get the materials I need, I have to fly to Saturn in my spaceship. Once I land, I’m heading straight to the Saturn Store to get the supplies that will turn those dinosaurs into igneous rocks or ice!

During the flight, my spaceship windshield suddenly shattered! Luckily, I was prepared and grabbed my extra windshield to fix it right away. I made it to Saturn, gathered all my materials, and rushed back to Earth. I finished cooling down the dinosaurs, and now they are totally chilled out.

The End.

Author: Darla P.

Darla is an artist. She loves paint, colored pencils and markers. Her favorite thing to do is play games and eat wings.

Invention Name: Darla’s Freeze Ray

We can use the Freeze Ray to freeze the dinosaurs and save the world! To build it, I first hopped into my spaceship and headed for Mars. I had to fly like a pro to dodge thousands of meteors on my way to get the special Martian ice.

I finally made it back to the lab, but I was too late, the dinosaurs were already inside! They found my secret potions and ate them all. Because of those potions, the dinosaurs started throwing up hot lava everywhere! That was the exact moment I grabbed the Freeze Ray and used it to stop them before the lab melted.

Author: Andrew R.

Andrew is an athlete. He loves games, soccer, and football. His favorite thing to do is play Call of Duty. He hopes you like his story!

Invention Name: The Solve a Problem 2000!

My invention can be switched into the Frost Lava Dino setting to freeze every dinosaur in sight!

To build it, I first had to find the Freeze Ray on Neptune and then locate a Freeze Bomb at the core of the Earth in the year 23,004. But suddenly, magma started erupting and destroyed my magic ice! I had to act fast and activate the backup ice bomb.

To fix everything, we jumped into the time machine and traveled to the year 50,300. Why? Because in the future, everything we need has already been invented! We went to the store to buy our supplies, but we found out there was only one piece of magic ice left. We had to grab it before someone else took it!

We got the ice just in time, but then someone snatched the last ice bomb! We had to race to the next store two miles away. We finally got the parts, headed back to our own time, and finished the Freeze Ray just in time to save the world!

Author: Jesteen S.

Jesteen loves puppies and is very creative, imaginative, kind, and considerate. She hopes you enjoy her story.

Invention Name: The Sleep-Tranquilized Steak

My invention is a powerful sleep potion that makes the dinosaurs pass out for two hours. To deliver it, my team went to the junkyard to build a massive tranquilizer launcher! Then, we traveled to the future to find the biggest cow possible, cooked a giant steak, and injected it with the potion.

To hide the trap, we went to Home Depot to get fake grass to cover the steak. But we had a problem: the steak rotted too quickly! I had to jump back to the future to get a fresh one, but when I returned, the dinosaurs had destroyed the front of our lab.

I rushed back to Home Depot (again!) to get supplies to rebuild the lab. Once the lab was fixed, I replaced the steak, and it finally worked, the dinosaurs fell fast asleep!

With the world safe, my labmates and I headed back to Hawaii to relax and drink coconut water. But then, disaster struck in the lab! Chemicals spilled all over the floor, and when we cleaned it up, my labmates and I got superpowers: flight, super speed, night vision, invisibility, super jump, super strength, and even Super Noodle power! We are the ultimate hero team now.

Author: Dakarai S.

We are the inventors at 74th Street Elementary. Our favorite thing to do is solve big problems and work together. When our book is published, we will share it with the whole world!

Invention Name: The Super-Cooler 5000

The Master Inventors wore silver coats and glowing goggles at their Volcano Lab. Outside, radioactive dinosaurs woke up! To stop the lava, they flew a jet to Neptune for diamond ice. The jet ran out of power, but they grabbed a battery at a space station and made it back fast. They mixed the ice with “Innovation Juice” and sprayed the volcano. The lava cooled, the dinosaurs went to sleep, and the class celebrated with a pizza party!

Author: Dillon T.

Dillon likes playing outside. His favorite thing is his phone, and he hopes you love Volcanic!

Invention

Name: Seawater Scooter

My invention solves the problem by scooping up fresh seawater and mixing it with a little liquid nitrogen. This makes the water much colder than usual. When you spray this formula on a dinosaur, it freezes them so fast they turn instantly into obsidian rock!

To get the ingredients, I traveled all the way to Antarctica for the purest water and liquid nitrogen. When I got back to the lab, I turned on the Seawater Scooter and scooped up a fresh batch. I tried to spray it, but the machine malfunctioned because one of the batteries was out of place!

I quickly put the battery back where it belonged, but then a dinosaur smashed the ground, blowing us away! The cold seawater splashed on us and woke us up just in time. We stood up and sprayed our formula, turning the dinosaur into solid obsidian. To finish the job, one of the students threw a coconut at the dinosaur, and it shattered into a million pieces!

The Drip -Travelers and the Glacies Ice Invasion - Mr. Meyer’s Class

Once upon a time, there was a group of time-travelers from the 4th Grade class at 74th Street Elementary School. Everyone knew they were time-travelers because they didn’t just walk, they moved with serious “drip.”

They wore diamond-encrusted sneakers that left trails of stardust, glowing white jackets that never got dirty, and furry pants that stayed cool even in the summer. To protect their eyes from the friction of time travel, they rocked high-tech gold-rimmed goggles.

They were currently at their headquarters: The Innovation Lab, hidden right beneath a park in New York City. The lab was a chaotic masterpiece, filled with bubbling potions and clinking science tools.

While the chemicals usually had a sharp, stinging odor, the inventors had perfected a “Floral-Time Potion” that made the whole lab smell like fresh daisies and cherry blossoms.

All of a sudden, they got an urgent alert. It didn’t come from a phone or a computer; instead, a holographic carrier pigeon flew through the wall and shattered into a thousand glowing pieces of data that floated in the air like a puzzle.

The message said that the world needed their help solving a big problem!

The message revealed a terrifying sight: Aliens from the Planet Glacies had arrived. These weren’t mean aliens, but they were very cold. They had accidentally brought Intergalactic Super-Ice with them, and it was spreading across the Earth at light speed.

The time for preparation was over; the Lab’s alarms began to pulse in neon violet as the first wave of stories transmitted directly into the Innovation Lab’s mainframes.

Author: Andy C.

Andy is an energetic pencil collector. He likes to play games, and his favorite thing to do is read Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Invention Name: The Pit of Flames

After the giant area pops up, everything that enters it comes out unfrozen. I traveled back to WWII and secured a tomahawk, then returned to the present to start brewing potions. I infused the weapons with the potion and began throwing them at the frozen houses. Suddenly, I ran out! I wanted to go back for more, but the machine was broken.

Author: Oliver C.

Oliver is funny and he loves pizza. His favorite thing to do is make his brother laugh.

Invention Name: Mek 390SPN

I burned through the aliens and the ice. I went on a mission to find more metal, searching abandoned places and fighting through knights until I defeated the king. I pointed my weapon at the ice and commanded it to help me build an army. I equipped everyone with flamethrowers and gathered gasoline to fuel my machine.

Then, I geared up with heavy armor, a hammer, and a sniper rifle to guard the base and take out any remaining aliens. I built a pool of hot lava around my headquarters to keep the frost away. My army and I marched out to melt the ice and force the aliens to bow. We finally retrieved the Special Flame that can melt the Intergalactic Super-Ice for good. Even though my mech was breaking piece by piece, we rebuilt it and defeated every last alien.

Author: Benjamin C.

Benjamin is a soccer player. He is kind but has a sharp tongue. He loves to play soccer and eat chicken, and his favorite thing to do is play Cookie Run: Kingdom.

Invention Name: Fire Potion

We used a massive fire potion to burn through the ice and the aliens. In the middle of the chaos was a master builder named Benjamin. People didn’t always understand him, but when the aliens, the Ice Golems arrived to take over the world, he showed them who he really was. Benjamin crafted a powerful suit of knight armor with spiked arms. With a thunderous battle cry, he jumped into the fight, and from that day on, everyone called him the Mega Knight.

He began training an elite army of knights to defend the Earth, but jealousy started to brew. One trainee wanted to be the strongest of them all. He wandered into a dark forest and found a river filled with glowing, purple water. He drank the liquid, and the next day, he possessed a dark new power: a force shield that could block two heavy hits. As the knights continued their training, this new Dark Knight was ready to test his strength.

Author: Damiyah S.

Invention Name: Fire Potion

In the Innovation Lab, we don’t just work; we have fun. We run, play, dance, and film TikToks in our gold goggles and stardust sneakers to show the world our “drip” while we save it. When the aliens arrived, I used a giant fire potion to burn the ice and protected our base with a pool of hot lava. Even when my time machine broke and I ran out of potions, I didn’t quit.

Author: Justin T.

Justin is a smart boy and he hopes you love his story.

Invention Name: Invader

The standstills and the cones are waiting, while the snakes are jumping and skipping.

The wheelbarrows are hopping, and at the finish line, we are winning! The spiders are scary, and the bugs are everywhere.

Acknowledgments

826LA would like to thank to following for their support in making this chapbook possible:

To Shilise Stafford: thank you for your partnership and your exceptional leadership throughout this journey.

About 826LA

Vision: 826LA envisions a Los Angeles where every child has access to quality writing education and is empowered to express themselves creatively through writing. We envision a Los Angeles where every teacher is supported in their writing-based educational objectives.

Mission: 826LA is dedicated to unlocking and cultivating the creative power of writing for students ages 6 to 18, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

How we advance our mission: A nonprofit organization, our services are structured around our understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

With this in mind, we provide after-school tutoring in all subjects, evening and weekend workshops, in-school programs, field trips, college access, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications.

All of our programs are challenging and enjoyable, and ultimately strengthen each student’s ability to express ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and in their own voice.

Core Values: 826LA values joy in the service of achieving educational goals. Our community norms value diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. We therefore prioritize partnerships with Title 1 Schools, engagement with historically marginalized populations, and training and deploying community-based volunteers in support of our mission. As a teaching approach, we value creativity, authenticity, empathy, and lively, rigorous, and student-centered writing education. As an educational enrichment organization, we value supporting teachers, principals, and other school staff in the pursuit of excellence.

Programs

As an educational enrichment organization, we value supporting teachers, principals, and other school staff in the pursuit of excellence.

Tutoring

From Monday to Thursday, students attend 826LA for free individual tutoring in all subjects. Students receive homework help and write stories based on prompts. Students submit their writing for inclusion in chapbooks, which 826LA publishes throughout the year. To celebrate students’ hard work, 826LA unveils these chapbooks at book release parties, where students read their work to thunderous applause from their volunteers, families, and peers.

Write On! After School (WO!AS)

Monday through Thursday, we offer after-school tutoring to our younger students ages 5 to 11. Students work one-on-one with trained volunteers to receive homework and writing support.

TNT Tutoring

On Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings, we offer after-school tutoring to our teen students. Students work with volunteers on homework, writing, and college preparedness.

In-Schools and Writers’ Rooms

Because not all students can come to one of 826LA’s writing labs, 826LA brings specially trained volunteers into under-resourced public schools. The volunteers provide one-on-one assistance with writing projects. 826LA works with teachers to craft projects designed to engage students while targeting curricular issues. In addition to visiting many schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District each year, 826LA hosts Writers’ Rooms at Manual Arts High School, Roosevelt High School, and Venice High School.

Workshops

826LA’s Workshops bring students together with artists, writers, and professionals for creative collaboration and development. Whether the subject is flash fiction, playwriting, or preparing for the AI singularity, our workshops foster creativity while strengthening writing skills. This includes our Summer Writers Workshop and monthly Sunday workshops at the Hammer Museum.

Write On! Summer Camp

826LA’s Workshops bring students together with artists, writers, and professionals for creative collaboration and development. Whether the subject is flash fiction, playwriting, or preparing for the AI singularity, our workshops foster creativity while strengthening writing skills. This includes our Summer Writers Workshop and monthly Sunday workshops at the Hammer Museum.

College and Career Access Programs

Our College and Career Access Program is designed to support students in their journey toward higher education and career success. The program culminates in two major events each year. In the Fall, the emphasis shifts to college applications, where students receive one-on-one assistance from specially trained volunteers to enhance their application writing. In the Spring, the emphasis shifts to scholarship applications, where again students are paired with dedicated volunteers to craft compelling scholarship essays. Additionally, our career access initiative offers robust internship programs, providing valuable work experience for many high school students. This comprehensive support system ensures our students are well-prepared for both academic and professional achievements.

JointheFutureBestsellersClub!

Sign up to make a monthly donation to 826LA and you’ll join our Future Bestsellers Club. For as little as ten dollars each month, we’ll deliver writing from our brilliant, emerging authors right to you!

Go to 826LA.org/donate and click on Future Bestsellers Club to join.

Staff

Jaime Balboa

Executive Director

Diego Quevedo

Chief of Staff

Shani Foster Director of Education

Christie Thomas Director of Development

Pedro Estrada

Programs & Operations Manager, Echo Park

Mike Dunbar

Programs & Operations Manager, Mar Vista

Mateo Acosta

Associate Director of Community Engagement

Carinne Kemp

Store and General Operations Manager

Time Travel Marts in Echo Park & Mar Vista

Alma Carrillo

Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Communications

Trevor Crown

Senior Manager of Volunteer Innovation and Assessment

Ariadne Makridakis Arroyo

Senior Volunteer Coordinator

Katie Feige

Institutional Giving Manager

Arisdeysi Cruz

Tutoring Program Coordinator

Marco Beltran

Writers’ Room Program Coordinator

Manual Arts High School

Wendy Beltran

Senior Writers’ Room Program Coordinator, Roosevelt High School

Cole Montgomery

Senior Development Coordinator

Ariana Ponce Olivares

Senior Civic Engagement Coordinator

Wilson Swain

Creative Engagement Specialist

Julia Malinow

In-Schools and Tutoring Program Coordinator

Caz Shen

Store Associate

Gabriela Romero

Field Trips and Operations Coordinator

Board

Karen Van Kirk

Board President

Customer Experience & Operations

Sarah Rosenwald Varet

Board Vice President

Governance Committee Chair

Attorney

David Ullendorff Board Treasurer

Finance Committee Chair

Co-Founder, Mathnasium

Cisca Brouwer

Development Committee Chair Attorney/Writer

Ben Au Litigation Partner, Orrick

Jeff Boos Brokerage Operations & Services, Side

Scott Boxenbaum Comedian & Real Estate

Jaya Hathaway Recruiter, CPI

Joe Ferencz CEO/Founder, GameFam

Scott A. Ginsburg Real Estate, Boulevard Partners

Susan Ko Clinical Psychology & Executive Leadership

Stacey Han Williams Senior Product Marketing Manager, Google

Matt Conway Senior Engineering Specialist, The Aerospace Corporation

Mack Jenkins Litigation Partner, Hecker Fink

Liane Katzenstein Ly Partner, Liane Ly Law

Hon. Holly A. Thomas Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit

Dave Eggers Emeritus and 826 Founder

Advisory Board

J.J. Abrams

Judd Apatow

Miguel Arteta

Mac Barnett

Steve Barr

Joshuah Bearman

Father Gregory Boyle, S.J.

Amy Brooks

Stefan Bucher

Kathleen Caliento

Monique Demery

Mark Flanagan

Ben Goldhirsh

Rebecca Goldman

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein

DeAnna Gravillis

Terri Hernandez Rosales

Christine Jaroush

Spike Jonze

Miranda July

Catherine Keener

Keith Knight

Al Madrigal

R. Scott Mitchell

Lani Monos

B.J. Novak

Miwa Okumura

Amber Paasch

Jane Patterson

Keri Putnam

Sylvie Rabineau

Sonja Rasula

Will Reiser

Luis Rodriguez

Tara Roth

Brad Simpson

J. Ryan Stradal

Natalie Tran

Sarah Vowell

Sally Willcox

Julie Wiskirchen

Shop the Time Travel Mart!

Visit our Time Travel Mart storefronts in Echo Park and Mar Vista where you can shop for all your time traveling gears and gadgets. From Mammoth Chunks to Robot Milk to original student-authored books, we pride ourselves on being the only Los Angeles purveyor of quality goods from the past, present, and future. The proceeds from the store help to keep all programs free for our students. You can also visit the stores online at timetravelmart.com.

Echo Park 1714 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026

Mar Vista 12515 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066