Cover & title pages by KayGeni Book design by Mumblethief Christopher Green
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from Story Planet and The Reading Partnership.
The Reading Partnership began in 2011 as a reading program for kids and their families inToronto’s Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park (KGO) neighbourhood and is now growing into a nation-wide movement dedicated to improving literacy all across Canada.
Ourvision is that every child in every community has access to the education and materials they need to thrive at school, at home and in life. Our mission is to provide programs and resources that empower kids and their families to build a brighter future for themselves through literacy.
Story Planet is a nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of children and young people in Toronto's equity-deserving communities. Our creative writing workshops inspire kids to imagine and tell stories while building literacy and confidence in the value of their words and ideas. We occupy a unique place at the intersection of the arts, social justice, and education.
HONOURING THE HISTORY OF T’KARONTO
We are situated on the traditional lands and waters of the Petun and Wendat peoples and the Anishinabek and Haudenosaunee Confederacies and, most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River and many other Indigenous nations, some of whose names are no longer remembered. We acknowledge that it is a complicated privilege to live, work, and tell stories on this land.
We remember that this territory continues to be subject to the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and Three Fires Confederacy of the Anishinaabek to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. Today, the meeting place of T’karonto is still the home to many Indigenous Peoples from across the continent, and we are grateful to work in the community on this territory.
We commit to actively learning the history of this land, the genocide of the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Peoples who lived, and continue to live here, and the theft of their land. We commit to researching and learning the names and history of all who came before us no matter where we are in Canada (you can do the same at native-land.ca). We are consciously working to recognise and decolonize colonial frameworks and roles that are present in all aspects of the work we do, and the lives we live.
Throughout history many Indigenous Peoples, Black people, and others have suffered to gain equality, well-being, and identity. We welcome you into this community with us as we acknowledge and remember the past and give thanks for the land we are on and the territory we are in.
ASTORYBY
ADITYA JANNATUL FERDAUS
-1414
ADITYA JANNATUL FERDAUS
I love any of the music of Alan Walker.
I am proud that I wrote a story and that everyone learned something.
STORIES
AKSAANA MAJURAN
BY -18-
How I Became My True Self
It was just an ordinary life as I picked mushrooms (which are flowers in the mystic forest) until my stepmother, Icira, called me to pick up my brother Arian. He was still in school. Well, it was not just any type of school, it was a school in the forest. As I picked up my brother, he started to ask me questions like, “Did you go anywhere?” and “Did you pick morel mushrooms?” and it was, like, pretty annoying. Then, the next day, I woke up from my
moss bed and went to make food for the family.
I forgot to tell you my name! Before I was born my biological mother named me Arira. I have black hair with a brown strip that my mother gave me before she died. She also gave me a necklace. Okay, back to the story.
While I was baking a qualia (which is a special food), I daydreamed about what the basement looked like because my stepmother never let me go down there. The qualia burned to ashes and my
AKSAANA MAJURAN
Iwish that people knew that I’m good at writing and spelling. I also wish that people knew I’m good at drawing.
Something that makes me proud is being who I am. Also, participating in 360° Stories!
I would like to dedicate my story to everyone who participated in 360° Stories, my family, and all the instructors who helped me.
STORIESANDPOEMSBY
APARAJITA BARUA
Artistic
Art is heaven
It is expression
It is calm as the river
In art, the sky's the start
Creativity in every part
In every line and colour.
The expression you show
Every time you brush the paint
On the canvas matters
The feelings you have
Hover over your head
Spill everywhere
All the care
You give to your art
Shows passion.
Art can be made anywhere.
It shows perspective and feelings.
APARAJITA BARUA
Ilove Harry Potter books, they make me feel like I am right inside the story. I love imagining how it would feel to be inside the wizarding world. I love magic and mystery, and I also love writing about them too.
I am proud of being kind and honest, and I am proud to have good friends and family. I am also proud of winning the goIT coding prototype contest, an art contest, and a basketball tournament. I am also proud to be writing in 360° Stories. I just love it!
I would like to thank 360° Stories. They helped me with ideas, but I would also like to thank the teacher who chose me and my friends to attend 360° Stories! Without them, my story wouldn’t be successful.
STORIESBY
ARYAN MAHATO
AARYAN MAHATO
book that I love is a book series called Bone. I like it because it has a lot of plot twists.
If I could time travel, I would travel to the time where I could meet my great-great-grandpa.
STORIESBY
ASFIN NUR
IASFIN NUR
f I could time travel, I’d go to the past to look back on myself, things I've done, and the people that were/still are around me.
I'm proud of how I draw. I like drawing different kinds of hair, clothes, and animals. I like drawing with pens and mostly mechanical pencils.
STORIESANDPOEMSBY
ASHVINTH AMALASEEL
ASHVINTH AMALASEELAN
NAMEEYNAME
I would time travel back to summer again and again because I want to play soccer forever and go on trips.
I am proud that I learned to hold my breath underwater for a long time.
STORIESANDPOEMSBY
JA-KOBE SIMPSON
NAMEEYNAME
JA-KOBE SIMPSON
I wish other people knew that I am a really good artist.
I’m proud of when I went on a scary ride in the Bahamas. The ride was really high up.
I want to dedicate my story to my big sister Shaya.
STORIESBY
JARIF JAKWAN MUNIF
JARIF
JAKWAN MUNIF
My favorite game is FC 24 because it is a soccer game and I love soccer. Plus it is very hard to play.
If I had the power to time travel I would go back to the time of the dinosaur age to see all the dinosaurs, but I would have to be careful because there are many carnivorous dinosaurs.
STORIESBY
LIBAN NOUR
LIBAN NOUR
If I could time travel, I would go to the times I made mistakes. To fix them.
I am proud of making 40+ Scratch projects.
STORIESANDPOEMSBY
LYDIA ALLICOCK
LYDIA ALLICOCK
One of my favorite books is Beauty and the Beast (chapter book). A game that I enjoy playing is G-Switch
3. A tv show that I enjoy watching is Camp Cretaceous.
Something that I’ve done that I’m proud of is that I’m an outspoken person (I tell the truth, and acknowledge the wrong).
STORIESANDPOEMSBY
MANHA AADIL
MANHA AADIL
If I could time travel, I would go to the future.
I’m proud that I can draw Hunter from The Owl House (a show I like).
STORIESANDPOEMSBY
MANSOOR ZHOLI
INAMEEYNAME
MANSOOR ZHOLI
f I could time travel, I would go to the year 2019 because I miss the old days when COVID was not there, and wars.
I am proud of entering the math competition that was high school and university level at Grade 5! I did it by studying very hard!
I would like to thank my mom because she helped me when I was having bad report cards! This is the person I would like to thank. Special thanks: my teachers!
STORIESBY
NABIL AYOADE
NABIL AYOADE
I wish people knew that I am a very kind person and a really good friend.
I'm proud of all the work I've done in 360° Stories.
ASTORYBY
SAFIYA CHALIFOUX -FARAH
-94-
SAFIYA
CHALIFOUX-FARAH
Ilove Kirby, Barbie, Mario, and Cory.
If I could time travel, I would go to 2015 so I get to see my little sister.
STORIESANDPOEMSBY
SHAIRA HOSSAIN INAYA
SHAIRA HOSSAIN INAYA
I love the Geronimo Stilton book series.
I wish other people knew I am kinder than I look.
ASTORYBY
SNEHI BERMA
SNEHI BERMA
Ilove to read chapter books because it can let me visualize my own imagination all by myself.
I wish other people knew that I have a twin brother that is three hours and 15 minutes older than me, but I’m the youngest in my family.
I want to thank 360° Stories and my grade five teacher, Ms Williams, and also my brother, and my friends.
STORIESANDPOEMSBY
SONAKSHI SANTHOSH
SONAKSHI
SANTHOSH
If I could time travel, I would like to go to the past so I can see how I looked as a baby.
I’m proud that I am a good friend.
STORIESBY
SUHANA DHUNGANA
SUHANA DHUNGANA
The show that I like to watch is Wednesday. The movie that I love to watch is Wonder and my favorite sport is basketball and I like to play badminton too.
If I could time travel, I would go to my future so that I can see what I'm going to be in the future.
in this collection, THE NATURAL WORLD IS THE STAR. YOU’LL READ POEMS AND STORIES ABOUT THE SUN AND THE RAIN, ABOUTA GIRL LOST IN THE WOODS AND ANOTHER DREAMING OF TRAVELING TO OUTER SPACE.
inspired BY THEIR SURROUNDINGS AT THE NEW CLARK CENTRE FOR THE ARTS, ATOP THE SCARBOROUGH BLUFFS, 18 YOUNG WRITERS CAME TOGETHER TO WRITE ABOUT THE WORLD AS THEY SEE IT.
