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Junior Young Writers Competition 2025 Collection of Short Stories & Poems

Young Writers Competition 2025 Collection of Short Stories & Poems By Junior School Pupils, Age 4 -11

Wimbledon BookFest, 35 Wimbledon Hill Road, SW19 7NB Registered charity: Wimbledon Arts 1120297 www.wimbledonbookfest.org ISBN 978-1-9192897-0-0

Notes School names have been abbreviated in some places; a list with schools’ full names can be found at the back of this book. Special Educational Needs categories and schools have been abbreviated to ‘SEN’ in some instances. All the poems and stories are published as students submitted them. Only minor and essential grammatical punctuation edits have been made.

Design and Layout: Kevin Smith Illustrations: Phoebe Manley Production: Connie Bostock, Thomas Erasmus & Georgie Morley

Young Writers Competition 2025 Junior Judging Panel Chair of Judges Eve Wersocki Morris CHAIR & Publisher & Children’s Author

Darragh Murray

Educational mentor & MPhil Literature Student

Erica Gomez Children’s Author

Georgie Morley Event Production Executive, Wimbledon BookFest

Simon Finn Teacher

Contents Introduction................................................................1 Winners...................................................................... 3 Orlaith Jackson

Donhead Preparatory School

The Painting Pony Named Poppy

Damien Uzdin Merton Park Primary School

A Wise Warrior

Marlow Thomlinson

The Legend of Shé Lóng

Anika Jhunjhunwala

A Tale Through Time

Pelham Primary School

Sheringdale Primary School

Kasper Leung King’s College Junior School

Beatrice Hudson

Kew Green Preparatory School

The Slaying of Minlochrysa and the Legendary Athencles Starry Night, After Van Gogh

Safaa Bassawan Fircroft Primary School

TJ Hughes Cricket Green School

Alabama Wilkinson

West Wimbledon Primary School

Not When It Counts My Superheroes

The Legend of the Capybara

Runners Up.............................................................. 21 Emilia Griffiths Merton Park Primary School

Luca Franklin Casey Fircroft Primary School

The Best

Lightning Luca

Alexander Mattmann

The Legends I Know

Aveer Gulati

The Greatest Legend

Rokeby School

Donhead Preparatory School

Joshua Lam Wimbledon Chase Primary School

Rory Seddon

Holy Trinity CofE Primary School

Jemima Rose

Alderbrook Primary School

Mighty Momataro The Legend of the Beast The Legend of Tymia’s Tree

Awarded Distinction: KS1 Years 1-2 (age 4-7) Poems....................................................................... 37 Evaan Nirale

Donhead Preparatory School

Leo Hoyland

St Matthew’s CE Primary School

Skyla Ward

Malmesbury Primary School

Stories...................................................................... 41 Ao Wagatsuma

Joseph Hood Primary School

Aria Rajadhyaksha

Wimbledon Chase Primary School

Arin Pandit

Pelham Primary School

Eliza Betal

Sellincourt Primary School

Eloise Thong

Donhead Preparatory School

Ettore Romano

Sellincourt Primary School

Jessica McCarthy

Dundonald Primary School

Lea Jade Nasri

Alderbrook Primary School

Leo Imani

Dundonald Primary School

Mimi Uccellani Razavi

Poplar Primary School

Oliver Tong-Nery

Donhead Preparatory School

Otto Warrick

Wetherby School

Rachael Jane Koak

Wimbledon Chase Primary School

Sarah Kadir

Wimbledon Chase Primary School

Sophie Yu Ching Tang

Sheringdale Primary School

Walter Furniss

Donhead Preparatory School

Awarded Distinction: KS2 Years 3-4 (age 7-9) Poems....................................................................... 73 Adrianna Rose Buchanan Chloe Campbell

Donhead Preparatory School

Isabella Mackie Ottilie Johnstone Thomas Cei Yusuf Hussain

Wimbledon Park Primary School

St John Fisher RC Primary School Sheringdale Primary School Wimbledon Chase Primary School

Poplar Primary School

Stories......................................................................83 Amelia Baloch Angie Lee

Links Primary School

Manor Park Primary School

Annabella O’Kelly

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

Arden Leung

Shrewsbury House School

Arianne Han

Westbury House School

Chloe Beecroft

Alderbrook Primary School

Daniel Buntting

Hatfeild Primary School

Emma Youngae Bartels

Dundonald Primary School

Esther Lomax

Fircroft Primary School

Freddie Allman

Donhead Preparatory School

Hamza Iqbal

Park Academy

Haniya Hajendra

Merton Abbey Primary School

Iker Hincapie Pico

David Livingstone Academy

Keeran Saigal

Willington School

Lemoi Mitchell

Sellincourt Primary School

Leo Panattoni-Wallace

Rokeby School

Nicole Sanchez Carrillo

Malmesbury Primary School

Sana Ahmed

Benedict Academy

Tom Lea

King’s College Junior School

Viaan Jain

Wimbledon Park Primary School

Zoey McKissock

Merton Park Primary School

Awarded Distinction: KS2 Years 5-6 (age 9-11) Poems..................................................................... 125 Aone Yip

Holy Trinity CofE Primary School

Charis Peck

Dundonald Primary School

Eve Waugh

Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School

Giulio Formisano

Dundonald Primary School

Imogen Hicks

Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School

Jemima Jennings

Esher Church School

Maya Pal

Poplar Primary School

Orla Vashisht

Donhead Preparatory School

Paulina Sobiesiak

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School

Valentina Thakhin

Merton Park Primary School

Stories.................................................................... 145 Aashna Paudel

Haselmere Primary School

Adam Werneman

Rokeby School

Alela Parnell

Merton Park Primary School

Aliina Culley

Sellincourt Primary School

Arwin (Jay) Jakkula

Aragon Primary School

Conrad Jones

Willington School

David Ricardo Hill

Donhead Preparatory School

Delphi Murphy George Hammond

Haselmere Primary School Donhead Preparatory School

Gracia Tang

Aragon Primary School

Henry Jurd

Donhead Preparatory School

Isabella Ozolua

Esher Church School

Isabella Ritson

Wimbledon High Junior School

Isla de Broise

Wimbledon Park Primary School

Jack Hockey

Esher Church School

Jasmine Stewart Joseph Emmanuel Kasmeeta Vaseekaran

Fircroft Primary School Merton Park Primary School The Sherwood Primary School

Kavish Dureja

Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School

Lael Park

The Study Prep

Momina Khan Nasri Ga-al Shun Ji Wong

Cuddington Croft Primary School Sellincourt Primary School Wimbledon Chase Primary School

Sicily Rose de Bernardini

Wimbledon High Junior School

Sophie Woodford

Wimbledon High Junior School

Sylvia Yijia Guo

The Study Prep

Talitha Frost

St John Fisher RC Primary School

Tiana Saldanha

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

Awarded Distinction: SEN Poems..................................................................... 201 Kacper Janik

Cricket Green School

Tate Nolan

Cricket Green School

Stories....................................................................205 Andrias Anthony

Frankie Kerbey Zakaya Leslie

Cricket Green School Cricket Green School

Zaroon Patel

Cricket Green School Cricket Green School

Participating Schools �� 209 Index........................................................................ 211

Introduction This year’s theme has inspired a legendary mix of different stories and poems from our talented young people, aged 4 – 11. Be it an epic adventure, a cheerful comedy or a moody lament, each entry is gloriously imaginative and entertaining. They will challenge your own ideas of ‘what is a legend?’ in their own unique way. In these pages you will discover the mythical and the magical; from wish-granting Chameleons, deadly dragons and powerful gorgons to one very artistic pony. Readers will dive into the head of a famous artist and then bounce out of the sky with raining oranges! You will be transported far away on a trip to the underworld; zoom back in time to Ancient Greece then skip a few centuries to witness Nazi bombers raiding the Home Front; and then return home where the legendary superheroes are mum and dad. Through these terrifying tales and lyrical verses, our writers explore themes of goodness and truth; courage and kindness. These winners and runners up have been chosen for their originality, imagination, mastery of structure and impressive storytelling. Excellent action sequences and exquisite descriptions make this selection spring off the page! I believe we have a few future legends amongst these young writers and poets… Eve Wersocki Morris, Chair of Judges

Orlaith Jackson

The Painting Pony Named Poppy Donhead Preparatory School (Year 2 – Age 7) There once was a pony named Poppy, Who liked to paint all things dotty! From morning till night, she painted so bright, And gave all the stable animals such a fright! She painted her hooves and her nose, She painted a snail and a rose. Then rainbows on ten dancing crows! “Whatever will she paint next?” Sheepdog bellows. As darkness filled the sky, the animals let out a tired sigh, But not Poppy, with her inspiration high. The stars sparkled all night and created a bright light, So she painted the moon shining just right. As the cockerel began to crow, Poppy watched the sun rise grow. The morning light began to show, And all around, new life would glow. So paint like our pony Poppy so free, With colours as big as the sea. Be silly, be yourself and above all else, Don’t leave those paints out on the shelf!

Damien Uzdin A Wise Warrior

Merton Park Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) Long ago, there was a man full of wisdom. His eyes sparkled with knowledge, his face was full of wrinkles and his hair was shining grey. He was a brave and true hero who could beat a lion blindfolded when he was young. He lived in a secret mysterious and cosy cottage in the middle of the dense, lush forest. One stormy night, a ferocious lightning pierced the pitchblack sky. Trembling, the villagers crawled into their tents because half of their homes had been destroyed by a mighty dragon! On the next morning, a mammoth shadow flew over the tents and instantly set them on fire. Devastated, the villagers rushed out rapidly and ran into the deep, dark forest where the wise man lived. Desperately they knocked on the man’s door and shouted through the keyhole: “Help us, wise man! The dragon is destroying our dwellings and burning our shelters! You are the only man who had seen such a terrible beast and returned alive so you are our only hope against this monstrous menace! Will you help us?” The door creaked and the old warrior appeared on the doorstep. He sighed and began his tale in a gruff voice: “Long ago, I fought with Dragon of Death, the most horrific terror ever roaming land and sea, bringing devastation to all living beings. We were fighting for one month non-stop. We were worn out and exhausted, but eventually I caught him. He 5

swore that he would come if I needed him and now we can summon him!” The man whistled and waited for a gargantuan dragon figure to appear in the distance. The dragon was extraordinary and mammoth, his emerald scales glistened in the sun and the teeth were like brand-new shining daggers. His scarlet bloodshot eyes shone with fury. the dragon landed with a thunderous BOOM! He bowed, spreading his wide wings onto the ground. The man bowed back and said: “Let’s fly, I will show you the way”. And without hesitation, the dragon stuck out his tail and the man climbed on his thorny back and held onto his huge horns. The dragon charged and took off into the skies. Strong gusts of wind were hitting the man’s face, he could hardly hear a thing. But eventually they landed there, by the dark, jagged cave where the other dragon lived. The Dragon of Death roared as loud as thunder and an earsplitting shriek echoed from the dark cave. After a while, a dark-red dragon crawled out from the cave, dragging its belly on the ground. The fierce dragon didn’t feel so big anymore because he was like a cat next to a lion compared to the Dragon of Death. The Dragon of Death roared again, but this time the smaller dragon bowed and instantly took off into the clear, blue sky. “Don’t forget, you owe me now,” shouted the man with an amused smile on his face.

Marlow Thomlinson The Legend of Shé Lóng

Pelham Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) ‘Tell me the story of the evil Shé Lóng’, said a young boy to his Grandfather. ‘OK. Shé Lóng was a powerful gorgon who had a dragon body, a women’s head, and sea kraits for hair. If you looked into her eyes you would instantly turn into ice. She was 4 meters long and had long, ruler length fingers that could cut skin. An emperor called Guówáng captured her from the caves of Longyou and threw her into a maze. He clipped her wings so she could only fly for a short distances but not above the walls of the maze which were 8 meters high. The emperor sacrificed men he didn’t like into the maze for Shé Lóng to kill. She would freeze them, wait for them to melt and then drink the water.

‘What happened to her?’ Said the boy. ‘Well, a young warrior, who was born in 1940 the year of the dragon, didn’t like how the emperor was sending in soldiers to be killed, so he set out to kill Shé Lóng once and for all! One morning, he marched across Mount Cangyan to slay the beast. When he got to the maze, he first had to climb over the wall and face the gigantic puzzle of doom to get to the creature. After a 7 hour wander through the maze, he heard a distant hissing noise as though sea crates were creeping in. Cautiously, he started to sneak towards the sound. On the way, he saw puddles of green, stagnant water. He shivered. Suddenly, from a leaf cave in the wall glided a light blue, slim dragon body. At once, he closed his eyes hoping not to turn to ice. He leapt into the cave and hid behind a large bush. The beast flew right towards him and then… he leaped out from his hiding place and kicked the creature hard to the ground. But she wouldn’t give up. She flew up infront of him and tried to get him to look at her. That was a big mistake…in one second, he had her neck pinned to the floor keeping his eyes closed. She flew out of his clutches and punched him on the nose. That was it. He flew through the air and knocked her into a wall. The wall shuddered and it fell on to Shé Lóng and sliced her head off. Quickly, he grabbed it and dashed out of the cave. He retraced his steps from which he had taken. After 9 hours he arrived in the palace and claimed that he had the head of Shé Lóng. The emperor didn’t believe that he had the head and so to show that he did he turned the mean emperor to ice.’ ‘wow…what was the warrior ‘s name, Grandfather?’ said the boy. ‘Zixin’ he said. But Grandfather that’s your name. 8

Anika Jhunjhunwala A Tale Through Time

Sheringdale Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) With a face shaped like a majestic crown, He lives in a cave at the edge of town. He stays under cover, always in disguise, Invisible to those with prying eyes. Scales embroidered with the purest of gold, His body is strong, though he is centuries old. Whether he walks, or talks, or flies, Nobody knows, opinions collide. Forests hush when he draws near, Birdsong fades, replaced with fear. Hunted by those with greed for his skin, Only to return with repent for their sin.

His cave hidden amongst trees, old and tall, Where the wind whispers and shadows fall. It’s a green realm that’s dark and cold, A place full of secrets where dreams unfold. Small in size, but very wise, Impossible to fool, so don’t tell him lies. Eyes of stone, that cannot see, He only judges humanity. He will grant your wish if it’s pure and true, Though who you are, he has no clue. He only appears when he feels love in your heart, Then make that wish and you’ve done your part. Where is he now, where was he then, Will he be found, we don’t know when. He’s a legend, he’s a myth, we don’t know if he is real, He is the Golden Chameleon, of a kingdom surreal.

Kasper Leung

The Slaying of Minlochrysa and the Legendary Athencles King’s College Junior School (Year 4 – Age 8) Long ago, in a sun-drenched village, lived a mighty demigod— Athencles. Although he was not all muscles, he was as fast as a cheetah and slipperier than an eel, his roar was like thunder splitting the sky. The glint of his winged boots shimmered under the scorching sun and his chainmail leggings clinked with every step. Suddenly, the village bell clanged in alarm. A flustered villager rushed inside gasping for breath. “The Minlochrysa has returned and attacked our village! You must travel to Harothon at once! Only there will you find the Shield of Strength and the Sword of Power to kill Minlochrysa in the Underworld!”. Without hesitation, Athencles strapped on his gear and vanished in a blur.

As Athencles approached Harothon and skidded to a halt, a deep snarl echoed from the shadows. Stepping forward was an evil guard. “Haya!” Athencles yelled, launching a deadly roundhouse kick. “Aaaaaaaarrrrttt!” the evil guard’s loud scream sliced through the silence, while jumping up like he had been struck by lightning. His furrow brows frowned, the pain was countless needles deepening into his skin and before long, he was as dead as a door. “Hurray!” shouted Athencles. Quickly, he snatched the Shield of Strength and the Sword of Power from the shrine and zoomed to the Underworld. The Underworld was silent. Too silent. Athencles felt uneasy and his heart was pounding. Something didn’t feel right… Suddenly, a thundering roar engulfed the silence. The atrocious Minlochrysa emerged from the violently shaking ground! In a blink of an eye, fire was squirted out of his striped, serpent tail. Venom dripped wildly from his violent fangs. Fearlessly, Athencles lunged at one of his gleaming necks. However, Minlochrysa was one step ahead. When the head was screaming with agony, two furious heads sprouted out of nowhere! Thinking he was on a roll, Athencles pounced on Minlochrysa. This bad mistake resulted in consequences— Minlochrysa grew stronger and faster! As Minlochrysa was about to trap Athencles in the Underworld, all hope seemed lost… Just before Minlochrysa’s bulging horns collided with Athencles’ head, Athencles remembered what the villager told him. “I have the Shield of Strength and the Sword of Power to defeat him!” exclaimed Athencles, rolling out of the way. On the other hand, Minlochrysa was fuming like the center of the Earth. Charging at Athencles with his bull-like horns, Minlochrysa screamed, “I will get you!”. Athencles swiftly defended himself with the shield and whizzed the sword through the air, slicing past Minlochrysa’s ears and stabbed 12

Minlochrysa’s weak heart before the monster crushed the ground and crumbled into dust. “Phew,” mumbled Athencles as he wiped his singed eyebrows. As Athencles returned to the village, the villagers flooded toward him with cheering eyes shining with admiration.”He did it! Legendary Athencles!” yelled the villagers. And as the sun dipped casting golden light over the victorious hero, Athencles knew that his name would be sealed in Greek myth forever.

Beatrice Hudson

Starry Night, After Van Gogh Kew Green Preparatory School (Year 6 – Age 11) The moon looks at the beautiful scene of swaying stars But is frightened of the hand of death That reaches up to grab those golden spheres. Despite its fear, it sings a sweet lullaby Because Vincent wishes to hear it. The dark sky and Vincent’s dark thoughts Swirl like a moonlit ribbon on the path of insanity That catches Vincent, winding around him, Suffocating his love of everything But art. Rolling hills are created by the brush stroke Of Vincent’s gentle hand. The church spire tries to grab the light That illuminates the town below, While Vincent wishes to be free from the room In which he is trapped.

Safaa Bassawan Not When It Counts

Fircroft Primary School (Year 6 – Age 11) We heard the drone before we saw the plane. It came low over the rooftops, German’s markings clear as ink. One bomber, coughing smoke, leaking fire. Too damaged to fly home. Too full of hate to die quietly. We were Home Guard. Barely trained. Seventeen, me – still in school uniform from days before. All the weapons I was using were too big for my hands. They gave us rifles. And a Lewis hum, and said, “Hold the street”. “He’s diving!” someone yelled. “No.” Sergeant Callan said calmly. “He’s choosing.” The bomber tilted toward the high street, our street. “Fire!” Callan shouted, and we lit the sky. The Lewis gun rattled, screaming like it hated the earth. The plane clipped the clock tower and exploded above us. Then came the fire, the collapse, the chaos. And through it all, Callan. He ran straight into the wreckage. Pulled out a boy, a woman, then someone too burned to recognize. And then…he vanished. Gone. Into the smoke. People searched non-stop. Never found him. Just his helmet resting neatly on the steps of the post office, still warm. Inside it, folded and clean, a red ribbon; his daughter’s. Not a mark on it. 15

Some say he was buried under the rubble. Others swore he walked out the back and kept walking. There’s a man who insists Callan pulled him free, a week later, in another town entirely. They named a street after him. Put up plaques. Made him into a ‘hero’. But in every pub, every whispered story, they call him something else now. The man who couldn’t be killed. The firewalker. The one who chose to stay behind. Callan. A legend, they say. But to me, he was the man who told me, “You’re not too young, lad. Not when it counts.”

TJ Hughes

My Superheroes Cricket Green School (Year 6 – Age 10) My superhero is my mum and dad. Every day they help me to get ready to school. My mum is very patient with me. She is like a saint, like a Santa preparing Christmas presents for kids. My dad is my hero because after long work hours, he takes me to AFC Wimbledon football games. We saw together more than twenty games. My mum and dad are superheroes because they are always there for me.

Alabama Wilkinson

The Legend of the Capybara West Wimbledon Primary School (Year 5 – Age 10) Centuries ago, in Brazil, capybaras had wings. They flew around the world, in winter and in summer, but one day, it never stopped raining oranges. The flying capybaras didn’t know what to do. Some capybaras didn’t have wings so they were hiding away. Humans and other animals didn’t have any wings either. So the flying capybaras wanted to do something about this. The first attempt was eating them. But then they got full and threw the oranges back up. This made more oranges. People were swimming in oranges at this point! They had another attempt of locking them all up in a barn, everyone helped with that. That didn’t work. The barn broke because there were too many oranges. The capybaras were worried that they would never get the oranges to stop. But one day, there was an egg. The egg was on the floor rolling with cracks in it. What was it? It was a bird. They had never seen this before! They were confused. It could fly. Two days later the oranges still hadn’t stopped. It was getting close to the ceiling, the young bird thought. The young bird had two amazing ideas. There was a great farmer. He was the smartest in the land. A capybara and a bird flew to him. They asked him what to do. The farmer had two ideas.

The idea was to push them to another country. They thought to themselves, that won’t work. But then the bird had a fantastic, brilliant idea, to push them into the water. They tried that but it didn’t work, but then the capybara thought to himself, what if we just fly and flip the cloud over. They tried it and it worked! They had the best celebration in the world but then they needed an idea how to get rid of all the oranges. Every animal and human ate three oranges and put some in other barns. One week later they had done it. Yay! But then the capybara’s wings fell off. All of them did. They were really confused. They couldn’t fly anymore. They thought to themselves, what are we ever going to do if anything happens like this again but then they had another idea. They can be the fastest swimmers in the world. They practised and practised and practised and then said, Bird, if anything like this happens again you can do it now as you’re the only ones with wings now. Over time the capybaras became the fastest swimming animals in the world. They were known all over the world from this amazing two weeks and it never happened again. And now capybara will only ever eat oranges. The End.

Emilia Griffiths The Best

Merton Park Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) My father comes from fire, My mother comes from snow so, I go with the floooooow …and choose where I will be from. Do I come from frost or lava, a daisy or a sunflower but I have such power The sword of life gives me that goodness I guess I’ll be in a mess, playing chess Now I have not told you this, and you do not know this, but I have a secret superpower My superpower I guess it is helping out to be the best I come from love and kindness and I want to go across the rivers and mountains, across the rain and ocean. This is my home, and it will always be, So goodbye everybody Goodbye every animal Goodbye and farewell

Luca Franklin Casey Lightning Luca

Fircroft Primary School (Year 2 – Age 6) Once upon a time in a small town lived a little boy called Luca, who loved playing football. Even in his sleep, he dreamt of roaring stadiums, golden trophies and crowds shouting, “Luca, you’re incredible!” Luca did not have shiny boots or a football kit, just an old pair of trainers, a broken ball and dreams as big as the sky. While other children played video games, Luca trained every day, dribbling through his mummy’s flower pots in the tiny back garden. His mummy would get angry at him shouting “Luca stop playing football and do your homework!”. But Luca was so determined he never gave up. One stormy evening whilst Luca was practising his football skills he heard thunder growling and a flash of lightning hit his ball. Something amazing happened and from that day on, it was no ordinary football. Luca’s ball turned into the best ball in town, making him perform incredible tricks and scoring lots of goals. Whispers spread across town “Have you seen the boy with the lightning ball?”. One afternoon Luca was kicking his ball around in the park, perfecting his rainbow flicks and kick ups when a coach walked past admiring his skills. “I’ve never seen skills like that,” said the Tigers coach. “We’ve got a big match tomorrow. Come play for us.” The next day, Luca arrived at the pitch feeling excited. But then—disaster! He had forgotten his magical ball. But there was nothing he could do. The whistle blew and the ball fell to Luca straight away. He wasn’t playing his best, he stumbled 23

and tripped. The crowd booed as he missed important passes. Just as the first half whistle blew, he saw his mum cheering him in the crowd shouting, “Come on Luca! You’ve got this!” and at that moment Luca remembered it wasn’t the ball that made him special. It was him. Feeling brave again, Luca dashed into the second half like a flash of lightning. He moved past defenders, moved like fire and carried the hopes of his team on his shoulders. With seconds left and the score tied 2-2, Luca saw his moment. He weaved past two players, glanced at the goal and without thinking, curved the ball into the top corner. Top bins! The stadium exploded with cheers. The final whistle blew. The Tigers had won their first ever trophy. The crowd shouted “Luca you’re our hero”. “LUCA, LUCA, LUCA” chanted the Tigers. Luca was so proud of himself. Luca had become a true football legend—not because of his magical ball but because of his determination, bravery and his love for football.

Alexander Mattmann The Legends I Know

Rokeby School (Year 4 – Age 8) What first came to mind when the task was assigned was the strongest of all punching holes through a wall The incredible Hulk all muscle and bulk. Or was it perhaps someone who dodges all traps climbing high through the night as light as a kite Shooting webs as he goes beating all of his foes. Or a man in a cape always changing his shape from a humble Clark Kent to a hero’s ascent Flying up in the air fighting villains with flair. Or maybe it’s Thor with a loud Viking roar swinging Mjölnir with might calling thunder and light With lightning that blazes like the dark sky rages. But if I could pick I would know in a tick who the real legends are they are not very far 25

Without hammer or spear yet at least they are here. So here’s a new story with less of the glory of the legends I know that helped me to grow

Aveer Gulati

The Greatest Legend Donhead Preparatory School (Year 4 – Age 9) Long ago, beneath the silvery moonlight Under the silver stones an eerie spark grew It wasn’t a creature, nor a wizard, nor a ghost But everyone knows it was a legend and still is Was it a friend or a foe? Did it control them, or did they control it? Thankfully, it was an ally-its energy lit up a charcoal cave It beamed with warmth like candles in the dark Spreads like a sweat smile Its loving and kind look hugged everyone with a warm embrace It helped forge tools, create wonders and feed thousands It was a: companion, protector and guide Dreadfully, it was also an arch nemesis-its wrath exploded like a volcano Vicious flame of temper burning with rage Malicious tongues hissing impatiently Spreads like a deathly breath Livid, piercing with razors If not controlled: furious, frantic and feverish Flaring out of Hephaestus’s fingertips and Zeus’s master bolt Agni: a chariot to the Gods Egypt worshiped Ra; Chinese worshiped Zhu Rong Prometheus stole it from Olympus and returned it to Earth I think you have guessed it by now The gift, the power, source of purification and transformation The legendry FIRE

Joshua Lam

Mighty Momataro Wimbledon Chase Primary School (Year 5 – Age 9) Along the river swift and bright, Drifted fate in a glimmering light: A perfect peach, round and grand, Guided ashore by God’s own hands. Found by a lonely couple bent with age, They sought the advice of a local sage: “Unseal it gently and you shall find, A heavenly gift of a boy so brave and kind!” So under Mount Kinojo’s misty gaze that day, The legendary Momataro came to stay: Born of a simple peach yet meant to be A selfless saviour to those in need, A hero so bold, gentle, noble and wise, A child with a daring fire in his eyes. Swiftly he grew as the years whizzed by, Becoming the villagers’ protective ally, When a mob of Oni ogres razed their land, He travelled to their Onigashima Demon Island, “I’ll go and defeat these monsters!” he swore, “To end their wicked greed and wrath evermore!” So, along with his dumplings he set off alone, Bitter winds blew and bit him to the bone. But in hostile lands he met three friends, A dog that offered to come to his defence, A monkey begging for a morsel of food, And a bony pheasant in a desperate mood. “We’ll come and help you on your noble quest, If you feed us the Kibi dango as your guests.” Generously, Momataro gave out their shares, 28

Handing out more dumplings than was fair. Then across the raging tides and seething sea, They sneaked onto evil Onigashima silently, Weighed down by centuries of greed and hatred, The ogres’ temple was anything but sacred, In vile, crimson blood the hellish building stood, Built from violence and blood-spattered wood. Momataro and his mates climbed the road, Fighting off reeking ogres shaped like toads, Like shadows, they slipped through the fort, Guarded by murderous ogres covered in warts, The Mighty Four began their daring attack, Few in number, but courage they did not lack, With righteous speed, they flew everywhere, Flitting like light and mist as if they weren’t there,

The brave pheasant pecked, the monkey clawed, And the determined dog bit, mauled and tore, While Momataro’s searing sword flashed like lightning, His invincible power was truly rare and quite frightening. As brave heroes and heartless beasts clashed in war, In shock, terror and pain the fleeing ogres roared. Soon, the wicked tribe of Oni ogres was defeated. With their dangerous quest easily completed, And the evil ogres’ reign and greed undone, Peace and harmony flowed beneath the sun, The triumphant quartet quickly returned home. Bound by love and loyalty, they were no longer alone. From that victorious day, Momataro’s legend lived on: Remember the tale of a unique peach boy, a humble son, Who tirelessly fought evil with brave friends and won, Showing us how selflessness is a power that anyone Can use to make our world a better, more peaceful place, Modelling courage and compassion to the human race.

Rory Seddon

The Legend of the Beast Holy Trinity CofE Primary School (Year 6 – Age 10) There is a village far away, Where the villagers live in fear, For every night with a pure full moon, The beast comes to fight, It had claws sharper than knives, And teeth stained with blood, It had legs like steel rods, Powerful enough to support its bulk It came prowling through the streets, Eyes full of menace, Looking for an unfortunate soul, That would make its dinner The villagers would hide away, Knowing there was nothing they could do, So, they boarded up the windows, And locked up all the doors But one day a traveller came by, A day before the full moon, He asked, “why are your windows boarded up?” “And why do you lock your doors?” So one by one the villagers emerged from their houses, And told him about the beast, About how they lived in fear, And why were right to do so

But the traveller just laughed it off and said “Oh, how cowardly you are!” The villagers tried to tell him he was wrong but instead he said, “Oh, how spineless you are!” So later that very same night, When the full moon was at it’s brightest, The traveller stood in the village square, Holding a sword and flaming torch The beast came creeping through the village, Past the boarded-up windows, Following the travellers sent, Straight to the town square

The traveller was overconfident, Too proud to see reason, So when the beast found him, He wasn’t ready at all The traveller ran and ran, Sword and torch forgotten, He came to the edge of the town, crossing the bridge over the canyon The beast pelted after him, Drool hanging from it’s mouth, It stepped onto the bridge, Claws scraping on wood But the bridge was old and worn, Therefore, couldn’t take its weight, The bridge collapsed, Splinters of wood flying Taking the dreaded beast, right down with it, Down and down the beast fell, Landing with a splash The river took it far away, Beyond even the horizon, Leaving the traveller panting, And the villagers jumping for joy

Jemima Rose

The Legend of Tymia’s Tree Alderbrook Primary School (Year 6 – Age 11) Deep in the mountainous woods of St Davids, Pembrokeshire, there is an ancient oak tree bearing a close resemblance to the figure of a woman. Gargantuan and gnarled, this wonder of nature bewilders local villagers and hikers alike. I am here to tell you how this mighty tree came to be. Many centuries ago, there lived a powerful huntress named Tymia. She hunted on the northern edge of the woods with her pack of faithful hunting dogs. Tymia was renowned for her prowess as a huntress and could often be found roaming the forest surrounding the town, looking for her next kill. However, all this was going to take an unexpected change for the worse, though Tymia did not know it yet. One mist-cloaked morning, Tymia was up at the crack of dawn searching for her quarry when her hounds caught the unmistakable scent of a deer and gave chase – their mistress swiftly following them. The hunt was on. Tymia pursued the deer through valleys and streams, over mountains and rivers until at last it came to a stop in a hidden clearing. But a coven of warlocks were performing an ancient, secret ritual in this clearing and, upon seeing Tymia, were infuriated at the intrusion and screamed at her. “Oh, stop your whining and wailing!” the arrogant huntress scolded mockingly. The malicious warlocks were incensed and decided to plot a revenge that no one would dare to ever forget. “We will make her pay for what she did to us!” the high warlock laughed scathingly. 34

A fortnight later, Tymia was hunting in the woods again when her hounds picked up the scent of another deer. They gave chase, Tymia at their heels. Yet this time, the deer was an illusion created by the high warlock to lure the huntress to them. Tymia followed the mirage through valleys and streams, over mountains and rivers as it led her further into the woods than she had ever ventured before. The apparition sped round a corner and Tymia came face to face with the warlocks. “This is the end of the road for you!” the high warlock shrieked as the coven raised their arms and began to chant a spell. The huntress laughed and cried “Call yourselves warlocks? Ha! Your spell couldn’t hurt a fly!” Hours later, an unsuspecting villager stumbled across the site where the warlocks had taken revenge and found a majestic oak tree towering over him – an oak tree that wasn’t there before but has been there ever since.

POEMS AWARDED DISTINCTION Key Stage 1 Years 1-2 Age 4-7

Evaan Nirale A Forgetful Hero

Donhead Preparatory School (Year 1 – Age 5) Where did my shoe go? It had some dew on it. Where did my socks go? It had a box on it. Where did my shirt go? It had some dirt on it Where did my jumper go? It had a bumper on it Where did my pants go? It had ants on it Where did my trousers go? It had Bowser! on it Where did my hat go? It had a cat on it Where did my gloves go? It had little doves on it Where did my money go? It had a bunny on it. Where did all my stuff go? It had puffs on it Where did my time go? It went in writing the rhyme 38

Leo Hoyland The Legend

St Matthew’s CE Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) The bravest dad of all time. He’s swum with sharks, He’s skydived, He’s the bravest dad ever. He is as brave as can be, So just to remind you, Its dad and me. When I see him I’m filled with glee, So just to remind you, One last time, Its dad and me.

Skyla Ward A Star

Malmesbury Primary School (Year 1 – Age 6) Bright star shining in the sky Starlight seen way up high I wish I could soar I wish I could fly So I could touch a star And keep it as mine.

STORIES AWARDED DISTINCTION Key Stage 1 Years 1-2 Age 4-7

Ao Wagatsuma Queen of Fairyland

Joseph Hood Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) The Queen of Fairyland is the legend to the fairies. She is kind like a mother to the fairies, and powerful because she has a magical, incredible wand. The Fairy Queen is legendary because she has been ruling Fairyland for more than one thousand years. Since the king and queen started ruling Fairyland, the Fairyland has been a special and peaceful place where fairies are always surrounded by their fantastic friends. The queen knows when some fairies are in trouble because she has a magic pool that she can wave her wand over and then images of fairies in danger appear on the pool. Then the queen helps the fairies by using her magic fairy dust to attack strong and pesky villains. There are different kinds of fairies and creatures who look after the queen. Pixie footmen serve the queen food and open the big, gorgeous doors to welcome fairies who visit the palace. Some fairies take care of royal babies. The grand and royal palace is on the top of the little hill. It is surrounded by forest where fairies enjoy dancing and have a happy time. On most days, above fairyland, the sky is a bright blue colour so the fairies come out to play in the sunshine. Some toadstool houses where fairies live are standing around the palace with a lot of bright green grass around them. Fairyland must be an amazing place under the rule of the legendary queen. She is beautiful.

Aria Rajadhyaksha

Queenie and Her Friends Wimbledon Chase Primary School (Year 1 – Age 6) Once up on a time there was a bee called Queenie. Her favourite colour was blue. And her favourite food was sweet blueberries. She also had three friends called Rosy, Poppy and Mimi. She wore a yellow and black coat and a golden tshirt. She loved to play in the park with her friends that also had some food everytime they came to the park with Queenie to have a picnic. One day something terrible happened Queenie was swallowed! She was swallowed by a human while she was having some nector from the flowers. The person who accidentally ate Quennie was a little boy called Tim. Tim was making some daisy chains in the park. He looked up in the sky at the aeroplane and swallowed Queenie. Queenie zoomed down Tim’s body. She was feeling very worried and said “its so dark in here. how am I going to get out now! I miss my friends. “ Queenie started poking Tims’s throat. Tim started shouting “oouiii ooii” and running in the park scared and in pain. Hearing Tim shout, Rosy, Poppy and Mimi looked around to see where Queenie was. They thought Queenie was swallowed. So they went to Tim and told him to make coughing sounds. When Tim started coughing, Queenie jumped out of his mouth. She fell on the ground and was very weak. Her friends helped her get some water to drink and also got her some flowers to get the nector. In some time Queenie was better again and said “thank you!! “ to her friends. They all went to play in the park again. The end.

Arin Pandit

Freddy the Legend Pelham Primary School (Year 2 – Age 6) Once upon a time there was a frog called Freddy who lived in a swamp in Canada Water. He wasn’t just any frog – he was the fastest jumper in the whole swamp! He could jump really high – over trees and buildings and even bridges. One day, Freddy realised that he couldn’t jump over trees, buildings and bridges anymore because he was old. The next day, Freddy got cholesterol and from then onwards, he ate lots of fruits and vegetables with his flies. That helped him to jump high again and he didn’t have cholesterol anymore. As Freddy regained his strength, he decided to enter The SwampLympics for the high Jump! So he started his training. He practised hard at the athletics track. He practised so hard, that he overtook all of the other athletes and soon became a local high jump legend. By now, he was well known for his jumping skills. The day finally arrived and the athletes all travelled to SwampLympics. Many spectators wondered, “Why would a small frog enter the high jump?” But they would soon find out… The sun was shining brightly and Freddy’s event was about to begin. Freddy ran and ran and jumped 2.46m and Freddy broke the world record!!! He won a gold medal and all his swamp friends cheered for him. Freddy was delighted and celebrated all the way back home to the swamp with all his friends. The next day, a greedy crocodile came to the swamp. He wanted to eat Freddy and his friends but Freddy said, “No way!” It was a good thing that Freddy had trained a lot as he was able to jump high onto the crocodile’s head and then back into the swamp. The crocodile said, “My head hurts! Arhhh you escaped!” But the crocodile couldn’t move because his head still really hurt. The crocodile never bothered Freddy or the other animals again. 44

All the other animals loved Freddy because he was brave, kind and protected his friends. After he saved them, all the animals called Freddy a legend. They made him a tiny crown out of leaves and gave him the biggest fly-cake ever! After many years, Freddy is still remembered. Now, every year on Freddy Legend Day, the swamp animals do big jumps to remember his bravery. The end.

Eliza Betal

The Legend of Sparkle the Rainbow Unicorn Sellincourt Primary School (Year 2 - Age 7) A long, long time ago, in a magical forest hidden deep in the mountains, there was a unicorn named Sparkle. Sparkle wasn’t like any other unicorn. Her mane and tail glowed with every colour of the rainbow, and when she galloped through the forest, the trees would sparkle, and the ﬂowers would bloom in her path. She had the power to make the sky light up with rainbows whenever she wished. But Sparkle wasn’t always a magical unicorn. When she was just a baby, she didn’t have any of her powers. She was small and quiet, and the other unicorns laughed at her because her horn didn’t glow like theirs. She knew that someday, something special would happen, and she would become the most powerful unicorn in the forest. One day, a dark cloud appeared over the forest. It was huge, black, and full of lightning. The cloud was made by a terrible monster called Shadow, who loved to steal the light and make everything dark. Wherever Shadow went, the sun stopped shining, and the

trees became twisted and dead. The animals ran and hid, and the forest was filled with fear. The unicorns tried to fight Shadow, but their magic couldn’t stop the darkness. The whole forest was in trouble. The creatures of the forest begged Sparkle to do something. “You are the only one who can save us,” they said. “Only you can bring the light back.” Sparkle was scared, but she remembered the stories her mother had told her. “A true unicorn’s power comes from the heart,” her mother had said. Sparkle took a deep breath and thought about all the good things in the world—the beauty of the flowers, the laughter of the animals, and the warmth of the sun. She closed her eyes and made a wish: “I want to be the light the forest needs.” Suddenly, Sparkle’s horn began to glow. A bright, dazzling light shot out of it, lighting up the entire forest. The dark cloud above began to tremble, and Sparkle’s rainbow coloured mane sparkled like the stars. She galloped towards Shadow, and with every step, the light from her horn grew brighter and brighter. “Go away, Shadow!” Sparkle called. “You can’t take our light!” Shadow growled, but Sparkle wasn’t afraid. With one mighty leap, she reached the dark cloud and touched it with her glowing horn. The light burst from her like a hundred rainbows, pushing the darkness away. Shadow howled and vanished into the sky, and the cloud disappeared. The sun came back, the trees grew tall again, and the animals danced in the grass. Sparkle had saved the forest. From that day on, everyone in the forest knew her as Sparkle, the Rainbow Unicorn, the hero who brought light back to the world. And whenever there’s a rainbow in the sky, it’s said that Sparkle is running through the clouds, spreading light and joy wherever she goes.

Eloise Thong

The Ticklish Feather Donhead Preparatory School (Year 2– Age 7) Poppy, Ruby, and Rachel were best friends forever! They had met at their first day of school and had been inseparable ever since. They lived in a world with robots and humans. Everyone had a silly looking thing growing in their garden. It looked like a long, colourful flower, but no one knew what it really was. One day, Rachel went to see her Grandma. In Grandma’s garden, she saw the same colourful “flower.” “Grandma, what is that?” Rachel asked, pointing. Grandma smiled. “That’s not a flower, darling. That’s a feather. A very special feather.” Poppy and Ruby were there too. “A feather?” they asked. “Yes!” said Grandma. “A long, long time ago, before we were all born, amazing creatures called animals lived on this planet. They came in different sizes and shapes. Some of them were feathery and went whoosh through the sky. Others were slimy. Some hopped, some made noise, and some even lived with people. This feather is proof that they were here!” The girls looked at the feathery thing in surprise. “Animals?” they asked. Nobody had ever heard about them… Grandma explained “The legend says they disappeared because it became too dangerous for them. There was not enough space and food for everyone.” “Oh, that’s really sad,” said Ruby. Grandma nodded sadly. “I think the grown-ups made robots to try and help grow more food, but also because they were a bit lonely without the animals.” Everyone was quiet for a bit. 48

Grandma continued, “But wait! There’s a good part too. The legend also says that someone tried to save them! They got loaded onto a ship and sent somewhere secret. And that only when humans show joy again, they may come back.” The girls went back to play in the rose garden feeling confused. They looked at the “flowers,” trying to find clues about how to bring the animals back. Robots were nice, but animals sounded so much more fun. They picked them. “Ooh!” Rachel giggled. “It’s ticklish!” Ruby tickled her nose with hers. “It is!” Poppy had an idea. “Maybe if everyone tickles themselves with their feather, all the laughter will fill the world! Maybe the animals will hear us and want to come back!” “Yes!” shouted Ruby. “Let’s tell everyone!” So, the three friends ran around telling everyone to tickle themselves with their feathery “flower.” People looked a bit silly, but they did it! Even the King did! Soon, the air was filled with lots and lots of giggles and laughter. Suddenly, the ground started to shake a little. A big, shiny spaceship landed right in the middle of the city. The door slowly opened, and guess what came out? Animals! Fluffy ones, furry ones, and even a few scaly ones! They had heard all the happy laughter and decided to come back home! From that day on, the world was never the same again.

Ettore Romano

The Moonlight Horse and the Underwater Door Sellincourt Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) It was early in the summer and seagulls were screeching as usual. Harry woke up. He asked his mum and dad if he could go for a walk by the sea. He was allowed to go for walks alone as he lived in a very safe seaside town and he knew everyone He met up with his best friend Greg by the water. They were already bored so they started throwing pebbles in the sea, when they heard a loud crash of wood deep under the water. They quickly put their goggles on and dived into the water. They were both good swimmers, so they weren’t afraid to go under. Their arms got cold, but eventually they got used to the cool temperature. One of the pebbles had crashed against a locked wooden door, underwater. Harry thought: “That was the crash we heard when we were throwing pebbles!” It was getting late so they swam back out and walked home, went to bed and… Harry heard a voice. “Come with me to the water” it said. The next morning Harry told his mum and dad that he heard a voice in his sleep. “It was probably just a dream”, they said. He met up with Greg and told him about the voice. Greg said the same happened to him. 50

The next night when Harry went to sleep he heard the voice again, “Come with me to the water”. And then again the following night, and again, and again. Mum and Dad kept saying it was just a dream, but Harry wasn’t having that. He met up with Greg at the pebble beach, they dived under water and found that the door was open. On the other side of the door they saw a Moonlight Horse. A Moonlight Horse is not a regular horse. It is made of moonlight, and it can talk. “You guys need to help me”, said the Moonlight Horse. “Bhhhlllhhhuuummm blhhhhlobbhhh” said Greg and Harry (they couldn’t speak very well under water). “Let’s go back to the beach” said the Moonlight Horse. Once on the pebble beach the Moonlight Horse explained: “My family could be crushed by a meteor that is going to collide with our planet Light. I need your help”. Harry and Greg looked at each other. Without saying a word they set off for Planet Light. They couldn’t save the planet on their own, but the Moonlight Horse showed them where a magic crystal was to put in a special machine that changed the direction of the meteor. Planet Light was saved, the Moonlight Horse was forever grateful. So the next time you are throwing pebbles in the sea and you hear a crash, go and check it out. Because it might be the Moonlight Horse sending you a message. 51

Jessica McCarthy The Missing Crown

Dundonald Primary School (Year 1 – Age 6) Once upon a time, in a magical kingdom far, far away, there lived a young princess named Evangelina. Her parents were the King and Queen of the kingdom of Mysteria. Princess Evangelina loved solving mysteries. Whenever her subjects needed help, Evangelina came to the rescue! One day Evangelina was walking in the palace gardens when she heard a loud scream. She went to investigate. Evangelina turned the corner and saw a mythical Dragon with the King’s crown in its jaws! The dragon flew off at great speed. She took her magical motorbike from the shed, jumped on it and sped off after the Dragon! Luckily, one of her motorbike’s magical powers was that it could fly As the dragon flew higher and higher, it got cloudier and cloudier and harder to see. Evangelina had to be very brave! Evangelina was happy when the dragon started to fly lower, towards his den. The dragon landed outside his den. Evangelina screeched to a stop and jumped off her motorbike and said, “That’s my father’s crown - you must give it back!”. The dragon looked sad and said, “I just wanted some attention. I live here in this den, all alone, and I thought that if I stole something precious from the King then people would come out to find it, and I would have some company - and I was right, because you came!” Evangelina felt sorry for the Dragon. She said, “I am sorry that you are lonely, but stealing the Crown was not the right 52

thing to do!” Evangelina thought for a moment and then she said, “I forgive you. Come back with me to the palace, you can be the Royal Family’s Official Dragon and protect the Crown Jewels.” So the Dragon and Evangelina flew back to the palace. The Dragon moved into the palace gardens, where he had lots of friends and looked after the Crown Jewels. Everyone loved having him around, because he could use his fiery breath to light birthday candles and toast marshmallows. And they all lived happily ever after!

Lea Jade Nasri

The Legend of the Little Red Leaf Alderbrook Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) Once upon a time, there was a little red leaf who was sleeping on her branch. Then, the wind blew so hard that the leaf woke up after having fallen onto the ground. The breeze was so cold that the tree could not hold the leaf any longer. After the leaf woke up, she walked miles away from her home tree. Then, she got lost and she saw a bird, but it was not any kind of bird. It was a majestic owl. The little red leaf asked the owl if he knew the way back home. The owl answered no but they still walked hours until they met a fluffy white rabbit. Then they asked the rabbit whether she knew the shortest way home. The rabbit had no idea but she still wanted to walk along with them all the way. Then, the rabbit got an idea: the rabbit told the owl and the little red leaf that she knew someone who knew the way to a tree that was covered with red leaves. The little red leaf imagined what the tree would look like being all covered with red leaves. The rabbit led them to a fox. Look everyone! This is Mr Fox shouted the rabbit. The owl, the little red leaf and the fox stared at the rabbit. What, said 54

the rabbit? Look behind you whispered the owl, the little red leaf and the fox! The rabbit looked behind her and Aaaargh! A wolf, a wolf ! Everyone: run and split up said the rabbit. The wolf will eat you, screamed the rabbit. They ran but the wolf was still running after them. Then, minutes later, the wolf was too tired. So, he went in the other direction. The little red leaf was so sad and she said, I’ll never find my tree! Then, she suddenly spotted her tree right above her. What happened? Said all three of them at the same time. That, that.. that’s my tree! Exclaimed the little red leaf excitedly. Then, the little leaf climbed up her tree and there on her branch she found her family. The little red leaf gave a big hug to her family. The rabbit said, what an adventure this has been today! The End.

Leo Imani

The Legend and the Boy with Superpowers Dundonald Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) Once there was a hero named Marcus Junior. He was a legend with amazing superpowers. With just a flick of his finger, he could freeze bad guys on the spot. He could even make people fall asleep just by looking at them! Marcus had a kind and brave son named Leo. Leo always wanted to be a legend like his dad. He had his own special power. He could pause people by pressing an invisible button. He trained every day and went to hero school, and he quickly became the best in his class. One day, Marcus took Leo on a mission. Leo was nervous, but excited! He fought his first baddie and won! Every time Leo defeated a new villain, he gained a new power. Soon, he could make people dance, turn bad guys into animals, and even help others become legends too. But then, he met a bully. This one was different. He was fast and strong. Leo was punched in the tummy and lost the battle. But he didn’t give up. He trained harder, lifted heavy things, and grew strong muscles. When he came back, Leo used his freezing power and knocked down the bully once the ice melted. Horray! Next came the second toughest baddie. He had a power that made people do whatever he wanted. Leo tried to make him dance, but missed! The bully made Leo act like a villain. “Leo!” shouted Marcus. He ran and froze the bully just in time. Leo was saved. He snapped out of the spell and knew he had to be even braver next time. Then he met the strongest baddie in the whole world. No one had ever beaten him, not even the other villains. He had the scariest power of all. He could make people disappear forever! 56

Leo used every power he had. He tried to make the baddie freeze, pause, and dance. He fought with all his strength. But the baddie used his deadly power. Leo fell. “Noooooo!” Marcus cried and tears fell down his face. “My best boy ever!!” The next morning, something magical happened. Leo was alive in his bedroom! His powers were back, and he was stronger than ever. He combined of all his superpowers together and with a big bang, he killed the baddie once and for all! Since then, Leo wasn’t just the boy with superpowers. He was the greatest legend the world had ever known.

Mimi Uccellani Razavi

The Legend of the Loch Ness Monster Poplar Primary School (Year 2 – Age 6) Do you know the story of the Loch Ness Monster? The real story? Hi, my name is Mimi and I am 6 years old and I live near Loch Ness. Last Easter I found an Easter egg near the Loch, it was not like any other egg, it was purple with white spots. After a few days I noticed it had a crack and a few days later it hatched! Inside the egg it was not a chicken it was a tiny little green monster. I decided to keep it in my bedroom, and I gave it some of my cat’s food. It liked playing and having its tummy tickled. After a week I had to keep it in my bath as it had grown so big. It was so naughty it smeared all the toothpaste on the walls, and I got in trouble so in the end I had to tell my mummy about my monster. “Ah that’s why the toothpaste was smeared on the walls”. She thought he was very cute but said we can’t keep a monster in the house. We thought about taking him to the zoo but thought that would be too cruel. In the end we decided to take him back to where I found the egg in case there were more and he had brothers and sisters. We put him in the car, but he didn’t fit so we put him in the boot. When we got to the Loch, I felt a bit sad as I didn’t want to let him go but we had no choice. We put him on the sand, and he walked away looking lonely but then disappeared in the water. The next day I asked my mum if we could go back to see if he was OK. We were so happy that we saw him again he looked happy to and waved hello. The Loch Ness Monster might be a monster but not a scary one to me.

Oliver Tong-Nery

The Message in a Bottle Donhead Preparatory School (Year 2 – Age 7) One boring summer afternoon, my siblings James, Amelia and I were lazing at the beach gazing at the scorching hot sun when something heavy thumped on my foot. It was a smooth green bottle with a message inside. I quickly picked it up before the powerful sea could take it to another land. Reading it slowly and carefully, the message said I needed to find treasure from the longforgotten legend of Long John Silver. I hastily called James and Amelia over. James and Amelia rushed over, and I immediately showed them the Map which said treasure was where the ‘X’ was. We left the beach where the birds were tweeting, where the sun was staring down on us and where the choppy endless sea was. I told them not to tell our parents because they’ll probably just stop us. We sprinted as fast as lightning to find the ‘X’. “Oh no!” we groaned when we saw that the cave guarded by a ferocious, fiery dragon. His scales glinted in the sunlight like a million pieces of shattered red and orange glass. His wings beat the ground so powerfully that it felt like an explosion beneath us. We stopped and sighed, breathless and feeling deflated. How were we going to get past this magical beast? “Take that!” shouted James as he bravely threw some rocks at the terrifying creature. But this only made the dragon gnash his black teeth at us making us retreat, terrified. I fearlessly ducked and dived under the dragon and yanked his

spiney tail. The dragon howled in fury and flung me round and round like a merry-go-round. “Ha-ha,” Amelia squealed, jumping up and down, chuckling and pointing at me. Amelia is my baby sister, and she is only three years old and didn’t understand what was happening. “Help me!” I yelled as I tried to cling on. She clapped her hands, and started singing her favourite lullaby “Twinkle, Twinkle, little star”. “Amelia!” I screamed, “stop singing and help me!” But suddenly, I felt myself fall to the floor with a deafening thump. I sat up, dazed and saw the dragon snoring gently. “Look,” I whispered, “I think Amelia’s singing is putting the dragon to sleep!” We crept past the dozing dragon as quietly as mice. When we got further into the cave James shouted, “Look what I’ve found!” Excitedly, we sprinted forwards and saw the legendary, ancient treasure chest. The treasure was sacred, splendid and rare and was full of gold, rubies and diamonds. James and I lifted the heavy box, trying to sneak past the dragon once more, but it was so heavy we dropped it with a booming thud. The dragon awoke immediately, saw us with his precious treasure and roared angrily. But then something amazing happened, the treasure chest did magic! “Whoosh!” Golden sparks shot out of the treasure chest lighting up the cave and killing the dragon. We cheered gleefully and danced and skipped all the way home with our treasure.

Otto Warrick

Overcoming the Hydra Wetherby School (Year 2 – Age 7) The crystal clear waters reflected a picturesque landscape, while blubber-heated seals dived elegantly like marine angels into the freezing depths below. Emperor penguins waddled clumsily in the ankle deep snow, seemingly unaware that danger lurked just metres away… In a flash of light, a scaled aquatic beast emerged from the gloomy iced waters. A petrifying sight, it was the size of two legendary krackens. Their eyes were pink diamonds, laser focused on their innocent prey. A three-headed beast with the forked horns of a fierce lionel, it moved with the speed of light but stealthily like an underwater ninja. This beasts claws were razors, protruding from its ice coloured muscly arms. With the speed of a bolt of lightening, it jumped up from the murky waters, grabbing a furred penguin, then mysteriously dived back into the sea where it gobbled up its prey. Back on the surface, panic ensued. Penguins flapped furiously, bumping into each-other. Seals belly- flopped onto the freezing ice in utter fear for their lives. The legend of the hydra was known for being a ruthless sea creature, dominating the cerulean seas. This beast struck fear into its enemies, but someone would have to fight if they were to survive…

Soon it was coming up again. As quick as a flash, the tribe of penguins devised a devious plan to trap the hydra. One brave penguin climbed to the biggest point he could find. At that moment, the hydra struck again, attracted by the penguin on the rocky edge. It opened its gargantuan jaws and its razor like teeth clamped its jaws. The penguin hopped off just in time, leaving the hydras jaws clamped around the snow-filled mountain. It was wedged in deeply, the hydra was incapable of pulling its glinting teeth out of the solid rock. The penguins would live another day.

Rachael Jane Koak Ruby the Brave Dog

Wimbledon Chase Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) Inside an enchanted and beautiful forest, there was a cozy little house in a large, 800-year-old oak tree. Inside the house, there lived a little girl called Mia. She had a brave dog called Ruby. Ruby was a black dog with soft, silky fur. When Ruby ran, her fur went everywhere. One day, Mia and Ruby were planning Mia’s birthday party. Mia asked Ruby to invite all her friends and all the good witches of the forest. Purposely, Ruby didn’t invite the evil witch - because she was evil. She would pop all the balloons, greedily gobble up all the party food, steal all the birthday presents, blow out the candles, and eat all of the cake. Even her name was Evil. On her birthday, Mia’s friends and the good witches started knocking on the door and joining the party. Mia turned on the music, and the friends played musical statues, pass the parcel, and smashed pinata. They had so much fun.

Suddenly, there was a terrifying knock at the door. Everyone turned to face the door. They looked confused. “Who could it be? We have everyone here,” someone said. “C-come i-in,” Mia stammered quietly. The door slammed open. “Bang!” There was somebody at the door. She had a wrinkled face, warts on her nose, a black cloak, and pointy shoes. It was Evil, the evil witch. “Why was I not invited to the party? I am going to turn you all into frogs, then boil you up into frog stew to feed to my cat!” Evil shouted. Everyone looked scared and shivered as if they were in the Arctic. Heroically, Ruby the brave dog stood in front of Evil with big, fierce eyes. She was going to stop Evil from turning everybody into frogs. Ruby growled and barked. She slowly moved closer to Evil. All of a sudden, the witch sneezed. “OBLECK!” She started scratching her neck, then her cheeks, and then her legs. She started smacking her knees. She looked annoyed and angry. Evil had forgotten that she was allergic to dogs. As fast as lightning, Evil ran out of the house, still itching herself. Everyone looked relieved. Everybody exclaimed, “Hooray, Ruby!” The party restarted. When the guests were gone after the party, Mia gave Ruby a hug and a juicy bone as a thank you. That’s how Ruby, the brave dog, became the legend of the enchanted forest.

Sarah Kadir

The Silent Hero Wimbledon Chase Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) There was a little village with lots of green hills and a small cottage where Elara lived with her family. They didn’t have much money. Elara’s mom made cloth and her dad worked on the farm, but even with all their hard work, they didn’t have enough. The worst part though wasn’t that they were poor—it was that Elara couldn’t talk like other kids. When Elara was little, she couldn’t say words right. Sometimes her words were all jumbled up and people couldn’t understand her. The other kids would laugh at her and call her the “speechless girl” which made her feel super sad. The grown-ups were nice about it, but they didn’t really know how to help, so they’d just feel bad for her and give her advice that didn’t help. Most days, Elara stayed quiet and just kept her head down, hoping the teasing would stop. One chilly fall day, Elara was walking with her mom to the market. Elara looked around at everything like she always did. When they were passing the bakery, Elara saw something strange. There was a shadowy figure sneaking behind the bakery. Elara felt a weird feeling in her stomach, like something wasn’t right. Then, she heard a creepy laugh. She peered into the alley and saw a man wearing a hood and carrying a big sack. He was stealing flour from the bakery! Flour was super important for the village, especially with harvest coming soon, and if they ran out, it would be bad. Elara’s heartbeat really fast. She knew she had to stop him, but what could she do? But she didn’t think too long. She just ran right into the alley, even though her legs felt wobbly. The thief looked at her, and for a second, he was surprised. But then, he scowled like he wasn’t worried. 65

Elara didn’t know what to do, but then she saw a bunch of crates nearby. Without thinking, she knocked them over, the noise was so loud, some villagers heard the crash and started running over to the alley. The thief knew he had to get away, but Elara was quick. She grabbed a wooden sign from the ground, she swung it at the thief ’s legs. He tripped and fell! Before the thief could get up, the villagers got there and tied him up. Elara stood there, out of breath and wide-eyed, not believing what had just happened. Everyone looked at her in disbelief. One villager whispered, “Did she just stop him?” Elara’s mom ran up and hugged her, her voice full of love and pride. After that, everyone in the village started talking about Elara. They didn’t call her the “speechless girl” anymore. Now, she was the hero who saved the bakery and the village. The other kids stopped making fun of her. Elara felt proud. She may not have been able to speak like everyone else, but she learned that her actions could be louder than words.

Sophie Yu Ching Tang

The Adventure of Pink Rabbit and the Fairy Sheringdale Primary School (Year 2 – Age 7) A long time ago, there was a pink rabbit who was fat and fluffy. She was named Pink Rabbit. She was not an ordinary rabbit because she was a toy from a fairy, but her mum brought her to life. One sunny day, Pink Rabbit was hopping beside the beach, wondering if mermaids were real. The fairy warned her to stay away from the sea witch, who made a lot of trouble. Pink Rabbit ignored her because she really wanted to find out. Then with a huge leap, she jumped into the sea. The fairy was worried. She used her wand to make a submarine on the sand, then hopped in the submarine and set off. When she found Pink Rabbit, she was soaked and shivering. Suddenly, the sea went tempestuous. Just then, a tentacle strangled around Pink Rabbit, then a cackle. So the fairy made a swimming costume and a scuba diving tank with her wand. She leaped into the sea. After that, she was surprised to see a sea witch. Now she knew the sea witch made it stormy. The sea witch casted a spell on them and locked them in a cage guarded by an octopus named Ken. They were in danger! The fairy shouted “Help!”. Pink Rabbit whispered in her ear: “Use your wand to make the sea witch sleepy”. The fairy tried but nothing happened. Luckily, they found out that Ken moved like a robot. He has a button so you can tell him who’s the enemy. They pressed the button and told Ken that the sea witch was the enemy.

Ken used its tentacle to try and break the seaweed lock, but he failed. He sneakily went outside, saw a mermaid near a palace and asked for help. She said “Yes” and he took her back. Ken wasn’t fast so he held onto the mermaid’s tail. They went in the dungeon, found them while the sea witch was sleeping. The mermaid used her tail to break the lock and set them free. The fairy and Pink Rabbit swam back to the shore, waved goodbye and lived happily ever after. P.S. If you were wondering what happened to the sea witch, she was so angry that she locked herself in a big treasure chest.

Walter Furniss

The Legend of Tutankhamun’s Tomb Donhead Preparatory School (Year 2 – Age 7) Chapter 1: The Strange Fox Once upon a time there were four children. The oldest was Robert and the others were Rachel, Rose and Roger. The children lived deep in the countryside with their mum and dad. They were always up to something but the most exciting day came when they saw a sandy golden fox emerging from the depths of the forest. “Listen everyone,” said Rachel, “we’ve got to investigate!” “And fast!” added Robert. So they went into the woods to follow the fox. They looked around and spotted it lurking by a strawberry bush. A minute later there was a flash of golden light. It knocked the children out cold for a second but when they woke up shimmering above them was a golden circle. Rose was so curious she made her way towards the circle. All the children shouted, “No!” but it was too late. Rose had disappeared. “We better follow her,” said Roger. “I guess so,” said Rachel. So one by one they stepped through the circle. When they stepped out they found themselves facing pyramids, cats and even mummies. “Uh oh,” said Robert, “I think we’re in Ancient Egypt.” And so they were. Chapter 2: Trapped “Oh no, we’ll be late for school!” Rose said. 69

“Why are you talking about school right now?” boomed Robert. “Sorry!” squeaked Rose. “Let’s get out of here,” said Roger, “it’s creepy.” But none of them noticed Rachel pulling a lever, and before they knew it they had fallen into the tomb’s mummification store. “Well I guess even smart people do dumb things sometimes,” said Roger. “At least we’ve got out of the hot,” said Rose. “And at least we’ve got someone positive,” said Robert, “but have you realised the door is locked and we’re trapped?” Chapter 3: Busted! “Did it!” shouted Robert. “Wh, wh, what?” said all the children in a daze. “I’ve figured out the way to escape.” “How?” the other children exclaimed. “Let’s just get out and I’ll tell you later.” So Robert somehow freed them from the cell. When they burst out they saw about twenty hooded figures standing over a glittering box. Many of them had their arms loaded up with golden jewellery and were heading towards the door. “Stop!” yelled all the children at once.

The thieves jumped and ran without looking back, dropping the treasure in their panic. “Thank you children,” a mysterious voice said. The children were startled and turned around to see the ghostly form of a teenage boy. “I am Tutankhamun and this is my tomb. That was very brave of you. You have just saved all the Pharaoh’s gold. You have helped so much I have the pleasure to grant you any wish you would like.” “Please can you transport us home?” they all said. With a swish of Tutankhamun’s had, the children found themselves back on their couch at home. They heard a voice call, “lunch time!” and with relief they went down to see their mother.

POEMS AWARDED DISTINCTION Key Stage 2 Years 3-4 Age 7-9

Adrianna Rose Buchanan Legend’s Tree

Wimbledon Park Primary School (Year 4 – Age 8) Once in the forest of Thunder wood, A 1011-ringed, old, wise tree stood, It was gnarly, it was tall, but it was very, very wise, And the stories that it told were always a surprise, Sometimes it told stories of fantastical work, Others of weird creatures that creep and lurk, Some were happy, some were sad, Some heroes good, some villains bad, Some were of chaos, battle and destruction, Others of heroines armed with cups of suction, But alas, that wise, old tree was cut down for firewood, And in the grand, Victorian home it did burn, Then suddenly, something happened, Something you could of never imagined! Red and purple sparks flew out of the hearth, And landed on different countries near and far, The purple sparks landed on Africa, Where the lions there heard stories galore, The red sparks landed in Asia, Where giant pandas were always wanting more, And all the Victorians could only pray, That Queen Victoria had something to say! And meanwhile in Thunder wood, The animals were doing what they could, But luckily a witch was passing by, And had sixth sense for trouble, She kindly introduced herself As Miss Sophie Bubble, And to the animal’s great relief, She made a potion to revive the tree, And out from the bare ground, 74

There was a sprout that the witch found, The animals were filled with wonder, And could only ponder, How this magical tree grew once again, Regaining it’s other-worldly fame.

Chloe Campbell

The Boys, the Horse, and the Secret Forest Donhead Preparatory School (Year 3 – Age 8) Deep in the woods, where trees grow tall, Lies a secret place that no one can call, No maps can find it, no grown-ups know, Only the brave and the wild can go. Tommy and Jake with hearts so bright, Heard of the forest where magic takes flight. They saddled their horse, old Thunder so fast, And rode through the woods, their journey to last. Through twisting paths and shadows so deep, Past glowing stones that never did sleep. A whisper came from the trees so high, “Find the heart, or all will die!” They reached a river, wide and strong, With silver fish that sang a song. “Beyond the hill where the wild vines grow, Lies the heart that makes the forest glow.” They found the heart in a quiet glade, Glowing red in the softest shade. They didn’t steal or make a sound, Just smiled and placed it on the ground. The trees lit up, the forest sang, And through the woods the magic rang. They rode back home through morning light, Two brave boys, and a horse so white.

Isabella Mackie

The Lost City of Athens St John Fisher RC Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) Deep in the ocean where skies are blue, Lies a magical, mysterious place so true, Longing to be uncovered, the dreadful fate, Under the surface the Lost City of Atlantis awaits. Gifted from Poseidon, God of the sea, Ruled by kings as clever as can be, Filled with palaces, temples and fountains galore, This wonderful city that stands no more. The citizens grew powerful, selfish and greedy, Forgetting the world, they became ever more needy, The gods sent a natural disaster to serve as a warning, Sinking the island with a huge wave one morning, Tsunami’s, floods and volcanic eruption, The city fell into chaotic disruption. Within days the city sank deeper and deeper, Sharks and fishes became the new keeper, Slowly overgrown with algae and coral, Beneath the waves lies an important moral. When we harm the earth, its heart may break, Its not for us to destroy and take, But to cherish, love and let it be, The City of Atlantis now runs free. The island now lies in the depths of the ocean, A memory in time, paused in motion, Though the city is lost, the whispers remain, A story of wonder to live on again. 77

Ottilie Johnstone Best Friends

Sheringdale Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) You are there beside me Even in the tough times Yet you’ve always been there I wonder why Do you like me Do you not Do you think I’m friendly Or do you think I’m nice I’ve been alone a long time until you appeared in my life Once you have a best friend they’ll never leave They’ll always be in your heart

Even if they know that they are not here You still feel them deep down Because the best friend is a good friend Which will never leave you behind If you fall, they’ll help If you climb, they will help even more Because a best friend is a good friend Who you will never forget So, I urge you once you make a friend be nice to them Once you make a friend You feel loved Once you make a friend, They will love you back Once you make a friend They will never leave.

Thomas Cei

The Lurching Legend Wimbledon Chase Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) It only comes out from hiding when the clock strikes midnight, It lurks in the darkness, never in the light. It controls its movement in unknown ways, It stays elusive in the eyes of its preys. It has been decades since it was last seen, It remains silent and no one knows where it’s been. There have been many rumours about its sightings, Could it be the scratches? Or could it be the bitings? No one has any proof, just many false accusations, From small hamlets, to towns, cities and even nations. Whisperings in schools to meetings in boardrooms, Conversations of this is never-ending, not even in the tombs. It’s intimidating strength and mighty presence, The dreadful impact it has on the adolescents, Many tales of its haunting shrieks have been told, By folks from near and far, both those young and old. Will we ever solve the mystery of the unknown? It’s not looking likely. Wait was that another moan…?

Yusuf Hussain

The Legendary Chess Battle Poplar Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) White, black, white, black, There’s no time to slack. Ready for battle the pieces stand, Looking proud and grand. Guarding their Queen and King, The pawns get ready to sting. The strong knights, Move forward to fight. Rooks side-step to the end, No twists and no bends Bishops pray for the King’s safety, Hoping they will win greatly. One by one the warriors move, Will the King approve? No swords or weapons to defend, Think clever to move to the other end. Brave pawns risk their lives, Helpless without swords and knives. The enemy rises in the dark of night, With dragons leading the fight. Fire destroys pawn after pawn, As night turns into dawn. 81

The King steps forward to face the enemies, Showing off his legendary qualities. The King does his very best, His bravery and skills put to the test. A true leader, the King, Protecting his Queen from the sweep of the dragons’ wing. The King battles on like a true ranger, Narrowly avoiding danger. The Queen worries for their safety, But warns her army not to be hasty. The battle spreads like a contagious disease, As one by one the ferocious dragons freeze. The bold King holds his staff aloft, From which a flash of blue light is shot. Dragons blinded, fall to their death, The King takes a deep breath. “CHECKMATE! “ The Queen proud of her Kings powers, Whispers, “The legend continues…Victory is ours!”

STORIES AWARDED DISTINCTION Key Stage 2 Years 3-4 Age 7-9

Amelia Baloch Back to Britannia!

Links Primary School (Year 3 – Age 8) One spring evening, Ellie and her family were having dinner and talking about their day. Ellie said “I went to the library and found a very unusual book that twinkled as I walked past it. I brought it home because it looked mysterious.” Mum said, “Maybe we can read it together!” Ellie, Mum, Dad and her little brother Tom got comfortable on the sofa. Ellie opened the book but before they could even look at the first page, four ancient fairies came out of the book! Ellie’s family were surprised! They had never seen something come out of a book! Ellie’s Dad said, “Who are you little fairies and how did you appear in a book?” “We have always been trapped in this book since Roman Britain. The warrior Queen Boudica of the Iceni tribe trapped us in here and we will only be released if we go back in time and defeat her.” said one of the fairies. The fairies waved their wands and chanted “Back to Britannia!” In a flash of an eye their sofa turned into a steamy Roman Bath. One of the fairies said “You are at a Roman, public bath. It is

where the Romans came to get clean and socialise. This is the place where Boudica put a curse on us because we refused to put a spell on the Romans! She said that if somebody defeats her the curse will be broken.” Mum said, “Let’s ask someone where we can find Boudica.” She looked around and saw a man wearing a Toga. She said ” Excuse me, do you know where we can find Boudica?” The man looked confused. Another ancient fairy said “Romans speak Latin. They do not understand English.” Ellie asked “How are we ever going to get back home to 2025?” The tiniest fairy said “The only way to get back home is to fight Boudica.” Suddenly, they could hear a galloping horse. Riding the horse was a tall, fierce lady with the longest hair the family had ever seen. The happiest fairy looked frightened. ” That’s BOUDICA!” Dad panicked! “We don’t have any swords or shields to fight her! What shall we do?” Tom put his hand in his pocket and found a pack of water balloons. He filled the water balloons with water from the Roman bath and started throwing them at Boudica. “Come on everyone, throw these at her!” The family started throwing the water balloons at Boudica with all their strength. Boudica screamed and got knocked off her horse. The family and the ancient fairies cheered “Hooray!” The ancient fairies said “Thank you for your help! We couldn’t have done it without you. Let’s send you back home!” They waved their wand and chanted “Back to London 2025!” With a flash and a bang, Ellie, Mum, Dad and Tom were back on their sofa. “We’re home!” said Mum. “Ellie, please return the book to the library and never bring a mysterious book home again!” said Dad.

Angie Lee

The Interesting Dragon Manor Park Primary School (Year 3 – Age 7) On my birthday, I received a mysterious gift that turned out to be a dragon egg. I never knew it was going to bring me an outrageous adventure. . I thought nothing would surprise me except for a pet dog I longed for but I was wrong. The enormous, golden, shiny dragon egg (as big as my head) was supernatural and magical! I figured out if I kept the egg in the sun it would grow bigger and bigger. Crack...Crack...One day the egg shell started to crack and something you would not believe was happening. A little tiny creature came out of the egg shell and it jumped on my back. I brought it to my parents. Unfortunately, my parents said I couldn’t keep my new pet so I decided to hide it in the attic. That was my only choice so everyday I had to go up to the attic and feed it. After days and months of feeding, its fur turned silver and stayed silver. I trained it, I fed it and I played with it. One day I woke up, I found Liza was standing at the end of my bed. Liza took me on her back and flew silently away from my home. When I asked Liza where we were going, Liza flew faster. Even though I didn’t get an answer I knew I would be safe with Liza. Now we were high up in the sky and nowhere to be found. When I saw something again, it looked like a range of dragons were waiting for us underneath. It was a dragon village! Liza was homesick so she wanted to go back home! Now Liza was back home. She introduced me to her family. Liza’s family were all different colours, none were the same. We had a delightful time in the dragon village. We played the swing, we rolled down the slide, we rode the roller coaster, we even ate the unlimited supply of cotton candy there. What a 86

wonderful day! Liza and I were satisfied. The sky was getting darker and my parents would be scared and terrified if they couldn’t find me. “Liza, please fly me home.” I asked gently. “Uh, Uh,” Liza replied eagerly, which I understood to mean yes. We said our goodbyes to everyone in the dragon village and then flew away. “Liza, will you miss your family?” I asked that night when we went back home. Liza rested on my lap and kept comforting me with her soft, silver fur. We were tired after the whole day’s journey and slept together peacefully. The next day I woke up, Liza was nowhere to be found. Did she go back to the dragon village? Will she come back? I missed her. I missed her very much. “Uh..Uh..” Suddenly, there were lots of sounds outside my window. When I turned around and searched outside, I grinned.

Annabella O’Kelly The Legend

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School (Year 3 – Age 8) Wind lashed at Lucy’s face as she struggled to hold on to the tiny ledge. Lucy had been climbing for almost thirty minutes now and could see the trees of the rain forest ahead. After about ten more minutes, Lucy finally reached the rainforest. It was a breathtaking sight. Despite the rain and cold, Lucy felt like she was in a fairytale. Flowers and lush trees surrounded her. After about an hour of walking, Lucy felt too fatigued to keep going. She found a tree with ruffly, green leaves and purplish flowers. Lucy slowly made her way up to the tree stoping just before the canopy. She made herself comfortable in a mossy spot, then drifted off to sleep. Lucy was up bright and early the next morning. The rain forest was at its most beautiful part of the day. Lucy watched as five huming birds raced past. She was too excited for breakfast, so she reached out for a sturdy vine and swung to the next tree. Lucy looked out across the vast land, then spotted what she had come for. It was a mighty oak tree with a split trunk. It had ivy curled around it making it look like an enchanted archway. Heart racing, Lucy ran towards the oak tree. As she aproched it seemed to sway as if to say, ‘Welcome!’. Hesitantly Lucy slowly edged towards it, then jumped in to the tree and into a clearing. In the middle stood a magnifasent temple about fifty feet high. Slowly, Lucy made her way towards the temple. As soon as she stepped in a griffon instantly dived at her. Luckily Lucy leaped behind a shrub just as the griffon crashed onto the ground. Luckily, it wasn’t too hard where Lucy landed, so she wasn’t hurt. A colossal nest of twigs and moss covered two small eggs. It was made next to a turquoise lagoon. 88

Slowly Lucy bent down by the water. As she stared into the water something green came into view. She wore emerald green had a long sleek body and small wings. ‘Coral!’ Lucy beamed. ‘Come to stay?’ asked Coral. ‘Yip!’ cried Lucy as she pulled a glass helmet from her bag. As Lucy pulled the glass helmet onto her head, she slid into the water. The lagoon was breath taking. Creatures of all shapes, colors swirled around her. Lucy was thrilled, it felt like home. She new this was where she was mean to be.

Arden Leung

The Guardian Dragon Shrewsbury House School (Year 4 – Age 9) Once upon a time, there was a mysterious, spooky cave deep within the lush, verdant forest. Something was in there but no one knew what was hiding in the cave. Many people went in there but never came back it began becoming a legend, spreading around every village and town. After many years and centuries, a noble, gallant knight heard about it and rode his horse to the cave as fast as lightning. When he reached it, he noticed sparks of flames and got curious so he went inside…. A fierce, scaly dragon was waiting there by the golden shimmering chest. Still waiting for someone to come. The knight pondered for a while thinking how he was going to steal the magnificent treasure. When he was doing that, he sneezed suddenly the

dragon heard it then raced towards the knight with speed of light. Quickly the terrified knight jiggered to a halt and froze. The furious dragon charged towards him breathing fire rapidly. Then the courageous knight swooped in to action and managed to use his sharp, sturdy sword to hold on to the top of the cave. Meanwhile the dragon still searching for him raging in madness was stressed out. Then it went to sleep when it was snoozing the knight thought this was a good time to try and steal the glorious treasure. At last, when he was just about to grab some, he stepped on a twig. In a split second the dragon woke up with even more rage in his eyes, used its enormous paws and swiped at him with all its might the terrified knight froze in fear. His legs were like jelly, a shiver went up his spine. Fortunately, the dragon too fumed missed its swipe the knight relieved scampered out of the cave with the dragon on his tail. When he took out his sword, he slain the monstrous beast and this dragon was truly a legend. After this moment this great hero was recognised through centuries and a myth and passed down from generations to generations and this was an interesting story!

Arianne Han

The Legend of the Blue Wolf Westbury House School (Year 4 – Age 9) Once there was a girl called Arainia, she loved the forest and nature so much she wouldn’t let a bug eat a leaf. She lives with her grandma and her mother in the beautiful woods. Araina has blond hair and always wears a little teal blue skirt and a blue bow. She is very adventurous, curious and sometimes mischief. Her mother would always say. “Don’t go too far or the black lynx with get you.” The Black Lynx was a legend that if you stepped into the black, dark forest the Black Lynx will kill you and drag you into its cave and eat you. But luckily there was another legend which was the Blue Wolf, the Blue Wolf and the Black Lynx were blood thirsty rivals. The lynx would only bring destruction to the forest but the wolf would bring happiness to the forest and protect all animals and humans. One day Arainia was skipping happily in the woods when she stumbled upon a dark misty part of the woods. She knew her mum would be worried but she didn’t care at all. As she walked in, she could feel a shiver down her spine. When she got even deeper into the woods, she could hear crunching of leaves in front of her “Sh… should I tur…’’ then stood in front of her was a large cat, its fur was as black as space, the eyes were as purple as a plum. It was the black lynx! Arainia was as still as a statue, she was shaking with fear. A few seconds later Arainia ran for her life, she ran as fast as she could over large logs hiding behind trees but the forest never seemed to end. She ran and ran until the lynx pounced on her“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!’’Arainia screamed as the lynx drooled on her face. When Arainia closed her eyes and opened them again, instead of the lynx on her it was a wolf. The wolf ’s fur was as blue as the night and its eyes were as green as a leaf, it was the Blue 92

Wolf ! The wolf growled at the lynx. The creatures fought like demons. Blood splattered on the floor as the lynx ran away the wolf stared at Arainia and ran away, she was speechless. Every day Arainia searched for the Blue Wolf but it was nowhere to be seen. Few years later when Arainia was a teenager in front of her door was the Blue Wolf ! The wolf gave her a lick on the face and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Arainia still wonder where the Blue Wolf is.

Chloe Beecroft The Quest

Alderbrook Primary School (Year 3 – Age 8) Once upon a time there lived two young twins named Allegra and Athena, the children of a god and goddess. Their parents, Timona and Roshan, had hearts of gold and loved their children with all their hearts. As you will know, siblings often squabble, and one day Athena and Allegra got into a fight about who would become a goddess first. So, one day Roshan said, “I will send you on a quest and if you work as a team, you will both become goddesses”. This promise was very tempting, so the sisters agreed, and they set off on their adventure. Luckily, their dad gave them a map to help them. Their father had also been installing cameras wherever the sisters were going to be exploring. The first stop on their quest was the Castle of Never, a dark place where lost souls lurk and roam the grounds. “Why are we stopping here?”, questioned Allegra rudely. “Because Dad says you should always face your fears.” replied Athena. As the girls stepped into the castle, they heard something. What could it be? Allegra said bravely “Whoever you are, don’t hurt my sister. If you want to fight, fight me!” A tall knight appeared, hovering above them, but he soon walked away. This was surprising, but lucky, so they walked up the stairs to the next floor. 94

Then Athena paused and said, “Wait a second, since we’re in a castle, shall we hunt for treasure?”. “Ok”, said Allegra with glee. So, they started searching. Suddenly Allegra shouted “Look!”. She had found two swords. “Let’s take them”, said Allegra. “Ok”, said Athena, but just then the same knight reappeared, and this time he was ready for a fight. “Run!”, shouted the girls. The next challenge on the quest was the Shark Palace. “Are you ready, Allegra? We’ve found the swords, now we need to find some the jewels”, said Athena. “Fine, fine, yes!”, said Allegra, rolling her eyes. They put on their scuba diving gear and dived into the ocean. When they got to the Shark Palace, they saw guards, well, shark guards of course. “What do we do?”, said Allegra. “Don’t worry, according to the map, if we go behind the cave and through the hole on top, we will end up behind the throne where the jewels are hidden.”, said Athena. So, they slid down the hole and saw two small bags filled with jewels. They grabbed them and swam away. “Seize them!”, demanded the Shark King. The girls swam as fast as they could until they reached the shore and then sprinted back to their palace, storming into the dining room. “Ah, wonderful, just in time for tea”, said their mother, pouring hot soup into a bowl. The girls presented them with the jewels and swords. Then Roshan said, “Congratulations on completing the quest, you are now both goddesses”. But to their father’s surprise, they said “Don’t worry, we’re happy just being sisters!”

Daniel Buntting Vulcan and Pluto

Hatfeild Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) A long time ago, right at the beginning of history, Vulcan - the god of fire - and his gorgeous wife Venus - the god of love - were sitting peacefully in their beautiful garden. A few minutes later, Pluto - the god of the underworld - burst out of the gloomy forest, racing towards Venus. “Give me Venus, and you shall live!” Pluto’s voice boomed through the garden. Unfortunately, before Vulcan had a chance to release his fiery temper, Pluto had already grasped Venus’s hand and started sprinting back towards the forest, her pearl white dress flicking upwards. Vulcan quickly ran to try and get Venus back but Pluto was just too fast. Soon they entered a choked farmyard engulfed with weeds and right on the edge of the huge forest. As they entered the forest, a cacophony of animals chorused through the bushy undergrowth of the forest. The thick gnarled trees towered over them and the tangled roots slowed them down. Pluto darted left to a more dense section of the forest, where the trample of leaves was drowned by Venus’s screaming. As Pluto scrambled through the undergrowth, Vulcan stepped on a dank collection of leaves and he fell down, down, down. Some time later, Vulcan woke up in a cavernous chamber where he could just make the outline of four statues of mysterious creatures. He was in the Underworld! Vulcan decided to explore the chamber a bit more, surveying for hidden doors and tunnels. His eyes were about to bulge out of his head in the fact that Pluto had succeeded in trapping him and the other fact that he had his beloved wife. Vulcan’s patience had come to an end: his temper erupted out of him, exploding the chamber to reveal a dark abyssal cave. 96

As a narrow brook snaked its way through the cave, Vulcan saw Pluto standing on a colossal rock and behind Pluto was Venus, tied up with strong ropes. “Help!” Venus wailed, her voice echoing through the cave. Very suddenly, a stone dungeon cell shot up and Pluto roughly shoved Venus inside, locking the door. “No way out”, Pluto smirked loudly. Lava was bubbling inside Vulcan relentlessly, ready to thrash out at Pluto at any moment. Fire emerged from the ground, the small brook turned to lava. The fire began to cavort like animals. Shortly, the fire turned to lava, rising higher and higher, until the lava burst the top of the mountain open. Then lava spewed out, covering the forest, but some way or another Pluto escaped. That is how volcanoes erupt.

Emma Youngae Bartels The Legend of Lanius

Dundonald Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) I woke up early, feeling excited. Today was the first morning at my new house! It had ivy growing along it and was so old it looked magical. It was right by the sea and you could hear the waves softly weaving in and out of the sandy beach. I raced outside. The sun was just rising and it was beautiful. I thought I was in a dream. I touched the fine, golden sand with my feet. This was no dream! I got dressed and went back. I splashed in and out of the waves gracefully. I had always loved swimming and I always used my snorkels, but this time I had forgotten them. There, I made a huge discovery that my snorkels would have stopped me from knowing… I could breathe and see under water! Suddenly, a turtle said good morning to me. “Hello!” I said back without thinking. ‘Wait, can I talk to sea creatures?!’ I thought. I soon made friends with them and went back every day.

This continued for weeks, until one day, I dived into the sea and came in for a shock. The usually- chatty fish were silent and the crabs looked around nervously. The squids hid behind the rocks and the sharks stood still. “Hide here!” Hissed a dolphin from the corner of her mouth. I swam to her and asked what was happening. “The Legend of Lanius,” she replied. “It has come true!” “What’s the Legend of Lanius?” I asked. So she told me a tale where a powerful sea dragon called Laima was born from an egg. She haunted the seas. Right when the sea creatures were about to give up, a hero would find a stone called Lanius to defeat the monster. When Laima was in her egg, she had a good and a bad part. Unfortunately, the good had fallen out, and was now a golden, glowing stone. That was Lanius. We knew it was true, but when would the hero come? The next day, when I saw the sea, I froze in fear. It was chaos. Fish screamed at the top of their voices. Clams shut their shells tight. In the middle, was Laima. I left immediately and spent my time thinking. ‘I’ll retrieve that stone, difficult or not.’ Next morning, I was ready. I ate breakfast, then dived into the sea. I searched for hours, then stopped to sleep. I woke and saw a little fish crying beside me! “Don’t cry! Come with me; It’ll be fun!” I reassured. Along the way, we both told our stories. After a bit, I had a nap. He decided to look around. “What’s that golden light behind those rocks?” the fish said and went to investigate. Suddenly, he gave a shout. “Look!” In his flippers was Lanius. I cheered and we went to Laima who tried to swim away but couldn’t. Everyone watched while she burnt to ashes. There was a big celebration. I smiled-I did it! THE END.

Esther Lomax

The Ghost of Florence Fircroft Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) There once was a beautiful Italian young woman called Chiara who lived in the city of Florence. She lived with her parents in a small palazzo. Chiara’s father was a leathertradesman, and her mother looked after the house. Chiara was deeply in love with a handsome young painter named Matteo, whom she hoped to marry. However, her father did not approve of his daughter marrying a penniless artist. Instead, he wanted Chiara to marry an older, wealthy merchant called Signore Lombardi. She was desperately unhappy with her father and begged him to allow her to marry Matteo. Chiara was in such devastation; she refused to eat a single morsel and soon became dreadfully thin and weak. One winter’s day Chiara suddenly collapsed in the streets! She lay looking utterly lifeless. Word reached her parents that Chiara had died, and they were completely distraught! They planned a swift burial for the following day in a stone tomb. In the dark, gloomy grave, a cockerel crowing woke Chiara from what had simply been a deep faint. She was alive! She summoned all her strength to push aside the tomb lid and climb out. Chiara’s long, white gown, thin frame and pale skin, gave her a ghostly appearance. Firstly, Chiara went to her parents’ house. She knocked on the door. Her mother answered but did not recognize her and leant back in horror! “Leave me alone ghost,” she cried! Chiara was shocked that her mother didn’t know who she was, and decided to go to the home of her true love Matteo. Nervously she knocked, Matteo opened the door. Despite her deathly appearance he saw the young women he had fallen in love with, took her in his arms and held her close. They lived happily ever AFTER!

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Freddie Allman

The Legend of The Storm Donhead Preparatory School (Year 4 - Age 8) Excitedly, Tom put on his comfy new walking boots. His caring, optimistic Dad, James, had arranged an adventurous hiking trip to the fantastic South Downs National Park. They had been chatting about it for weeks, maybe even months. “Tom, get ready, we need to find some supplies,” said James. In a happy mood, Tom walked up to the rickety village shop that sells outdoor gear, drinks, and snacks galore. He fixed his eyes on the biggest, mouth-watering flapjack he had ever seen. As he came to the cash register on the old table, he heard a lady say, “Are you walking the Downs today? Whatever you do, beware of the spooky castle and do not lose the path!” As she began to talk, Tom got butterflies in his stomach. The old lady went on, “That spooky castle is crumbling down, and no one has any money to fix it. In fact, a little boy called Chris went missing there one year ago!” They thanked her for her advice and set off bravely. They could hear crunch, crunch each step they took through the autumn leaves. Above their heads hung crimson and yellow leaves, gently swaying on the gnarly branches. In the distance, dark clouds were emerging and covering the sky. Ominously, the leaves started to build up until they couldn’t see the path at all. As they walked, trees got more crooked and towered over them. Heavy rain lashed down 101

and suddenly thunder shook the ground. They found themselves at the front of a run-down castle and had no choice but to go inside. James opened the thick wooden door which creaked open to reveal an enchanting fire. As soon as they were inside, the door slammed shut and the fire went out and all they could see was black. Then they felt a cold breeze and a strange noise echoed in the old castle… “Follow me,” so they went towards the voice into the old- fashioned kitchen. There stood a mysterious boy in ripped jeans and a dirty jacket. He gave them a glass of milk and as he was slurping, it struck Tom that he was looking at the missing boy from last year. Chris explained that they had to run to the servants’ quarters, through the orchard and all the way to the forest and don’t look back it was not safe. CREAK! The door started opening and loud footsteps were coming towards them. “RUN!” shouted Chris, so they ran all the way into the forest. The crooked branches looked like they were trying to grab them and the wind felt like a monster’s breath on their neck. They did NOT look back and just kept running until they found a curtain of trees and burst straight through. Finally, they were back in the beautiful, lovely park and didn’t stop until they reached the car where they enjoyed a mouth-watering flapjack! To this day neither of them can remember a thing about the legend of the spooky castle. 102

Hamza Iqbal

Milo Buttercream’s Legendary Chronological Journey Park Academy (Year 3 – Age 8) In the Marshes of Somerset in Anglo Saxon times where King Alfred was hiding from the Viking’s and baking flavoursome cupcakes, he was so lost in his worries he totally forgot about us. Being the only survivor with my burnt casing, I leapt out of the oven as soon as the door opened. No one was going to burn or eat me alive! I ran as fast as I could as Alfred, the peasant women and the children chased behind “you can’t burn or eat me I am Milo Buttercream” I shouted. I moved more speedily than ever and travelled into Norman times where I stood before a ginormous castle. I identified William the conqueror; he was fighting in the battle of Hastings. He saw me but wanted his victory over eating me, I think? I decided to exit but from nowhere an arrow hit the top of my fluffy frosting. I raced rapidly until I entered the Tudor times where I encountered King Henry the 8th inside magnificent Hampton Court Palace, he was beheading his wife, Anne Bowling. He saw me there as he finished; I grew extremely frightened. He took his sword and caught the edge of my sponge. I was injured but couldn’t stop or I’d be eaten. I sprinted urgently and entered the Georgian times and watched Jane Austen finish writing her long novel. She looked peckish and grabbed me and took a lick of my colourful sprinkles ‘oh no’ I broke free. I started racing as quickly as I could and moved into Victorian times. I had travelled so much and was really wounded. I was hoping to find someone nice. Somehow this era looked better 103

than the rest I had entered. then I saw Florence Nightingale, was it finally someone I could trust? She looked into my eyes and yes, I knew it, I could trust her. She patched up my crumbly burnt casing, stitched my soft sponge, dressed up my creamy frosting and not to forget she dashed on some sparkly sprinkles. She nursed me back to full health. She would look after me I had nothing to worry about.

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Haniya Hajendra The Magical Claypot

Merton Abbey Primary School (Year 3 – Age 8) Once upon a time there lived a smart, little girl artist in the village and her name was Haniya. She had a small, creative studio since she was 6 years old. She loves to paint and create beautiful art. One day she made a different pattern claypot in the studio, as she finished that, something strange happened. The claypot started to glow and talk with Haniya. She was amazed and curious she decided to name her clay pot ‘’PRECIOUS’’, Precious began to talk to her in a clear and warm voice. It said to Haniya ‘’I am here to help you create the most wonderful art pieces and paintings you’ve ever imagined’’. Haniya was thrilled! With Precious by her side, her paintings and art pieces became more alive and different. Whenever she held precious, her way of thinking and work became bold and colourful. Her art studio was filled with magic and creativity. One day her grandma asked her to paint a beautiful flowerpot in the garden, she held Precious and started painting. As she worked, Precious whispered ideas and colours to her. The flowerpot came like a magical pot and garden came alive with butterflies and colourful flowers. When she finished her grandma and relatives were amazed. This is incredible! grandma exclaimed, ‘’ you are a true artist’’. From that day Precious helped her to create amazing and specific art pieces and paintings. Haniya became most popular young artist in her school and village. She participated in countless competitions and won the prices. Also, she started to help others to develop their special talents, that inspired and delighted others.

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Iker Hincapie Pico

Tyler and the Four Headed Dragon David Livingstone Academy (Year 3 – Age 8) Once upon a time, in a land of high mountains and whispering winds, there lived a terrible dragon called Scar. He had four fierce heads, each more dreadful than the last, and he fed not only on food but on fear. For centuries, Scar had flown from village to village, burning homes and scaring people with his terrifyng roars. But now, Scar had a new target: a quiet and hidden valley called Lostdale. Lostdale was not like other places. It sat in the middle of the Sacred Mountains, wrapped in mystery and magic. The people of Lostdale lived in peace, helped by the strange and gentle powers of the land. The very soil whispered old songs, and the wind carried secrets of long forgotten spells. One morning, as the sun painted golden light through the windows of a wooden cabin, a family gathered for breakfast. The table was filled with eggs, oats, and fruit, and laughter danced through the air. But Tyler, the eldest of six siblings, wasn’t laughing. “The winds feels different today,” he said, peering out the window. “It’s just the weather,” said his sister Sophia chewing a slice of apple. “No,” said Tyler, standing up. “It’s him. Scar is coming.” Tom, the youngest brother, looked nervous. “But…we’re just kids. What can we do?” “We’re not just anyone,” Tyler replied. “We’re children of Lostdale. The valley chose us.” That afternoon, the sky turned dark. Thunder rumbled. Scar arrived, his four heads snapping and hissing, fire burning in his eyes. But Tyler was ready. Deep inside the valley’s cave, he had found the Hearstone of Lostdale; a glowing crystal full of ancient magic. 106

Holding it high, he and his siblings stood together, hands joined, hearts strong. “Now!” shouted Tyler Light burst from the stone, wrapping around the children like a shield. The dragon roared and attacked, but the magic pushed him back. Trees rose from the ground, wrapping around his legs. The wind howled with the voices of old heroes. The earth itself shook and cracked. Scar tried to fight. One head spat fire, another screamed. But the valley would not let him win. “Emily now!” Tyler cried. Emily stepped forward and spoke the final spell, the one passed down in secret songs. With a flash of silver light, Scar turned to stone, the crumbled into dust. The storm cleared. Silence returned. The children stood, breathing hard. “Did we really do it?” Harry asked. Tyler smiled. “We did it together. And Lostdale helped us.” From that day on, peace returned to the valley. The people sang songs of the brave children who stood against the dragon, and how even the strongest monster could not break thespirit of a small, magical place called Lostdale. And so, their legend lived on forever.

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Keeran Saigal The Legend

Willington School (Year 3 – Age 8) Chapter 1 Once there was a boy called Adam who loved building things in lego. On this day, Adam had decided to build an island out of lego. He thought to himself, ‘I am a lego legend’ and then he said it out loud, to his amazement he was suddenly on this beautiful island! Adam saw palm trees swaying in the breeze and lovely parrots soaring through the light blue sky. Adam also could see dolphins jump out of the clean blue sea. Adam could hear tweeting from the top of the tall green palm trees and the quiet splashing from the waves. Adam felt the breeze making his hair stick up a bit like a spiky hedgehog. Adam couldn’t help thinking, “I built this island in lego …and now it’s real! In the distance in the sand, Adam saw a lego piece! He picked it up and he was amazed by what had happened. He then closed his eyes, and whispered ‘I am the lego legend’ which magically transported him back to his bedroom, with his lego island in front of him. A Lego City! Chapter 2 Adam’s imagination went wild! He started to build all kinds of different things - cars, which he could drive, dragons that he could fly with and castles, where he could be king! Then Adam had a big idea, he wanted to build a city out of the lego blocks he found. Adam built for weeks and weeks until there was a massive town. But Adam felt lonely so he wondered if he could build people and animals. He tried building a person and it came alive. Adam built more until there was a city with people and animals.

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Earthquake! Chapter 3 Adam was really enjoying his city! Then all of a sudden the city started to crumble which caused an earthquake. Buildings were falling down, cars crashing and people were panicking. He called his dragon but he didn’t come. Adam felt doomed. He shouted, ‘ I am a lego legend’ and back in his room saw a young boy from next door called Benjamin breaking all of his lego. Distraction Chapter 4 Adam distracted Benjamin by giving him a football. But when he went back to his lego city a giant football was rolling about in the city, destroying it even more! Adam shouted ‘I am a lego legend’ went back to his room, picked the ball up and said to Benjamin “play football outside!” Benjamin said “can you play football with me.” Then Adam realized Benjamin wanted someone to play with. Adam played football with Benjamin. Then Adam asked “do you want to play with me in my lego world”? Benjamin said “what’s a lego world”? “I will show you,”, together they shouted ‘we are lego legends’. Lego Legends Together Chapter 5 Benjamin was amazed! Together as lego legends, they built a massive world with loads of houses, buildings, people and animals.

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Lemoi Mitchell

Legend of the Silver Wolf Sellincourt Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) Long ago, in the quiet village of Windmere, there was a legend told only in whispers. It was said that deep in the Misty Forest, a creature with silver fur and glowing eyes protected the land— the Silver Wolf. No one had seen it in years, and some people believed it was just a story made up to scare children. But Leo, a curious 9-year-old boy, believed the legend was real. He had read every book about the forest and dreamed of one day ﬁnding the Silver Wolf. So, one misty morning, while the village still slept, Leo packed his backpack with snacks, a notebook, and his grandpa’s old compass, then crept into the forest. At ﬁrst, everything was peaceful. Birds chirped, and the leaves danced in the breeze. But the deeper Leo went, the darker it became. Twisted trees loomed overhead, and a cold fog crept in around his feet. He kept walking until he reached a strange clearing where the air shimmered like magic. Suddenly, he heard a low growl. From the shadows stepped the most beautiful creature Leo had ever seen. The Silver Wolf stood tall, its fur shining like moonlight and eyes glowing like stars. But it wasn’t angry—it looked sad. “Why are you here?” the wolf spoke—not with its mouth, but in Leo’s mind. “I wanted to know if the legend was true,” Leo replied, heart pounding. “Are you real? Are you the guardian of the forest?” The Silver Wolf nodded. “Long ago, I protected this land from danger. But now, few believe in me. Without belief, my power fades.” 110

Leo thought for a moment. “I believe in you. And I’ll help others believe too.” The wolf ’s eyes brightened. “Then you must take something back. Something to prove I exist.” From its neck, the Silver Wolf gently pulled a glowing silver feather and placed it in Leo’s hand. “Show them this, and tell my story.” Leo ran home through the forest, the feather glowing softly in his hand. When he reached the village, he gathered everyone and told them what he had seen. Many didn’t believe him—until they saw the feather. It sparkled with magic that no one could explain. From that day on, the village of Windmere remembered the legend of the Silver Wolf. People visited the edge of the Misty Forest, leaving gifts and thanks. The forest grew greener, and animals returned. As for Leo, he became known as The Boy Who Found the Legend. And every night, he looked out at the Misty Forest, hoping to one day see the silver glow in the trees once more.

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Leo Panattoni-Wallace

How to Fight a Mythical Creature (and Survive to Tell the Tale) Rokeby School (Year 4 – Age 8) Oh, hello there! I assume you are here to learn how to become a great hero like me. I am Manog the Great. Let me tell you of my most exciting adventure. I hope you might learn a thing or two. I was in the enchanted city of Whatapong, minding my own business. Yes, I know, Whatapong is a strange name for a city. The place is famous for how smelly it is. Legend says a creature called the Maggolie gives the city its odour. I was determined to stop it. So, I went to my uncle’s house (well, the remains of it) to search for clues to the location of the ancient Maggolie. I spotted where the beast was hiding straight away - a pitch black tunnel. I knew I would need to see inside, so I found some magma root and used it to light a torch. I took a deep breath for courage and stepped inside. The adventure had begun. Now I couldn’t turn back! At first I saw nothing but crawling, tiny Stickyplopses. They reminded me of pufferfish. I carried on with my quest until finally I saw… daylight! That beautiful moment filled me with joy, but it was short-lived as the smell of rot shocked my nostrils. Just then I saw the hideously hairy body of the four- eyed Maggolie. I took the creature by surprise and cut it deeply with my stone axe. It howled in pain. I charged to attack it again, but the beast stepped aside and I fell into a deep crater. I was trapped!

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The Maggolie showed a toothy grin - because there was no escape. Then, I noticed every creature in Whatapong was down there with me, including my best beast friend, Dogotron. Someone had forced all the animals to mine gold for the Maggolie. Suddenly, I came up with a plan. (Hero Lesson One: always have a backup plan in case something goes wrong.) If the animals agreed to fight the Maggolie, we might have a chance of defeating it together. First things first, I needed to make the animals think that they might have a chance of surviving. (Hero Lesson Two: you’ve got to know how to win people over). Luckily the animals were convinced straight away. So we climbed the rocky walls, and waged war against the malicious Maggolie. Dogotron bit it straight away and the monster fell into a deep crevasse. (Hero Lesson Three: expect the unexpected.) Suddenly, something rumbled underneath us, it was the Maggolie! Its jaws burst into a chomping frenzy and nearly bit me. I struck my axe down and I hit it in the heart. The monster crumbled away into nothingness, and disapeared. It was gone! (Hero Lesson Four: always be ready for a party.) To celebrate, me and Dogotron had a very fun party with laser tag. Well, that’s my tale, young adventurer. I hope you learned a thing or two along the way. Do come and visit again. Farewell!

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Nicole Sanchez Carrillo

The Garden of Second Chances Malmesbury Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) In the quiet town of Meadowbrook nestled between green hills and winding rivers, there was a small forgotten patch of land behind the old library. Most people walked past it without a second glance. Weeds were tall, broken bricks surrounding the edge and the ground was dry and cracked just like hard dry skin. Children sometimes played nearby but no one dared step into it. Some said it was cursed. Others just said it was ugly. One spring morning, twelve year old Nora found herself sitting on the library steps after school. She liked the library books and it made her feel safe. Her family had moved to Meadowbrook just a few months before and she hadn’t made many friends yet. That day she argued with a classmate and needed a quiet place to think , because the classmate she argued with said mean things and Nora’s eyes were red, puffy and filled with tears. As she sat there she noticed a robin hopping around the old piece of land behind the building. Curious, she walked over and peeked through the iron gate. The space was bigger than it looked and it was wild and over grown with plants.

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Suddenly, an idea popped into her mind. The next day, Nora came back with a small pot, gloves and a packet of sunflower seeds. She cleared a tiny corner of the space and planted the seeds. Each day after school she returned to water them. Some kids laughed at her when they saw her, but she didn’t stop. Within weeks tiny green plants began to appear. One afternoon, a librarian named Miss Khan-Smith walked out and noticed her. “Working hard out here?” she asked kindly. “I’m trying to make it nice again,” Nora said shyly. She smiled. “Would you like some help?” From that day on, Miss Khan-Smith brought her gardening books, seeds, and even an old watering can. Slowly, other people began to notice Nora’s classmate Lily offered to help paint the brick edges. A kind man named Mr Conroy brought poppy seedlings from his own garden. Soon, the garden space was no longer forgotten. By summer, the once that had been dry land had transformed. Colourful flowers filled the space, butterflies danced in the air, and a small bench sat under a young tree that the children named “Hope.” The town council even gave the garden an official name : The Garden of Second Chances. At the garden’s opening assembly Nora was asked to speak to everyone. Nervous, she stood up and said, “When I first came here, I felt like I didn’t fit in. Like I felt like I didn’t belong here. This garden was broken, kind of like how I felt. But now, it’s full of life and so am I. It just needed someone to care.” Everyone clapped and cheered out. And Nora, for the first time since moving to Meadowbrook, felt truly safe and at home. And that’s how Nora saved the environment.

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Sana Ahmed

Two Sisters and the Blue Sky. Benedict Academy (Year 4 – Age 9) This story begins in a small village called Nasira you might think of it as an unusual name but the origins of it is quit unique name for a village. In Arabic the meaning of it is Helper. How this story begins. There were two sisters called Moona and Nasira. The older sister was called Moona and the younger one was called Nasira. Nasira was a girl of good nature and had a very kind heart. Nasira loved helping people and was always kind to everyone. She wanted to make her family and friends always happy and loved to see smiles on their faces. Nasira often sat in the garden and looked up at the sky and always noticed that she could not see or hear the birds sing. The Sky was always grey and never blue. Nasira would often go to the beach with her sister Moona and both noticed that the sea was never blue but dull and grey. The reason being the sea was covered with plastic rubbish and dirt and no fishes were swimming in the water. This caused Nasira to have sleepless nights and thought, what can she do to change all of this. So one morning Nasira woke up early and started to pick up the rubbish from the beach, lake and streets. Nasira would pick up rubbish every day after she came back from school wishing a little change will make a huge difference one day. One morning Nasira woke up to the sound of the birds singing and she couldn’t believe her eyes. The birds had come back and the sky had turned blue. She quickly ran to the beach with Moona 116

and to her surprise the Sea was bright blue and she could see fishes swimming in the clean water. Both sisters looked up to the blue sky and tears filled their eyes with joy for their dreams had come true. Moona said to Nasira “This act of Kindness has shown your love to the community and to the animals we love”. Nasira smiled and held Moona’s hand with joy. One day after school Nasira saw a bird stuck in a tree and climbed the tree to free the bird. The bird flew away with Nasira’s help but Nasira fell down and she never woke up. Nasira got recognised for her kindness. The people named the village Nasira. The older sister Moona told this story about her sister to all the children in the village then the children became like Nasira and then the legacy went on. Nasira is a true legend as she taught how to love everything around you by doing simple acts of kindness makes a difference in the world we live in today.

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Tom Lea

The Legend of Thomasina Clutterback’s Sheep King’s College Junior School (Year 3 – Age 7) It was a windy summer’s morning on the 24th of June 1864 when Earl Pillowback leisurely walked through the picturesque Wimbledon Common. The lightbulb idea came to his mind that Wimbledon Common was so beautiful why not to close it and build a house on it. A house only for himself. He believed he had enough money to do it and it shouldn’t take too long. What he didn’t consider was all the local people coming to the Common to enjoy it but that didn’t bother him in the slightest. So one day Earl Pillowback went to the local master builders and demanded “I want to shut down Wimbledon Common to build a house and a park for myself !” They were not impressed but said nothing. When the story broke everyone who lived in Wimbledon was furious including Thomasina Clutterback so she had an idea… a genius one. She quietly gathered all the sheep grazing on Wimbledon Common. Under the moonlit sky, when the Earl was coming home from London the bleary- eyed sheep attacked the Earl by biting and nipping him on the legs and tearing holes in his clothes. He was terrified and was shaking like a leaf. The only safe place was in the stinking pond so he dived into it saying to himself “I will never come here again, this place is haunted!” as smelly frogs and slimy tadpoles filled his trousers and a large, angry Pike nipped him on the nose. After this incident all the people of Wimbledon Common were so happy the Common would be open to everyone who wanted to go there and the sheep were free to munch

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and nibble the grass they had celebratory party. Thomasina Clutterbuck was declared a hero and they even made a statue of her, but nobody can remember where exactly it is now. If one day you go for a walk and see a bleary-eyed sheep in the bushes, you are not imagining it, it is real so watch out!

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Viaan Jain

Nakoa and the Jewel of Pele Wimbledon Park Primary School (Year 3 – Age 8) One day Nakoa was walking back from school at dusk. He decided to take an unusual route, next to a deserted black sand beach. Whilst walking something glittering caught his eye. It gleamed beautifully in the late afternoon sun and his curiosity got the better of him. He went down to investigate and excavated all the black sand around. To his amazement, he found a sparkly blue gemstone the size of his palm, along with a scroll made from papyrus. Realizing that the high waves may have washed it ashore, he brought the fascinating object home for further investigation. The scroll was written in Olelo Hawai’i, the native language of his village. It included a map of an ancient hidden temple of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, showing the way up the volcano Mauna Loa. Without the map, anyone would be disoriented. The scroll had a picture of Pele and revealed that the jewel must be returned to its resting place in her house to stop the volcano. The frequent tremors and rising smoke from the volcano made the situation urgent. It was hard to believe that something that happened ages ago had come back to make trouble. Growing up, Nakoa had heard many tales of Pele’s wrath, and he 120

knew he would need to be brave and smart to succeed. The very next morning, Nakoa set out on his mission. He packed his backpack with essentials: food, a knife, water, and a flashlight. It was a dangerous route. A few hours later, he was exhausted, the sun rained down, making him sweat. The Jungle was thick and dark full of huge trees, thick vines and worst of all lots of snakes and wild animals. Further up the path clouds of ash were getting thicker and it was getting harder to breathe. Hours later, exhausted and covered in grime, Nakoa finally reached the entrance of the hidden temple. The air was thick with the scent of sulphur, and the ground trembled beneath his feet. Nakoa went inside; his heart skipped a beat as he gazed at the astonishing architecture of the temple with ancient carvings and statues of Pele. Finally, he found a circular chamber above a large rock with a goblet at the centre of it, where the jewel needed to be placed. Suddenly, he heard a loud grumble, ash exploded from the ground and rocks fell from the ceiling. As the dense grey ash clouds soared into the sky, bloody hot red lava oozed out of the ground. Nakoa scrambled up the rock with great difficulty and returned the jewel into the goblet. Suddenly, a blinding light enveloped the temple. When the light faded, the lava was slurped in and the air cleared. The curse was finally broken… Exhausted but triumphant, Nakoa made his way back to the village. The villagers greeted him with cheers and gratitude, celebrating his bravery. Nakoa had not only saved his village but also uncovered a piece of their ancient heritage.

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Zoey McKissock

How Not to Be a Legend Merton Park Primary School (Year 4 – Age 9) Long ago during Roman times, there was a teenager known across Italy named Claudius. He was a legend. He fought many monsters and returned home with the greatest prize – an ancient spell which let you live forever. His best friend Antonio shouted excitedly, “Claud! I’m amazed but don’t forget, best friends forever!”. “Of course,” said Claudius smiling, “I’m going to join the army so I can protect beautiful Rome.” He felt wise with eternal life. One century later… Claudius won many wars for Rome, but sadness crept through his body. Today Antonio had died fifty years before. He walked with flowers to Antonio’s grave. “What do I do, Antonio?!” He felt dull inside, Claudius had lost his love for Rome. Another century later… Claudius set off exploring. He travelled to Greece through dark, dense and dangerous forests – ending up in a village. A young girl and her mother approached. The girl had long, curly hair as black as night. “My name’s Stella. This is my mother, Iris. Did you know Stella means star? I like stargazing and adventure” she babbled. “Quiet, child. Come in, young man. I‘ll give that long hair a trim,” said Iris welcomingly. “Hey!” laughed Stella, “how do you Romans cut hair?... With a pair of Caesars!” “Hahahaaaaa,” laughed Claudius. Over the next few weeks, Claudius began to feel a warm sensation in his chest. He knew he couldn’t bear to watch her die, as he had watched so many others. She made him laugh – something he 122

hadn’t done in the last 150 years. Claudius was worried so he told Stella everything – even that he loved her. “I know who to ask,” cried Stella. They walked to a strange purple tent that Claudius could have sworn wasn’t there the day before. “This is the village’s wizard – he’ll know what to do,” said Stella. “You have helped the village, I will help you,” said the wizard. Claudius told him everything. He listened and said, “Hmmmm… There is this lake – Lake Bathus – it is deep and magical. If you swim to the bottom, there is a ancient statue you must touch. It will break any spell” Claudius thanked him. He and Stella travelled through forests and wetlands, over mountains and across coastlines, until they finally arrived at Lake Bathus. “Wait!” Stella yelled, “if you are eternal on the way down, what happens on the way back?” “It will be fine,” he said, diving in. Stella burst into tears. Claudius swam carefully down and spotted the statue of Athena – goddess of wisdom. He knew he found what he was looking for. He touched the statue and quickly pushed off and kicked furiously. After a few minutes he was anxious, losing his breath. His lungs stung. He could see the surface and stayed thinking about Stella, kicking hard. One last struggle and he burst from beneath the water. He and Stella hugged tightly, and he realised – be careful what you wish for, love is worth more than being a legend.

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POEMS AWARDED DISTINCTION Key Stage 2 Years 5-6 Age 9-11

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Aone Yip

The Shepherd’s Herd Holy Trinity CofE Primary School (Year 6 – Age 11) Once there was a prophecy honoured by all, No villain or ruler had defied its call, But one thing stands out, there is no excuse, The truth of its telling is somewhat untrue, Its purpose is lacking, its background, a muse, The people it’s leading are being abused, Its evil intentions oblivious to none, Sending people to die in its word, one by one, “Horror is nigh, there is not a way, To expose the word is not possible I say.” “I have a plan although fault is our end, We tell all the people, ‘That book’s not our friend!’ “ The plan was in action, despite nearing defeat, We conquered the prophet and the act was elite “Oh, wondrous heroes, how shall I repay? The world’s now at peace of the book. Hurray!” “The honour is mine to reclaim our city But truth be told it is quite a pity, The world controlled by none other than words Still, the world’s saved, not just the shepherds’ herds.”

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Charis Peck

The Anti-Legend Dundonald Primary School (Year 6 – Age 11) Creeping through the night, Crawling over rooftops, There’s not a single soul in sight, As he tiptoes past empty shops. This is an anti-legends heist, A chance at gold and riches, You can’t not be enticed, Just shove the coins in your britches! He’s thinking of disaster, As he sees the safe ahead, Don’t stop, just go faster! Although his head is full of dread, Is this the right decision? Is it really worth the pain? He doesn’t want the recognition, So is all this now in vain?

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It’s the anti-legend’s choice, Will he pick right or wrong? He needs to listen to his voice, And decide where he belongs. When the police come rushing in, He’s already long gone, He didn’t commit a single sin, And that’s how it carried on. All of the days that followed after, He tried hard to turn his life around, He realised it can be full of laughter, As well as sometimes let you down. He then became the legend of the city, Who was kind, caring and respectful, The legend always gave pity, And was also very helpful! Anyone can be a legend no matter what their background, As long as they have the right mindset, they can turn their life around.

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Eve Waugh 20 Minutes

Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School (Year 6– Age 11) 20 Minutes “Come on Lili!” Charli exclaimed. Her quite hesitant friend- to put it nicely- tapped the keys gently Back and forth on her computer. “Don’t rush me,” Lili replied calmly. “What do you mean don’t rush you? Our assignment is due in twenty minutes!” “And that is a good time to determine the best word to finish on.” “Lili listen.” Charli stared at her under-dramatic friend and rolled her eyes, “One minute is long enough to write one word. Let’s just get on with it.” “Yes, but it can’t just be any word!” Charli was trying so hard to not shout back. 15 minutes To tell the truth, completing the assignment was very simple, Yet Lili made it so very hard. All they had to do was finish the last question: Filling the blank with their own wording. Jane Austen the… “I can think of so many words Lili!” “EXACTLY!” Lili slammed her hand down on the pale, birch desk, “There are too many words. That makes it harder to pick one. I rest my case!

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What more do you want?” “Hmmm…I don’t know… Maybe another partner?” Charli chuckled. “Haha.” Lili mused sarcastically, squinting her eyes in annoyance. Charli was getting tired. “How about I list some ideas and you say yay or nay.” “What?” “Yes or no, Lili!” Charli slapped her hand to her forehead. 13 minutes “How about smart?” “EVERYONE IS GOING TO PUT THAT, CHARLI!” She swung her arms over her poor friend’s neck, Dangling herself to the floor. “Calm down!” Charli urged sternly, trying to hold in a giggle. 12 minutes Charli started listing various suggestions: Ambitious, inspirational, determined and independent Like batting away tennis balls, Lili kept countering them with underwhelmed responses. “It’s unoriginal. It sounds like you were assisted by AI. Miss will think we write like three year olds. Do you really want that?” Of course, there was the most constructive criticism of them all: “No, just no.” This went on for a while… 6 minutes At this point, Charli was worn out, “Why don’t you come up with some?” “Okay…” Lili was tired of generating disagreements. She thought and thought and thought. 130

4 minutes Suddenly, Lili sprung up, “I’ve got it! Jane Austen the dead!” “LILI!” “What? It’s fitting…” “It will also get us suspended!” “Fine!” 3 minutes “How about Jane Austen the [censored].” Lili laughed. “Oh my goodness NO!” “I was just kidding…” 2 minutes “Look, Lili.” Enough was enough, Charli was done. “I need you to be serious or I’m going to fail English! It isn’t that hard of a question!” “That’s it!” Charli sighed “That’s what?” “I’ve got it!” Lili typed in a word and submitted the document before Charli had a chance to see. 1 minute “It’s good, I promise!” “What was it?” With a smile on her face, Lili proclaimed, “Jane Austen - the legend!” 0 minutes left It was perfect.

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Giulio Formisano The Greek Myths

Dundonald Primary School (Year 6 – Age 11) Let me tell you some legendary stories, Some are terrifying, some are gory, So let me introduce you to the Greek myths, To the world they are a great gift, With a thunderous battle cry, The soldiers of Troy fought, To get Helen back, Or so was thought, With a noble, grand, intellectual mind, Odysseus set his refusal to help beside, And constructed a wooden horse that reached to the sky, To trick the people of Troy, to let the Greeks inside, The greatest Greek hero ever known, Was punished by Hera’s wrath, He killed his family in a single stroke because of Hera’s poison, His name was Hercules and his labours were: Kill the Nemean lion, the toughest of the land, Kill the Hydra with his multiple heads and venom, Catch the Erymanthian boar, And also much, much more, But don’t get me started on the ghastly Minotaur, Half-crazed man, half-crazed boar, He ate anyone who stepped in his maze, Without hesitating or lifting his red-eyed gaze,

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But the hero Theseus killed the beast, So he went straight back to Athens to feast, Though he met an appalling tragedy in the end, And because of this, his soul was broken and could not mend, And finally there’s Medusa, Once a woman, then a fusion, She killed anyone with her petrifying gaze, Oh yes, vengeful, and loved to raze, But Perseus killed her, That terrible creature, And was crowned a hero, So these are the legendary stories, As you’ve seen, some are great, some are gory, So these are the infamous Greek myths, They really are an amazing gift.

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Imogen Hicks The Legend

Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School (Year 6 - Age 11) Have you ever heard the story of the Five-fanged Phantom? Surely not! Well, the Five-fanged Phantom lurks in the shadows, Waiting… Watching and waiting… Waiting ‘till you’re your most vulnerable, Waiting to strike. My, my! You really don’t know the Five-fanged Phantom? Basically, the five-fanged beast is a beast like no other, A beast with glowing, bloody red eyes, A beast as dark ashen as is monsterly possible Even his tongue is grey! A beast with razor-sharp teeth like daggers in his jaw, That munch, That crunch, That eat children whole, With a click of a finger, they disappear, Just like that… Yes, there’s nothing quite like the Five-fanged Phantom. Have I ever seen the Five-fanged Phantom? Why, of course I have! One day, One dark, dark day, I was hiking alone through a forest and needed a place to kip, I stumbled upon a valley’s empty cave, Isolated from all animals, 134

This would do, I stood at the mouth of the cave, Unaware of the stained rocks above and below it entrance, Unaware of the bones carpeting the floor, Children’s bones! Blood-stained walls! All of a sudden, An earthquake? There weren’t any volcanoes near by, Surely! Or was it a huge, hungry stomach, I looked left, Looked right, Up and down, Gulping in horror, I turned around And, just as I did so, Two huge, Two ginormous, bloody red eyes Blinked open above me, This could only mean one thing: They belonged to the Five-fanged Phantom, But where? I stood in horror at the mouth of the cave, And then I had it! I froze, This monster didn’t just live in a cave, He was the cave. I tried to run, but I was cornered, Alone, No-one to help me, Just me and that frightful beast, Alone, In a forest, 135

No way out. And, d’ya know what I did? I ran straight towards the pile of bones, Me? Yes really! How stupid Well, actually, I ran there because I remembered something Words my father had wisely spoken the night before, The Five-fanged Phantom has none of its own bones! He eats children’s bones to give him strength and stability, Otherwise, he’d just be a grey blob on the floor, So, I began to chuck the bones out from inside his mouth, Out, Out, I chucked them, 136

One by one, One after the other, Two by two, More and more and more bones, Thank goodness he hadn’t noticed! Or at least that’s what I thought, Until another gurgle, Suddenly, Resinated - out of the blue, A mixture of slimy goo With chunks of flesh and bones poured onto me, Soaked me through! Yuck! Phantom puke! It seemed I’d tickled his throat and eventually made him vomit, I froze, Waited.. Snores echoed down the cave, All the vomiting had made him tired! I finally was able to escape! Phew! So, beware of the Five-fanged Phantom. And, if you do come across him, You know what to do.

137

Jemima Jennings

The Legend of the Bejewelled Bird Esher Church School (Year 6 - Age 10) There was a legend – a bird of jewels – born long, long, ago. Its wings were crafted with gleaming gold, Her body the purest diamond, though, a head of priceless, perfect pearl, and each eye a glinting emerald, you know. There was a legend that’s been hidden away, That this wonderous bird, this hummingbird, Every full moon she must halt her play, Fly down to her moonflower to drink, And kiss a sleeping child, with the nectar as they lay. Then, by morn, that blessed child, Would wake up and finally see… The wings of a bird, and find themselves wild! So they live that day as a hummingbird, Wings smooth as silk, whoever sees beguiled. But while the sun’s disappearing, Returned they were to human form with one parting gift: A diamond brooch, of a hummingbird wing. So, if you ever see a brooch just like it, you know someone, somewhere, Has been a hummingbird, by that little gift that she did bring. Maybe one day, you’ll receive the “Bejewelled Bird’s kiss” – Or perhaps, you already have…

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Maya Pal

Deep Inside You Poplar Primary School (Year 5 - Age 10) Legends are where the story grows With roots anchored deep in the past Words are summoned Helping buds of stories open Legends are where the story grows Blossoming tales show How brave sacrifices and betrayal were made Showing us in the minds eye The past that we must not repeat. Legends are where the story grows Spreading its scent into our minds Erupting from the depths of our brains and the past Tales, a mixture of old and new Filling our souls with a field of blossoming stories From starlight, stone and us they grew Legends are where the stories grow And where we grow too So, plant the legends deep inside yourself And story seeds will be sown too For legends are where the stories grow Deep inside you.

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Orla Vashisht Jane the Legend

Donhead Preparatory School (Year 5 - Age 9) Jane, oh Jane, she wanted lots of fame But she couldn’t catch a ball or flip a coin at all. She couldn’t tie her laces or make funny faces. Her hair always came undone and her jokes were never fun. Too weak to rip paper. Too confused to work a calculator She couldn’t reach up high Knots, she could never tie. Jane, poor Jane. How to get this fame? How to be a legend? To be an admired friend? But her scones for the bake-off cake sale All burnt - an epic fail In her Iron woman race she came in final place. When trying to help a boy cross the road, he ran off saying, “I don’t want to be as squashed as a toad”. Her costume for world book day, was useless in every way. She entered A skipping competition But everyone said she needed tuition. Jane felt oh so sad At everything she tried she was just well BAD!

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But then she began to feel, That perhaps being a legend wasn’t real. She would rather just be Jane, Be herself without the fame. She began to smile, And within a very short while she noticed everyone she saw Wanted to meet her more and more. they said, “we want to be like you” always positive never blue. So, a sort of legend, Jane did become. Always smiling and having fun!

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Paulina Sobiesiak The Dragon

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School (Year 5 - Age 10) Once they all behind in dragons, the tales were told and sung they were hunted down by knights, as their silver armor shone Their fiery wings emerged for flight, whilst howling a mighty roar Deady talons as long as us, waiting to clasp your corpse. Eyes filled with fury, fire in his breath, Sharp fangs shining, waiting for your death! Horns facing upwards his tail facing down, The dragon waits for its food never with a frown. Muscular body, blood-spiked head. Dragons will eat you right until your dead! Fiery mane like a steaming cloak, Colossal nostrils let out a toxic smoke. Their giant mouths will always take a bite, Or if not, they’ll burn you up on sight. Loud stomps echo through the hills This fearsome creature gives me all the chills.

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Valentina Thakhin The Legend

Merton Park Primary School (Year 5 - Age 10) One quiet night at half past eight When bedtime loomed and snacks were late Sneaky Lucy tiptoed to the jar That stood up high- it seemed so far She climbed a chair and reached up high With cookie dreams inside her eye But oh no ! Just her luck - oh gee! The far slipped loose! She screamed “Not me!” The cookies tumbled through the air Like flying discs from outta nowhere They spun and bounced,about to drop, But Lucy yelled , “ This HAS to stop!” She leapt like lighting - arms out wide, With cookie-saving super pride One by one, she caught them fast , Before they hit the floor at last! She rolled and laned with grin Twelve perfect cookies in tin. No crumbs, no cracks, no chocolate messShe’s passed the sneaky snacking test So if you ever need a pro To save your snacks from falling low, Call Lucy - she’s your cookie queen The fastest snack - saver you’ve seen!

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STORIES AWARDED DISTINCTION Key Stage 2 Years 5-6 Age 9-11

145

Aashna Paudel

The Tale of Hollow Tree Forest Haselmere Primary School (Year 6 – Age 10) Ding! A bright, burning light zoomed through the air, with a curious girl at its tail. Through valleys and meadows, moors and mountains, she followed, until the spark diminished. Her enchantment vanished, yet questions remained: why was she there; where was she and why was she stood before a hollow tree? Eyes shining like stars, Jacky stepped into the mystic oak tree. Colours were splashed around her: resplendent reds, perplexing pinks and ominous oranges. She relived her cherished memories only to have them mercilessly torn away from her seconds later. From then on, Jacky knew that her life would never be the same again but she wasn’t prepared for what fate had decided. Once her feet touched the ground, she found herself in a bleak, colourless forest. The trees bare and lifeless, and the animals hopeless. Ding! There it was again - the same sound that had led her to such a dismal place. However, Jacky was surprised. Instead of another misfortune, a heavenly chorus rang and a blinding light was summoned. Her scarlet cropped hair was blown back, and her hand covered her eyes. When she was finally sure that the light had dimmed, she pulled away her arm and squinted to make out the figure in the brightness. Aware of the stroke of fortune, Jacky bit her lip and traced a swirl on her palm with her thumb to ground her thoughts. A companion. Jacky wondered what it meant for her, but deep down she was relieved. The meek fairy mumbled her name to be Shelley; however, unlike many would believe, Shelley was not a prim and proper sort of fairy. She wore yellow rags that Jacky assumed to 146

be a dress and had chestnut, tangled yet curly, hair. Side by side, they ventured deeper into the forest, while delving deeper and deeper into each other’s past. As they walked, Shelley recounted the stories of torture wrought by the king, the callous creature Gremlin, as a plan slowly formulated in Jacky’s mind. She knew she must rid the forest of the vile animal, whatever the price. Jacky courageously continued her journey through Hollow Tree Forest with Shelley; following a gruelling half-mile, the persevering pair stumbled into the Gremlin’s castle boundary. Ding! Another blinding light. All the guards, Shelley and Jacky shielded their eyes as one; unlike before, the light forecast blossoming danger, an underhand creature unlike any other - Gremlin himself. He looked about him, oblivious to why he had been summoned. Finally finding his footing, he noticed the pair’s deathly glare. “You do not belong here!” announced Jacky into the gloom. “I agree!” chorused Shelley. “We agree!” chorused the animals. “We agree!” chorused the trees. Silence arose, and with bated breath the whole kingdom waited. “I sacrifice myself to crown Shelley queen,” Jacky continued, seeing the shock flashing through Shelley’s aqua eyes. Like a bright burning light zooming through the air.

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Adam Werneman The Legend

Rokeby School (Year 6 – Age 10) The gentle trickling of water down the back of my parched throat sharpened my senses almost immediately. I had been in search of water for days. After a refreshing drink, I pulled out my tattered map. If I had been following it correctly, my search for the first cocoa plant was almost over. Listening to the rhythmical chirping of the vibrant birds, I could almost feel them guiding me towards my destination. I trudged on through the perilous forest, twitching with every unexpected sound. Sweat slid down my scratched skin. The sunlight was almost completely obscured by a thick, green blanket of emerald leaves. Exhaustion slapped my legs with each step that I took. My body begged for a rest but I told myself, “Almost there, we’re almost there.” Suddenly, the leaves in front of me parted, clearing the way for something that looked like a small jaguar! My feet were glued to the ground, my heart was racing and my mind was buzzing. Then it leapt at me! I thought it was over but, luckily, my instincts kicked in. I jumped out of the way and started sprinting into the undergrowth. I ran and ran and ran. I ran until its growls were nowhere to be heard and its brown and black fur was nowhere to be seen. Then I remembered that I had ran off course. I was so busy running away that I had forgotten all about the cocoa plant and the map. I was lost. 148

I held back a wave of tears, my body was shaking and I was all alone. I looked down at the ground in despair. Suddenly, I noticed a path of light on the ground. My heart filled with hope. I stood up and stumbled forward following the path. I followed it until I came into clearing. I blinked. My eyes stung from the sudden change of light. Then I saw it. A feathery creature was curled around a thick tree trunk. Scattered bones and skulls were littered all around the scaly snake. Then I recalled the legend, “Anyone who goes in search of the first cocoa plant never returns. It is said that it is protected by a sacred serpent called Quetzalcoatl.” The Quetzalcoatl had green leathery skin covered with polished scales. Its eyes were pure gold and at the top of its face, two long strands of iron stuck up. It had jagged teeth that are said to be able to cure any disease once ground up. Cocao bean shells were covering the area around the serpent. Even at the sight of it, I trembled! “The legend was right…”

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Alela Parnell Nana’s Legend

Merton Park Primary School (Year 6– Age 10) I lay on my bed, my head throbbing. She was still ill. The thought of Nana still lying in hospital on a bed that was not hers was torture. How I missed Nana. Her sparkling eyes, her kind smile and her stories. Something flitted across my memory. It was a legend that she used to tell me when I was a child. Then it clicked. A legend protected by mysterious enchantments. A potion that could cure any illness, protected by a sorceress. That was only a myth - but what if it was real? If it was, I could try and find it for her to save her! But what if it wasn’t real? I had decided. If it meant a chance to see Nana again I would do anything. I quickly dressed and braided my long ebony hair down my olive-skinned back. I would find that legend. It was dusk and I was entering the forest. Every shadow, every sound, every movement terrified me. I knew I had to keep moving towards the black mountain in the distance. That was what the legend had said. I kept travelling for a few minutes when I came to my first obstacle: mist. It was a fine mist that twinkled innocently in the light of late-evening. I drew my small dagger. It didn’t look dangerous but it was obviously something magical. I stepped into it. The moment I did the whole world turned upside-down and it felt as though my feet were stuck to the ceiling which was now grassy. And if I took a single 150

step I would plummet into the starry heavens. I swiped at it with my knife but it was no use. I would have to take a step. So I did. The world instantly turned the right way up and I was free to leave. Although my legs were shaking, I somehow made it to the second obstacle: a sphinx. As I approached, I saw it was guarding the mouth to a cave in which stood a dark figure. Suddenly it spoke in a deep rasping voice, “What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?” I remembered Nana telling me this riddle. I answered in a clear voice,” A river. The sphinx nodded and stepped aside to reveal the inside of the cave. A woman stood there. I held out my hand for the potion but she just shook her head and said in an icy voice, “ Your grandmother is dead.”

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Aliina Culley

Diary Entry of a Legend Sellincourt Primary School (Year 5 – Age 10) Date: Absolutely no clue “Zeus? ZEUS?” I know. Perfect way for the king of the entire universe to wake up. My wife, Hera, was probably shouting about some woman (well the 254th) that I’ve gone to and had children with(my 276th son and 268th daughter). I yawn and while rubbing my eyes I SERIOUSLY HOPE she is talking about something that isn’t what I just wrote. But if it isn’t she’ll probably read this diary and find out anyway. “Stop stalling, I know you are awake. And yes, THIS time I have proof !” Groan. It looks like she does know about it. Now, can I first just tell you that being king of the gods isn’t easy. My desk is full of papers about things I’m not even bothered about(Some boring mortal wants me to turn up for their wedding). You can’t ever get a relaxing lie-in because you always need to start some sort of storm. Last but definitely not least irritating is my wife. I also ate some really good cereal down on earth, but it doesn’t get delivered to anywhere higher than the clouds, which I live ABOVE. Okay, back to the scene. I grab some clothes and put them on before I quickly eat some cereal for breakfast. That’s all I managed to do before Hera crashed into my dining room. She was a … bit angry. Well, very angry. She shouted at me for a whole 14 minutes. And yes, I counted. But that’s not the point. The point is that she shouted at me for 14 minutes. FOURTEEN.WHOLE.MINUTES

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And with that in mind, I am going to just hit the STOP button and have some cheerful complaining time Pause action I know I already moaned to you about being Lord of the Universe. But there are a few things I would like to make clear: The K.O.U. (King of Universe) should NOT have to do his own laundry. The K.O.U. should have someone to sort through his papers. Basically, put them into piles of URGENT, NOT PARTICULARLY URGENT and THROW IN THE TRASH(any volunteers?) The K.O.U. is allowed to sleep until 9:30 am on Sundays. And finally, The K.O.U. can have his own private cereal van. Resume action I’m going to skip what happened between the bit before and this bit because even a piece of paper is not going to want to hear about how nerve-wracking BORING sorting through a 2-meter long pile of papers is. I’m king of the gods-OBVIOUSLY-which(unfortunately) means I have to sit down and look at the humans disgusting, polluted planet EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. Even when I want to finish my book before bedtime. Luckily for me, it was perfectly normal, so I got to finish Chapter 24 of MathsForGods. Also, HOORAY, tomorrow I get to do it all over again! AARRGGHH! Final note: I really need that cereal van

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Arwin (Jay) Jakkula The Legend

Aragon Primary School (Year 5 – Age 10) In the heart of the ancient forest, where the trees whispered secrets older than time itself, there lived a girl named Lyra. Her village lay on the outskirts, where tales of the forest’s magic were passed down through generations, yet none dared to venture too deep. They spoke of the Great Starlight, an ancient being that guarded the heart of the woods. Some said it was a dragon, others a spirit, but Lyra believed it was something else entirely — a force that protected the land from darkness. One evening, as twilight cloaked the sky in purple and gold, Lyra stood by the forest’s edge. Her grandmother had always warned her never to stray too far, but the legend of Starlight called to her like a voice on the wind. “I must find it” she whispered to herself. “The forest is changing.” Her heart raced as she stepped into the cool shadows of the trees. The deeper she walked, the more the air seemed to hum with a strange energy. It wasn’t long before she reached a clearing, where the ground shimmered with soft, silver light. In the center of the clearing stood a stone altar, ancient runes etched across its surface. Lyra knelt before the altar, touching the stone with trembling fingers. The ground beneath her feet rumbled, and suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows — an extraordinary creature, its body a swirl of stars and ethereal light. Its eyes glowed like twin moons, and Lyra knew at once that this was the Great Starlight, the guardian of the forest. “You seek the truth,” the Starlight’s voice rang out, both soft and thunderous. Lyra nodded, her voice barely a whisper. “The darkness... It’s spreading. I’ve seen it in my dreams. It’s coming for the village.” 154

The Starlight’s eyes softened, and for the first time, Lyra saw a flicker of sorrow. “The darkness is not an enemy. It is a part of this world, like the light. Balance must be maintained.” “But the village—” Lyra began. “Your people fear the unknown,” the Starlight interrupted gently. “They believe only in what they can see. But true power lies in embracing both light and darkness, for one cannot exist without the other.” Lyra stood tall, her heart now full of understanding. The Starlight was not a savior, nor a destroyer. It was a keeper of harmony, teaching that fear of the unknown was the true enemy. “I will tell them, Lyra promised. “I will show them that they must accept both to live in peace.” The Starlight nodded once, then faded into the air like mist before the dawn. As the last shimmer of light disappeared, Lyra stood alone in the clearing, her mind clear and her heart ready to share the legend - not of a dragon or spirit, but of balance, of light and dark intertwined. The Legend was not in the stories told by the old but in the choices made by those who dared to seek the truth...

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Conrad Jones

How the Easter Bunny Got His Job Willington School (Year 5 – Age 9) Hello there I am the Easter bunny. I am going to tell you a story about my origin. It all started when Santa Claus decided he wanted a new holiday “It will be called Easter” he exclaimed. However, there was a problem. He could not decide what animal should run this new holiday so he decided that he would host the Easter Contest to decide. More and more animals signed up including the lambs, the chicks and the bunnies. That’s where I came in. I was chosen to represent the bunnies and I had no idea what I was going to be doing! On the big day I was nervous because there were penguins, elephants, seals, hedgehogs and more. Oh, why did I agree to this I thought. There and then I saw Santa, the big celebrity of Christmas, in all his glory: red coat, white beard, the hat and the sack. Then Santa started his speech “Welcome to the Easter Competition. The first challenge is the holiday spirit. You must do a dance that is infectious and makes us all want to join in. Let’s start with the monkey.” Let’s just say he ran around screaming BANANA!! and was eliminated. After several dances, the top two

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were the chick and the lamb. As well as the monkey, eliminated was the hedgehog, the chameleon and the eagle. Then it was my turn and I just danced and well, everyone wanted to dance with me. The result ended up being me in third. Next, Santa said “The next event is egg painting. You have each been given a box of eggs. You need to complete as many as you can in the time given. GO!!” I rushed to start decorating and I saw a seal painting a fish and an elephant painting the Savanna. I started painting lots of wacky, colourful patterns to fill up the space so that in the time given I completed nine eggs. “STOP!!” Santa screamed. Every animal brought their eggs to the judging table. The seal and the elephant were eliminated. “Now you must deliver the most eggs” said Santa. “The winner will be crowned the Easter animal - will it be the Easter chick, the Easter lamb or the Easter bunny? Let’s find out NOW!!” We raced, me hopping for my life with every step counting. I delivered more and more, hopping, hopping, hopping, eggs, eggs, eggs. Then I heard Santa calling us back. When I got back I was worried and tired. That’s when I heard the score: chick 56, lamb 55, bunny 57. I had won!!! I couldn’t believe it, I was the Easter Bunny!

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David Ricardo Hill

The Protector of the Sun Donhead Preparatory School (Year 6 – Age 10) In a land overrun by werewolves, carnivorous packs ruled the realm. A warlord, Fang the Ferocious, known for his brutal and vicious treatment of the original inhabitants of the land, ruled from behind the Moonlands, his fur matted, and body scarred from years of turmoil. His two sons, Claw and Storm, fought bravely by his side for millennia and owned distinct parts of the Moonlands. Claw owned the vast, unforgiving desert as well as the verdant, untamed jungle! Storm owned the pristine, ethereal beauty of the mountains with their dense, sun- dappled, ancient forests. Their father ruled the ancient yet hidden kingdom that was only visible behind the Moonlands and which was a haven of peace and tranquillity. Only the gentle whisper of the wind and the elegant sway of the trees could be heard from behind this forsaken place. Meanwhile... Thousands upon thousands of miles away, a small village was protected by the legendary Blaze, God of Heat. The town was surrounded by an intense, blisteringly hot dome of fire which scorched any living thing that tried to enter. A spy (from the Storm Pack) analysed and examined the dome for deficiencies. They craved what was protected inside. Clang! The werewolf blacksmith

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pounded, for one last time, the Spear of Rain: a devastating, high-octane artillery asset able to pierce a hole into the dome of fire was completed! The hole would be large enough for one being to enter the protected village. The celestial, luminous moon shone brightly on Claw, giving him an overwhelming sense of strength. He was ready. He checked his protective armour and weapons. It was time to go. He had practised his routine frequently and knew exactly where to strike and how much power to use. One Strike... Two Strikes… Three Strikes... Ripppp! A rift opened. Claw entered; he was ready for anything. He glided from wall to wall and sneaked from building to building, searching for his sole purpose: The Last Spark of the Sun! The Spark ensured the sun would rise, kept the werewolves at bay and prevented eternal night, which would give the wolves incomprehensible power. Claw waltzed nonchalantly through the night, blending in as if he were one with the shadows. He strolled by a small, ancient temple and caught sight of a light. A spark. Power, greed, and selfishness drove him closer and closer to the last hope of the village, the only hope they had of keeping the wolves at bay. He reached out and touched it. It gleamed and shined brightly enough to partially blind him. It absorbed him like a black hole in the ebony void of space. He was lost beyond saving. “Stop!” Blaze – God of Heat- screamed. He rapidly let out an outstanding amount of fire and confined Claw in an everlasting cage. It hypnotised him in an eternal memory of the past. This is a warning to you all, being greedy and power-hungry may lead to your downfall. THE END!

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Delphi Murphy

The Legend of the Forest Giant Haselmere Primary School (Year 5 – Age 10) Anne was in the forest all alone. She was hypnotised by its beauty. You may be wondering how Anne got there. Let me tell you. It all began on a sunny Saturday morning there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Wanting to enjoy this luxurious morning, she entered her garden. Then she saw it, a fairy right next to her, twisting willow that was swaying in the breeze. When it saw her, it instantly flew away, straight into the forest, and darted between the large, mossy oaks. Excited, she ran straight to the garden gate, determined to find and follow the fairy to its house. As she walked past the mossy trees, she could hear crickets chirping and an owl hoot. A little while later, she crossed a little bridge over a rushing cyan waterfall that caught a ray of sunlight. When she had walked for what seemed like forever, Anne entered a clearing and in the centre was a giant footprint that looked brand new. Now that you’re up to date, let me tell you what happened next. When Anne was inspecting the foot, she heard leaves rustling and twigs snapping. She heard a thud. Then another and another. A cold tingle went up Anne’s back. She turned around. There was a giant, bigger than the tallest oak. It was the Forest Titan. It had long, green legs with emerald green vines twisting around them like snakes. It had three humungous green eyes with a large turquoise centre in each. 160

“Get out of my forest!” it bellowed whilst stomping its foot. Anne ran faster than she had in her entire life, but she didn’t run fast enough. In one swoop of its hand, Anne was lifted into the air and thrown. Who knows how long she was in the air for? It could have been minutes. It could have been hours, but Anne will never know as she had fainted. When Anne woke, she was laying in a cotton bed. Opening her eyes, she saw leaning over her a strange creature. she asked, “Who are you? What are you? Why do you have hooves?” “I am Mr Ace and I am a faun, meaning I am half goat. Now, how are you feeling? We were taking our morning work when we found you motionless on the ground,” explained Mr Ace. Mr Ace gave her some clothes to wear as hers were torn. He held out a strangely-patterned, wooden cylinder and told her to put her hand on it and as she did, leaves whipped around her and a sword appeared in her hand. Everyone gasped. She had been given the gift of the forest. “Now she has a chance against the forest giant,” a faun behind her declared. She ran to the Titan and stabbed him. He screamed a terrible scream and fell to the ground. From his house in a tree, a pure white unicorn ran to Anne and she rode through the forest exploring its wonders.

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George Hammond The Sword of Sabbath!

Donhead Preparatory School (Year 6 – Age 11) The legend has it that once in a land where magic was real and dangerous, there was a sword unlike any other. It was created by the sun itself and was known as the sword of sabbath. This sword was evil, for whoever possessed it would be controlled and consumed by its power, turning their heart cold and their mind corrupted. But this sword came with great power and abilities. The swords magic could not be undone-once it chose a master, that master was bound to it forever. The sword lay hidden in the forest for centuries, forgotten by most, but not to a man named cyfrin, who one fateful day ventured into the forest hoping to find it. Days passed and there was still no sign of the sword. Just as Cyfrin was about to give up, something caught his eye—a faint glow came from the shadows. In an opening, the sword shimmered with a golden light. But as he drew closer, he noticed a dark shadow within the blade, as if something was trapped inside. With trembling hands, Cyfrin reached out and gripped the hilt. The moment his fingers touched it; a powerful surge of energy rushed through his body. At first, Cyfrin used the sword to protect his people. He defeated monsters and brought peace to the land. But soon, the power began to change him. He grew angry and cruel. His eyes turned cold, and he started taking control. He slayed anyone who stood in his way. This soon started a war. Using the sword, Cyfrin created an army of shadow beasts and 162

turned light into dark. The world was torn apart as good and evil battled across mountains, forests and seas. People lived in fear. But there was one person who still believed Cyfrin could be stopped—his younger brother, Heddwch. Heddwch and Cyfrin once fought together, but Heddwch had seen the darkness grow inside him. He knew the only way to stop the war was to return the sword to where it came from: the jungle. One night, while Cyfrin was fighting in the war, falling deeper into the sword’s evil, Heddwch crept behind him and whispered “I’m sorry, brother,” With a swift motion, he plunged a dagger into Cyfrin’s leg. The sword fell from Cyfrin’s hand, and the glow faded. The shadow beasts vanished. Cyfrin collapsed! Heddwch carried the sword far away. He buried it deep in the jungle so no-one could ever find it again. Trees bloomed, rivers flowed, and animals returned. The sky cleared, and a soft breeze whispered through the leaves. Peace returned to the land.

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Gracia Tang

The Legend of the Lake Aragon Primary School (Year 5 – Age 10) Once, in a quiet village nestled between rolling hills and thick forests, there was a lake so mysterious it had become the heart of many legends. The villagers called it “The Silver Waters,” for its surface sparkled like a thousand diamonds under the moonlight. But there was one story, whispered in hushed tones, that stood out among the rest. It was the tale of a girl named Laura and her best friend, Amelia. Laura and Amelia had been inseparable since childhood. They spent their days exploring the woods, chasing butterflies, and playing near the edge of the lake. Amelia was known for her curiosity and adventurous spirit, while Laura was gentle and calm, always with a knowing smile on her lips. They often talked about the mysteries of the lake, wondering what secrets it might hold. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting golden hues over the lake, Amelia suggested they venture out on a small rowboat. Despite the villagers’ warnings about the lake being dangerous after dusk, the two girls set out under the shimmering twilight sky.

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They rowed across the smooth water, laughing and telling stories, unaware of the quiet shadows creeping around them. As the boat reached the centre of the lake, the air suddenly grew cold. The water, once calm, began to ripple, as if stirred by an unseen hand. Laura looked at Amelia, her heart quickening with a strange sense of unease. Before she could speak, the lake’s surface began to glow with an ethereal light, and from the depths, a voice called out to them. “Laura... Amelia..” it echoed softly. Amelia, ever the brave one, leaned over the edge of the boat. “Who’s there?” she called, her voice trembling with excitement rather than fear. The water bubbled, and a figure slowly emerged. It was a girl, pale and dressed in flowing, silver-blue robes. Her eyes were like pools of moonlight, deep and endless. “I am the guardian of the Silver Waters,” the girl spoke, her voice both distant and familiar. “I have watched over this lake for centuries, and it is time for you to choose.” Laura, sensing the gravity of the moment, whispered, “What must we choose?” The girl’s gaze turned toward Amelia, then to Laura. “One of you must stay with me, and the other must return to the village. The balance of the lake can only be maintained by a soul who belongs to its depths.” Amelia, ever eager for adventure, stepped forward. “I’ll stay,” she said, her voice steady. But Laura’s heart ached as she looked at her best friend. “No, Amelia. I’ll stay. You have so much to live for.” With a tear in her eye, Laura stepped into the water. The lake’s depths welcomed her, and as she disappeared into its shimmering depths, the lake calmed, its glow fading. To this day, villagers still tell this tale. Laura and Amelia are forever together.

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Henry Jurd

Legend of Wimbledon Common Donhead Preparatory School (Year 6 – Age 11) Once upon a time, Little Blue Riding Hood was skipping through Wimbledon Common. Whistling as she went, the young girl traversed towards her grandma’s abode – the Windmill. Grasping a basket full of freshly baked Gail’s pastries, Little Blue Riding Hood replayed her mother’s instructions inside her head: “Remember, beware of the despicable tennis player!” Everyone knew of the despicable tennis player… Wimbledon 2010. The final between Roger Federer and Wolfie Wilson. Four-time winner versus unseeded surprise package. Federer stole the win in the fifth set. Instead of shaking the victor’s hand, Wilson stormed out of Centre Court…. never to be seen again. Legend had it, Wilson was hiding somewhere in Wimbledon Common, but no-one knew where… Little Blue Riding Hood finally arrived at her grandma’s Windmill. Smiling, she told herself there was no such thing as the despicable tennis player after all. Opening the door, she found her grandma lying in bed. “Hello, Grandma!” she grinned. “Hello, darling,” answered her grandma. A quizzical expression swept across Little Blue’s face. “My Grandma, what big arms you have!” she commented. “All the better to hug you with,” came her reply. Suddenly, she noticed a racket beside the bed. “My, Grandma, what a big racket you have!” “All the better to hit you with!” snarled her grandma, tearing off her wig and leaping out of bed. 166

To her right, she noticed her real grandma gagged and tied up. Little Blue was face to face with Wolfie Wilson! The legend was true after all! Blue was a sitting duck. Wilson was standing between her and her grandma. Trembling feebly, Little Blue didn’t know what to do! She couldn’t just run out of the door and leave her grandma with this madman; he was blocking her way to rescue her grandma. Little Blue did the only sensible thing: screamed “Help!” A flash. A blur. Wilson lunged at her. She dodged him. She ripped the racket out of his hands and attempted to release her grandma. Wilson attacked again but without warning, the door burst open and two figures came hurtling into the room. Within seconds a masked figure had Wilson hanging from the ceiling. The figure lifted his mask revealing his face - it was Tom Holland, who had learned these moves from the SpiderMan movies. “Well, well. If it isn’t the legend himself, Wolfie Wilson!” Little Blue recognised that authoritative tone – it was local MP, Paul Kohler! “We’ve been looking for you for 15 years! Anyway, the police will be here soon. We’ll untie you when they arrive.” Then Kohler turned to Little Blue. Her heart skipped a beat. “You, young girl, have been very brave. Furthermore, you have solved one of Wimbledon’s longest running mysteries – you should be extremely proud!” Masterfully, Holland finished untying her grandma. Smiling, Little Blue took her grandma’s hand and the two of them walked to Wimbledon Village where they lived happily ever after. As for Wilson, he was locked up and never seen again. 167

Isabella Ozolua The Legend

Esher Church School (Year 6 – Age 11) Beware dearest reader, if you commit to reading this tale, sleep will turn into an eternity of nightmares. Not all Duchesses are as they seem or even manors possessed by she. Trapped. An overpowering wave of agitation drowns me. The canvas of which I remain contained in fills me with great grief as the crusty paint slowly degenerates like death in the making. Many brushstrokes ago, I was renowned as a very successful and famous painter travelling calm yet stormy seas painting most of this world’s nobility. Thrilled yet dumbfounded, I was invited to Shrewsbury Manor. When I’m commissioned to paint a portrait, a true clone is what I hope to achieve with my oil paints. On our first visit, although her eyes were cold and threatening, I was shocked at how kind and fair the Duchess was. I knew full well this Duchess would be the hardest portrait so far. I glanced inquisitively at the canvases stacked behind her and queried, “How many artists have you sat for?” She fixed her eyes on me in an unsettling manner. “Too many who have failed to impress. I keep these canvases as… a little souvenir you could say”, she said somewhat mysteriously,

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as she ushered me out and seemed to lock the door with her finger. As I was escorted to my room, a hive of thoughts swarmed my head like bees. What did she mean by ‘souvenirs you could say…’ and the mysterious twang in her voice puzzled me even more. Was the manor as haunted as the gossip columns described? As I lay tossing and turning in my bed, hushed voices filled the silenced room with words like ‘save yourself ’, I decided to follow the voice which appeared to be leading me in a meandered direction to the place where I first met with the Duchess. This time the door was open with canvases scattered across the floor with what appeared to be grey souls contained within their frames. I noticed one canvas empty and deserted, almost waiting for someone to fill it; ‘you shouldn’t have come’. As I heard footsteps clattering against the hallway floor, my heart raced as I scanned the room looking for somewhere to hide. As I finally located a small plant pot, my senses told me danger was approaching so I took off, jumping behind it… Paralysis overcame me as the footsteps halted to a stop. The Duchess’s smooth flowing voice summoned the sloughing paintings from their unearthly cries, “You’ll be pleased to know that your time is soon to be finished and as you decay the new shall rise saving the very heart of our dear manor, a frame for you Mr Painter.” There was no turning back. Helpless. As I now observe the manor’s inhabitants through the corners of my canvas, I reflect on how the swift shift of fame to frame for my after-life of imprisonment started.

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Isabella Ritson

The Warden of Eldergrove Wimbledon High Junior School (Year 6 – Age 11) Long ago, in a secluded valley known as Eldergrove, a tale whispered by the wind through the towering trees and passed down through generations. It was said that deep within the forest, hidden among the ancient oaks, lived a creature known as the Warden of the Woods. The Warden was a being of light and shadow, guardian of the land, who protected both man and nature. Stories spoke of her long, flowing hair shimmering like silver moonlight, her eyes deep and mysterious as the midnight sky. No one knew her true name. The Warden was as old as the forest itself, and no one had seen her for centuries. Yet, she was said to appear in times of great need, when the balance of the forest was threatened. The people of Eldergrove has heard the stories of the Warden, knowing that her presence was a rare and powerful gift, but not all believed. Some dismissed it as mere fantasy, a tale to scare children into behaving. Among them was a young man named Rowan, who had grown up hearing the stories, but he casted them aside as old wives’ tales. Rowan was a practical soul and focused on the day-today struggles of farming and survival. To him, stories were for those who had nothing better to do than dream. One autumn evening, when the sun dipped low and the shadows grew long, a strange darkness fell over Eldergrove. The crops began to wither, and the river that had always flowed crystal clear turned murky and foul. The village elders gathered in fear, for they knew that something was amiss. It was the first sign that the balance of the land had been disrupted. Desperation led Rowan into the heart of the forest. Armed with only a lantern and a deep desire to save his village, he ventured 170

beyond the familiar trails, deeper into Eldergrove than any man had gone before. The trees whispered secrets as he passed, and their ancient limbs creaking in the wind. The deeper he went, the darker and colder it became. Suddenly, the lantern flickered and went out. Rowan stood in the darkness, breathless. Then, a soft and ethereal glow appeared before him. Slowly, a figure materialised - a figure, radiant and otherworldly, with hair like spun silver and eyes that shone with an ancient wisdom. The Warden had come. “You seek to restore the balance,” she said, her voice like a melodic whisper carried on the breeze. Rowan nodded, heart pounding in fear. The Warden raised her hand, and the land began to stir. The trees straightened, the river cleared, and the crops once again began to thrive. “You have shown courage, Rowan,” she said. “The land is healed, but remember this: The balance must always be honoured.” As the first light of dawn broke through the trees, the Warden vanished, leaving Rowan alone in the now-thriving forest. Rowen returned home as a legend!

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Isla de Broise

Thea and the Minotaur Wimbledon Park Primary School (Year - 6 Age 11) Tents doted the snowy hillside flickering in and out of view. To mortals the hillside would seem empty but Thea knew that the mist which hung around them manipulated the prying eyes of nosy hikers. Her boots were filled with snow which was slowly melting, soaking her already frozen toes with icy water. After trudging back towards camp, Thea slumped by the campfire hoping to bring the feeling back to her fingers. “Is the Minotaur still on the run?” she asked Zia and Chloe, twin sisters who were leading the hunters on the chase. “Yeah, but we think it’s trying to get to Crete.” Zia cast an anxious glance at Chloe which made Thea’s stomach churn. “Why would it do that?” Thea asked, her voice wobbling and uncertain. “We’ll wait for all the scouts to get back. There’s a chance that it hasn’t activated the portals yet.” The next day, the hunters set off at first light. The twins had explained the night before that two of the scouts had reported that the Minotaur had successfully opened two portals allowing it to teleport up to 30 miles at a time. Once the Minotaur reached Crete they believed it would try to recreate the original labyrinth at Knossos and use it to trap the gods. The thought terrified Thea but so did the idea of facing the Minotaur in batle. “We must call upon Lady Artemis for help so we can reach Crete in time,” Chloe warned, “there is a tough journey ahead; as hunters it is our duty to protect mortals and gods from harm.” 172

Thea felt as if they travelled for years through the endless expanse of snow topped mountains. Her feat ached and she was sure her fingers were about to fall off when Zia called them to a stop. The cold air in front of them shimmered and a young woman wielding a bow materialised. “My idiotic brother, Apollo, has agreed to give you all a lite to Crete. I warn you, he has an unhealthy obsession with haikus.” And with that, the air shimmered gold and she was gone. In her place stood a man with her green eyes, riding on a chariot pulled by blinding white Pegasi “Artemis pleads for my help, I am so awesome.” “That’s no haiku,” Artemis protested reappearing. “I know,” Apollo winked, “It’s a fact.” Thea crouched in the undergrowth, waiting for the Minotaur to fall into their trap. Sure enough, an enormous figure came charging out of the wreckage “Let’s give him Tartarus,” Chloe smiled and together they leapt out of the shrubs easily twice their size, the huge beast’s fur was mated with blood and two twisted horns framed its head. Slowly, the pair backed it into the clearing where two hunters sent it tumbling into the tripwire, celestial bronze neting sprang up in a whirlwind of gold and silver. Where the Minotaur had stood only seconds ago, was now a pile of crumbling ash.

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Jack Hockey Perseus

Esher Church School (Year 5 – Age 10) Perseus was a demi-god, his father was Poseidon, God of the sea, and his mother, an ordinary mortal. As a child he was strong and brave. One day his beloved Uncle Glacius was kidnapped by a monster. His mother was distraught, but then she remembered Perseus! “Pesius, my son, you have to save your uncle” she said before arming him with an enchanted sword and a sturdy shield and leading him into a shadowy forest. “This is where I must leave you” she said before quickly heading off... Pesius began walking, feeling more scared than ever before. The mist swirled around his ankles and the trees’ branches seemed to be stretching out to grab him. Then out leapt a huge dire wolf, snarling as it lunged towards him. Reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, Perseus blocked the wolf with his shield before lopping off its head with one mighty stroke of his sword. Relief flooded his body, and Perseus felt his usual courage returning. But what was that? A branch snapped. “Uncle is that you?” Perseus called. But instead, he encountered an old gnarly tree whose twisted roots formed a torso-like tunnel pulsing with an eery green light. He knew at once where he would find the monster… Without a second’s hesitation, Perseus crawled into the tunnel which led to an underground chamber. There, he found his Uncle Glacius tied up and gagged by a chain of vines. He was hurt. His eye swollen and bloodshot. Glacius was frantically trying to gesture behind him, when Pesius turned to see the monster right in front of him. 174

Standing at almost eight feet tall, the monster had three heads with flat noses and razor- sharp teeth. It had four arms made from a system of roots – each one carrying a cutlass or sword and its legs were made of earth that seemed to always be moving. The monster bared its teeth and leapt at Perseus. As it moved, Perseus saw a green emerald glistening in its chest, but as he tried to take a look the monster sliced his sword down, cutting his arm. The cut wasn’t deep, but when he looked down he saw that the cut skin was green and swollen. There must be poison on its blade, Perseus realised with disdain. He felt himself getting weaker, which the monster sensed as it raised its arms in preparation for a killer blow. Perseus had one last desperate thought – the jewel! Using the last of his energy he stabbed the emerald and the monster screamed as it disintegrated into dust. Quickly, Perseus freed his grateful uncle and they embraced before setting off for home – triumphant. But, just as the trees began to thin out, Glacius tripped and fell into a hole filled with a nest of venomous snakes. His last words were “Perseus become a great hero!”, before he quickly died. And, indeed, Perseus did go on to become a great hero. The moral of the story? Watch where you’re walking.

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Jasmine Stewart The Legend of Reola

Fircroft Primary School (Year 5 – Age 10) One blustery night, when the wind was howling and the clouds were weeping, a family was scurrying to shelter. The family of two was soon to be a family of three, as the wife was pregnant with child. Life was a desperate struggle; they were very poor and needed food. It wasn’t until the end of the month of Aoygasp, that they found refuge. Their new home was in the countryside of Loodswhere. Soon, a blessed baby girl was born, under the fullest moon high up in the sky. Her hair was red like amber and skin soft as a rose. Her gummy smile melted the hearts of those who gazed upon her beauty. Her parents were elated that their daughter was born on that auspicious night. Many folktales, suggest that if any child is born on a full moon (and in particular a flower moon) a blessing will occur. They named the girl Reola, which meant Celestial Legend. Growing up, Reola had a sweet tooth for life. She was a bright as a button, brighter than any star - loved by all - truly a gift from the heavens. One day Reola, came across a mysterious piece of glass. She didn’t think much of it, but lifted it toward the sunlight to let the rays pour through. Something strange happened; there was no reflection of light. Reola found more pieces of the glass; she gathered all of the pieces and hid them in the bottom desk of her drawer. Just then her father called. “Reola! Come downstairs! A letter 176

has miraculously appeared.” Reola was stunned. She had just discovered strange glass and now there is a letter? The letter was stamped with a golden symbol of Reola’s special birth moon. She opened the letter cautiously to find out that she needed to read it with the “crystals’’, so she went up to her room and grabbed the crystals putting them together like a jigsaw. The design wasn’t very straight forward but she had a vivid image in her mind that it was a constellation. After that, Reola swallowed the lump in her throat and began to read. My Dear Reola, I am the spirit goddess Paegislea. I am the goddess of the flower moon - your birth moon. You are a very special girl. The crystals you found are fallen moon shards. Please bring them to me in the forest. Love Paegislea. Without a second thought, Reola grabbed the moon shards and ran to the forest to find Paegislea. She searched and searched, until she saw an immense bright light deep in the mystical forest. Moving towards the light, she saw a figure. It was Paegislea. She was the most amazing timeless aura she had ever seen. All of a sudden the shards began to shine brilliantly and Reola felt herself lifted into another orbit. She had taken her spot amongst the stars to protect over the world and her family. The blessing had finally come true.

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Joseph Emmanuel

The Legend of the Firefox Merton Park Primary School (Year 6 – Age 11) Bella had just arrived at her grandfather’s house, but she did not want to spend the holidays here, she would much rather be back home. “Excited?” her mother asked as they approached the door. Bella said nothing and just smiled weakly. Her mother knocked on the door and they stood there, waiting. Soon, her grandfather opened the door. His wispy hair was slicked to his forehead and his face crinkled as he smiled at them. “Hello!” he cried out, “ Come in.” Bella and her mother walked inside. The house was grand with thick, velvet carpets and a long winding stairway. “The kitchen is through there,” Bella’s grandfather said, gesturing to one of the doors. He told them to follow him upstairs to their rooms. As they stepped onto the landing, Bella gasped: one of the doors was open and through it Bella could see a library full of books. “You can go in if you want and we can continue the tour later,” Grandfather said. “Thank you!” Bella replied and rushed through the door. Tall, wooden bookshelves reached the ceiling and in the middle of the room, was a worn, leather armchair. Bella walked over and looked at the book that was lying open on the table in front of the armchair and began to read. Bella soon finished the book. It was a tale of a flaming fox who 178

lived on the moor behind the house. She was just thinking about the story when she heard her mother call her from downstairs. She rushed down the stairway and into the kitchen. “It is too late for the three of us to do something together, is there anything you want to do on your own?” her mother asked. “Yes, may I go out on the moor?” Bella answered. “Sure,” her mother replied, walking out the kitchen. Grandfather raised a shaking finger and pointed through the window. “The moor is that way,” he said. Bella nodded and rushed to get her shoes. She put her shoes on and rushed through the door toward the moor. After a few minutes, she reached the moor. She spent some time just wandering around, but soon decided to take a rest by a tree. She spotted a thin, pale willow and sat down beside it, and she soon fell asleep. Hours later Bella woke. But to her horror, while she was resting, thick mists had covered the moor so badly that she could not even see a few feet in front of her. She cried out in panic and looked around. Then, out of the mist, she saw a flaming orb she ran after it but it was swiftly moving. After a few minutes she caught up with it and gasped. It was not an orb, but a flaming fox. It ran back into the mist. In front of her was home. The fox had led her back! ‘ So it is not a legend?” she thought.

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Kasmeeta Vaseekaran Pixel Paradise

The Sherwood Primary School (Year 5 – Age 10) There lived a boy who loved to play videogames. His name was Blaze and he lived with his brother and his beloved parents. Hey lived together in North England, in a peaceful, winding valley.As I said,he loved playing videogames with his family and friends day and night. Every day after school, Blaze and his best friend, Henry would play Call of Duty. Somehow they didn’t, get bored of it !They would play until they dozed, with an expensive controller in their hands and some headphones on their heads. One ordinary evening, Blaze scrolled down to find Call of Duty, when suddenly he saw something. A game called Pixel Paradise. ‘Must Play’ was typed on top of it. Should we try and play Pixel Paradise?It says ‘Must Play’ on top of it, “asked Blaze. “Sure!” Henry replies enthusiastically. As they clicked on it, something peculiar happened. Dozens of green dots appeared on the screen. Suddenly,a huge, horrifying portal formed next to his bed. Without thought, he leaped into it. After a few minutes, Blaze and Henry found themselves standing on colourful tiles.’Where are we? ‘wondered Blaze.“Hi! Welcome to Pixel Paradise. In order to go back home,you will have to defeat two devious villains.You will get to choose those two villains. Wishing you the worst luck ever! “exclaimed an unknown voice. “Who are you?” Henry asked fiercely. The voice didn’t say anything. Instead a screen appeared before them. There were four boxes. In each of them it said: Fiery Fiona, Thundering Theo, Lightning Leo and Hailing Harry. They pressed Hailing Harry and Fiery Fiona after a lot of thought and time.

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Only seconds later, Hailing Harry transformed in no time, shooting hail out of his hands. Blaze and Henry gasped. Frantically, they dodged for many minutes until they got tired. Blaze saw something in the distance. It was a shield. As fast as he could, he climbed up the blocks and got the shield without hailing Harry noticing. As he got back into his place, Harry continued to shoot hail at him and Henry. But as it hit the shield and got destroyed, Harry became weaker and weaker. With all of his strength, he shot a massive piece of hail at Blaze but as the piece of hail shattered into pieces, he completely collapsed. They had defeated him. “Nooooooooo!” yelled the unknown voice. “Yeah well done, Blaze.” celebrated Henry. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” Whilst they celebrated, Fiery Fiona transformed in anger and balls of fire appeared at her hands. She was ready. As she started to shoot balls of fire, Blaze saw a bucket of water behind her. So Blaze used the tiles to jump over her and succeeded. Using the bucket of water he threw it at the fire. However, it didn’t work. So he decided to throw the rest at her instead. She melted and before they could celebrate, they were teleported back home as if nothing had happened.

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Kavish Dureja The Legend

Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School (Year 6 – Age 10) In the shadow of towering pines and brooding mountains, there lay a village shrouded in tales of mystery. Whispered among elders and passed down to the wide-eyed children, the legend spoke of a solitary figure—a protector, a phantom, a myth—that emerged from the darkness only when the land was in peril. The stories claimed that long ago, the village faced a great calamity. A vicious storm had rolled in from the east, flooding fields and swallowing homes. People cried out for help, but it seemed nature had decided to reclaim the land. As the waters rose to unrelenting heights, the villagers witnessed what they could only describe as a miracle. A figure, cloaked in emerald hues and wreathed in an aura of shimmering light, appeared at the edge of the valley. They raised a staff toward the heavens, commanding the storm to retreat. The winds howled and churned in defiance, but slowly, grudgingly, the clouds parted and the skies calmed.

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Since then, “The Sentinel,” as the villagers came to call the figure, had become an enigma etched into their collective consciousness. Some claimed it was a spirit of the mountains; others insisted it was a wandering sorcerer bound by ancient vows. Skeptics dismissed the tale, but deep down, even the most practical villagers found solace in the idea of a hidden guardian watching over them. Generations passed, and the legend faded, blending into the fabric of folklore—until the day the earth trembled. A violent quake tore through the valley, turning fertile grounds into ravaged wastelands. The villagers, desperate and fearful, gathered at the heart of the village and prayed to the Sentinel to return… And return it did.

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Lael Park

The Elf Involvement The Study Prep (Year 6 – Age 11) Ever heard of things that betray common sense and scientific reasoning, things that will never come true? Well, never say ‘never’. My family and I learnt our lesson the hard way when we first came to Iceland, the land of elves, trolls and ‘hidden people’ - lovely legends that many Icelanders like to revel in, or so we thought… When a friendly neighbour asked “Assuming you have the elves’ blessing?” hearing our excited conversation about building a home jacuzzi, our parents politely replied “Yes, yes, of course.” I chuckled at the thought of imaginary, cute creatures. Then, bizarre (and certainly not cute) things began to happen. On the day the construction began, everyone working on the jacuzzi fell victim to the most pitiful case of diarrhoea! The work had to be postponed. After a few weeks, when work resumed, the drill decided to stop working! Again, the work had to be postponed. After another few weeks, a new drill finally arrived but this time, it worked too well. In fact, it drilled straight through the pipe, releasing a great gush of water from the ground like a volcanic eruption and flooded our house! Yet again, the work had to be postponed. As we were huddled together in the bitter-cold wind, wearing infinite layers of thermal clothing, praying that we wouldn’t freeze to death, we desperately racked our brains about why we had such bad luck. That’s when it hit me. “The elves’ blessing!” I blurted. As silly as it sounded, we were willing to clutch at straws at this point. 184

And so we did what we never thought we would do in our lives: seek an Elf Whisperer. Commonly known as a ‘Seer’ or ‘Völva’, a surprisingly ordinary looking lady purporting to be able to see and communicate with elves entered our home. When she set foot into the garden, she looked bewildered. “Oh my,” she gasped. “What have we here? The whole government of elves!” Now it was our turn to be confused. There was not a trace of mythical life in sight. However, the Seer was adamant that the community of elves were incredibly upset by our outrageous act - not consulting them in the construction of the jacuzzi right above their House of Parliament! So what did they want? The same things they demanded according to the ‘legend’ of the Blue Lagoon: a sincere apology and a USB containing details of the construction for their approval. We dutifully complied and surprise, surprise, all further works continued smoothly and we got our dream jacuzzi! Now, you may be thinking, the USB is easy but what is a ‘sincere apology’? A poem dedicated to elves engraved in a wall plaque that goes like this: Elves, elves, Respect them and believe them. If you want to live in Iceland, let me give you a hand. Before touching their habitat, stop where you’re at! First of all, seek their approval, Or face dire consequences and witness their menaces!

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Momina Khan

Hazel and the Legendary Amulet Cuddington Croft Primary School (Year 6 – Age 11) It was Friday and Hazel Wood gulped down her dinner hastily so her grandma wouldn’t ask her to play scrabble and rushed to the attic to hide. Normally, the little girl would simply bury herself in her phone, but her battery was dead so she decided to explore the attic, a place that had intrigued her with its quirky corners and forgotten treasures. As she rummaged through boxes filled with old CDs, vinyl records, and stacks of yellowed papers, something unusual caught her eye. Among the dusty stuff, a faint glow shimmered. Curious, Hazel approached the glowing object and discovered an ancient amulet. Hesitantly, she reached out to touch it. As soon as her fingers brushed against the shining pendant, it shone brighter than ever. She had read about something similar before and suddenly it all came back to her - there was a local myth of a glowing amulet that could grant you three wishes however Hazel had always thought that it wasn’t true. She knew she could wish for something simple like a new phone or a big mansion but she didn’t know if that would really be using its powers wisely or if it would be a decision that she would regret. Not knowing what to do, Hazel ran downstairs to find her grandma and show her the amulet. She showed it to her gran, the woman squinted at it, and let out a gasp. “Where did you find this?” she asked, her voice a mix of awe and fear.

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“In the attic,” Hazel replied, gripping the pendant tightly. “This amulet has been in our family for generations. I thought I had lost it! Apparently, it grants 3 wishes- but only if they are something you really want.” she said. Hazel glanced at the locket and then exclaimed, “But I don’t know what I want!” Her grandma smiled and whispered, “I think you will find out.” That night, Hazel decided to sleep on the decision and the next morning she knew what to wish for. Heard hammering, she trembled whilst she took the amulet out of her pocket and wished to never feel lonely again. The amulet shone brighter and when it stopped, Hazel headed downstairs where her grandma greeted her with a warm smile and hug which wasn’t unusual but today the hug felt different somehow. That night Hazel made her another wish, “I wish to understand grandma better,” Without warning, memories flooded back to her but they were not Hazel’s - they were of her grandma’s youth and of her playing scrabble with her mother. She went downstairs and asked her grandma if she wanted to play scrabble with her and her grandma was surprised before she finally managed to say, “I thought you didn’t like it!” “I think I do now, that was before,” Hazel replied. That night, Hazel made her third wish – for her grandma not to feel lonely when Hazel went back to her parents. The amulet sparkled and then went dull.

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Nasri Ga-al

The Legend of the Crimson Oak Tree Sellincourt Primary School (Year 5 – Age 10) In the heart of the ancient, whispering forest, where shadows stretched long and deep, stood the crimson oak it bark, a vivid blood-red hue, seemed to pulse a unworldly energy, as if the very tree was alive, breathing in sync with earth it self. The air around it shimmered with ancient magic, heavy with secrets older than time. The forest, thick tangled with moss-draped branches held mysterious power that few dared to disturb. Beneath the towering limb of the oak , buried deep within it gnarled roots lay treasure so precious it could change the course of history. But the treasure wasn’t gold or jewels-it was the kind of wisdom that could either heal or destroy. The oak , in its eternal wisdom, would only revel this to gift to one pure heart. Many have ventured into the depths of the forest , drawn by irresistible allure of treasure brave knights, ambitious scholars, and daring adventurers, had all comes to seeking glory, yet none had returned. The forest swallowed them whole leaving behind a faint echo of their desperate cries and a fading trace of their footprints. For centuries, the legend endured, a story told around camp fire and whispered on the wind. But it was not until the years of harvest moon that the 188

forest reveled the one destined to uncover its secrets. His name was Nasri. Nasri was no fierce warrior, nor a learned scholar. He was a simple boy with hair like silver moonlight and eyes that sparkled with warmth, amber glow sunset. Though he had the story’s about the crimson oak he never believed them. To him the forest was no place of myths but of beauty. He loved the way the sun beam scattered like liquid gold though the branches, the way earth smelled after a spring rain, the way the wind whispered a sweet lullabies through the leaves. One crisp autumn evening, as he sat near the forest edge, a strange sensation stirred in the air. The wind howled through the trees, their brunches creaking like a ancient giant awaking from a very long slumber. The forest seemed to be calling his name. The legend was true. The crimson oak was waiting , and he was chosen. Determined, with his heart was pounding like a drum Nasri stepped into the forest. The path opened before him thick tree parting as through guiding him. The scent of moss and a damp earth enveloped him, and the wind hummed with ancient power. At last, he came upon the oak. It towered before him, its gnarled brunches stretching high into heaven, twisted like the fingers of an ancient god. The air hummed with an energy so raw so powerful, Nasri could almost taste It on his tongue. His hand reached out, trembling to touch the smooth, fiery bark.

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Shun Ji Wong

The legend of Ivanotsk and the Dragon Wimbledon Chase Primary School (Year 5 – Age 10) In the heart of Latvia, a small town, Riga, bustled with prosperity. Famine nor plague had not beseeched this fair and calm land for five long centuries. The cause for this sweet land was King Skölandra and his descendants. His grandson, King Sköjaní, was the king who brought riches no one could have imagined into Riga. The word and tales of Riga’s riches spread far and wide, across the North Sea and into England, where the most hellish of evil beasts reside. Richnovallar was his name, destruction was what it brought. It travelled into Latvia and started slaughtering. In one fiery breath, the boreal forests of Latvia disintegrated into ashes and wisping thick, toxic gases through settlements, burrows, and caves alike. King Sköjani was horrified at the terror and devastation it brought. He urgently consulted an augury. “A hero born on Russian lands shall defeat the beast on the sands of the Daugava. All will be at stake; the decision is yours to make.” The augury whispered solemnly. King Skojani sent messengers to the Varangians, their most steadfast allies in battle. King Vladimayr, ruler of the Varangians, chose their greatest warrior, Ivanotsk, for the wise king knew that the brutish beast would not stop with Riga, it would tear the entire Baltic apart. The evil Wyrm destroyed the very land it slid upon, withering both flora and fauna. It settled in the Daugava, releasing toxins. When Ivanotsk arrived at Riga, he saw the ruins of a once rich and powerful town, now worn-down days of famine, plague, and death. When he entered the throne room, royals and servants alike bowed down. “Great warrior of the Varangians, we are under siege. The malevolent dragon has shattered our peaceful land. Are you our savior?” 190

“Yes. I pledge to slay the beast; I swear my life on it.” Ivanotsk promised. He reached the beast’s lair, lance in one hand, sword in the other. He wore crimson and white armor to attract the monster’s attention. It did. The creature attacked with such ferocity that Ivanotsk could only parry its venomous fangs away. He hacked, slashed, and sliced until the beast’s acidic blood filled the cavern, causing it to collapse. He returned to the palace, triumphant. But alas, they could not rejoice, for the king had collapsed. He was dead. King Sköjani made the kingdom wealthy and prosperous. Ox-eye daisies were laid at his grave, becoming the flower of Latvia. In honor of Ivanotsk, the flag of Latvia was crimson and white, after his armor.

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Sicily Rose de Bernardini Stone Heart

Wimbledon High Junior School (Year 6 – Age 11) My town is cursed, doomed to burn. It was once the home of a witch, a monster, a creature forged from the eternal fires of hell. She had a never-ending (and futile) quest to find where the human soul resides. Some say her dwelling is forever haunted by the ghosts of her victims. That her deadly experiments left them unable to cross to the afterlife, frozen in the eternal agony of their last living moments. She was finally captured and burned for her sins on Friday the 13th of February. The unluckiest day of the year. The day we condemned. A string of words in an unfamiliar language escaped her charred lips before her eyes shut forever. The next day the ground shook. The town was plagued with never-cease earthquakes that lasted for a week. So distracted were we by the tremors that we didn’t notice that the sun had slowly turned black, like the witches heart, and refused to shine. It knew it could not save us from the darkness, so it didn’t bother to try. It wasn’t long after that we realised the ground had not simply shaken. It had hollowed out. Making room for a mass of tunnels as twisted as the mind of the creature that inhabited them. Every month two people were stolen by the beast, and were never seen again. Life became dull and cold. Until something was discovered written outside the entrance to the dark tunnels. A prophecy. One person would voluntarily enter the tunnels. The monster would fall, defeated and the townspeople would be free of a life filled with terror, but if no-one slayed the beast within thirteen years the whole town would burn. It wasn’t until today that I realised the true meaning of the prophecy. As I lay on the cold hard ground utterly consumed by the ugly thing I have just done. 192

I am the legend my town treasured, and I betrayed them. I entered the tunnels. Walking confidently into the belly of the beast, not fazed by the darkness or pungent smell. It was the sight of the monster that stopped me. There are no words to describe how disgustingly beautiful it was. Like it didn’t belong in this world. The fear I felt came right from my core, and there was no escaping it. It is only now that I find myself to overcome with grief to pull myself from the floor, but that grief is not enough to force myself back into the tunnels. The real meaning behind the prophecy is that the true monster would fall, defeated. The true monster is me (I betrayed my people) and here I am on the floor. I realise also that the town will be free of a life full of terror. They will be free of any life at all. All I have ever loved will be gone. It is an inevitability. They will be as dead as my cold, traitorous, stone heart.

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Sophie Woodford The Conjurer

Wimbledon High Junior School (Year 6 – Age 11) In a land beyond the clouds, there lived a boy named Helios. He was strong, intelligent and since birth he had a distinctive mark shaped exactly like a lightning bolt on his arm. It was a curiosity and talking point with everyone he met but Helios didn’t mind. However, he always had a longing for adventure and excitement beyond the routine of his small village. Little did he realise that his life was about to dramatically change. Life was hard in the village because people had abused the land and polluted the environment which meant that the crops were dying, the soil was sick and arid and the temperatures were extreme. Flooding was common and every day had become a struggle for survival. Helios saw this happening all around him but he knew he could do nothing.. It was his twelfth birthday and he woke that day feeling strange and troubled. When he observed his friend being bullied in the street he got extremely angry and he felt a warm glow which rose like an erupting volcano through his veins until small lightning bolts shot out his eyes and onto the ground in front of the children who were bullying his friend. Word of this strange event ran through the village like wildfire. Helios was scared and ashamed and ran home and hid in his room.Thoughts were racing in his head. Who was he, what was he and how did he do that? Whilst he was deep in thought he did not notice his father enter the room. Breaking the silence, his father spoke in a caring but serious tone, “Helios, I know that you are afraid but the time has come for you to know the sacred skills that you now possess. You are a conjurer and have the power to 194

control the weather. There is great responsibility that comes with such a gift. A conjurer appears when the need of humanity is the greatest and you are tasked with correcting the mistakes that we have made”. Helios had a million questions. His father said that these would be answered soon but for now he should rest and be prepared for the training that would come. His father held out an old book, bound in leather with large brass locks. Carved into the leather were symbols of sun, rain, lightning and wind. “This book contains the collective knowledge of all conjurers before you. The last and greatest of them all was your grandmother.” Helios opened the book and saw drawings of lightning bolts, cloud monsters, and floating castles. He ran his fingers over the text and the pictures and the ink from the page flowed from the page up his arm and covered his body. Suddenly, he understood the environmental threat that humanity faced and his role in restoring the natural wonders of the land. It was not too late and he would use his abilities wisely to protect the beautiful gifts that existed in the world. 195

Sylvia Yijia Guo The Legend

The Study Prep (Year 5 – Age 10) People say the phoenix is just a myth. A story told to make you believe in magic. But I know it’s real. Because I saw it with my own eyes. It started on a stormy night. I couldn’t sleep, so I looked out my window and saw something glowing in the sky. At first, I thought it was lightning… but it was moving, like a ball of fire flying through the air. Then it landed in the forest near my house. My heart was racing. I knew I wasn’t supposed to go into the woods, especially at night, but something was pulling me there. So I went. The forest was strangely quiet. No wind. No bugs. Just that soft orange glow coming from the trees. As I got closer, I saw it. A giant bird, covered in golden- red flames, standing in the middle of the clearing. Its wings sparkled like fireworks. Its eyes looked old-older than time but kind. It was a phoenix.

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I froze. I couldn’t move or speak. But then it looked at me and slowly nodded, like it was expecting me to come. Suddenly,the ground shook, and dark smoke rose from the trees. Shadows with glowing red eyes appeared, creeping closer. I was horrified-but the phoenix spread its wings and let out a sound like a thousand songs at once.The shadows vanished. The phoenix turned back to me and gently let a single glowing feather on the ground. Then it burst into flames-bright, beautiful fire and disappeared into the sky. I ran home, clutching the feather. It was warm and glowing, but no one else could see the light. I kept it in a box under my bed, where no one could touch it. Now, sometimes, when I hold the feather, I hear the phoenix’s song. And when I close my eyes, I see fire and stars dancing around me. Everyone says the phoenix isn’t real. They say it’s just a legend. But I know the truth. The phoenix is out there. And it chose me.

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Talitha Frost Grandad

St John Fisher RC Primary School (Year 6 – Age 11) “NO PULSE! I repeat NO PULSE!” bellowed one of the paramedics as the others lifted grandad into the ambulance. Only a few moments ago, grandad was found on the cold floor with a cold heart. 1 minute in: lying unconscious grandad was having his second of two heart attacks after his badminton session. “We need CPR. CPR quick!” cried out another paramedic trying to do his best to keep Grandad alive. Even though it was expected ,due to the fact of his age and his medical heart health, it was still one of the hardest moments for everyone who loved him. 3 minutes in:grandad still with no sign of life left in him. Grandma’s mind was swimming with emotions. She was thankful because Grandad had survived the first heart attack, upset because her second husband could die and she would have to go over the dreadful process again and worried for what might come ahead. Will he survive, will the second one be the breaking point? 8 minutes in: finally a relieving pulse. A sense of comfort in every direction of the ambulance. Granddad, after eight minutes, was alive. Days after the accident, people went in and out of the hospital room. Chris, Andy, grandma, all there for reassurance for both themselves and Grandad. Granddad still might have not 198

recognised them but their presence was still significant. When Mum told me that Grandad was sick, I was upset and scared, but more I wanted him to be fine. I didn’t want to make him a Get Well Soon card, I wanted to do something different. It was almost Valentine’s day, so I made him an I love you card. Inside I wrote a poem of all my memories: ‘I love sewing with you, I love the marble run we made, I love Grandad chicken, I love going to the charity shop with you, I love going to the hummingbird with you, I loved the castle you built for me, I love you.’ This card was a trigger. A wonderful trigger. This brought back all of his memories about how he snuggled up with me and Eloise after they had just made their new blankets watching Mary Poppin ; how he had helped me win five house points by making a marble run over the holidays ;how he had made Grandad chicken for them nearly every night after finding out I was gluten-free ;how he had taken me to the charity shop even when the clouds were gray and chucking down with the rain; how he had taken me to the hummingbird to get a warm hot chocolate ;and how he had built a castle out of cardboard for us when we were below the age of seven. On that day, as grandma read the poem aloud, for the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled. The first sign of hope that Grandad would be ok. So this is why grandad is my family legend.

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Tiana Saldanha

The Tale of Lagoon in the Forbidden Forest St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Year 6 – Age 10) Long ago, there lived a girl named Aspen. She appeared ordinary, sounded ordinary, but wasn’t ordinary. She was able to contain her secret, until it was mysteriously revealed… Aspen was swiftly running through the inky darkness of the night, with only the gentle glow of the moon to guide her. Her heart pounded uncontrollably, and she tried her best not to cry. She had to escape quickly- her secret was out. She hurriedly sprinted towards a dense forest-it was the perfect to hide in. Aspen dashed through the abundance of towering trees that stood at the entrance of the forest, and frantically scanned for a place to hide. She couldn’t find somewhere secure enough. Aspen ran further into the depths of the forest, with no sense of direction. She then noticed a particularly large oak tree, which provided magnificent coverage. She hid behind its thick, robust trunk, and tried to quieten her heavy breathing. She stayed there for about five minutes, waiting in apprehension. When Aspen eventually stood up, she sighed in relief. They didn’t find her. She was safe. But, little did Aspen know, she had missed something while scanning- a sign that was partially hidden behind some foliage- it read, “FORBIDDEN AREA AHEAD.” She had run in the direction it pointed towards…. Aspen wandered around the area she was in, not knowing where to go. Every path looked the same, every noise frightened her to death. As she was helplessly looking around, something glistening in the moonlight caught her attention. Aspen froze. She didn’t know whether to go there or not. Maybe it was dangerous. Curiosity took over Aspen, so she carefully and cautiously approached the glistening “object.” She observed what it was and gasped…. 200

It was a body of water- it wasn’t a substantial amount, but it was as large as a typical lagoon. It appeared to be forgotten- it appeared to be magical. She came closer, and suddenly, the water moved. Aspen’s eyes widened in utter fear, then in wonder. She noticed a tail- a mermaid tail. She wondered if her mind was playing a trick on her. Just to be sure, she called out, only slightly louder than a whisper, “H-hello, is anyone there?” She didn’t hear a response. Aspen was about to leave, until the water made a small movement. She called out again quietly,” If someone’s there, it’s alright. I mean no harm.” This time, she heard a response,” Yes, Marina. Sorry I didn’t answer the first time, I thought you were going to kill me.” “Kill you? I wouldn’t do that!” she replied, “In fact, I’m the one getting hunted!” Aspen suddenly blurted out everything, “I’m a mermaid! When I come in contact with water, I transform into one. Scientists have been trying to hunt me, to do their nasty experiments! My secret was revealed!” “It’s alright, you can stay with me here. I’m also a mermaid! The same thing happened to me,” Marina said soothingly. “Thank you,” replied Aspen with gratitude.

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POEMS AWARDED DISTINCTION Special Educational Needs Schools

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Kacper Janik

If I was a Superhero Cricket Green School (Year 5 – Age 10) If I were a superhero, my superhero name would be Magnificent Shark. My superpowers would be super smart and super time. If I were a superhero, I would help people by protecting them and helping them when they are hurt. If I were a superhero, you wouldn’t have to worry about anything, because I would stop the time before something bad has happened. If I were a superhero my costume would be smart with a time clock. Being a superhero would be super fun.

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Tate Nolan Super Flame

Cricket Green School (Year 6 – Age 10) My name is Super Flame. I can make a fire from anything and I can fly. I can help you by warming you up when you are cold and freezing outside. I can bring a light with my fire when there is black out and no light on the streets. I like everyone. I’m there to help. hope you have a super day

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STORIES AWARDED DISTINCTION Special Educational Needs Schools

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Andrias Anthony What a Legend!

Cricket Green School (Year 5 – Age 9) Normans wants a shell. Norman wants to be a race car, but the wheel is falling. Norman finds a Coca Cola tin instead. He felt proud! What a legend!

Frankie Kerbey

Super Bart Simpson and the Chocolate Egg Cricket Green School (Year 3 – Age 8) Super Bart Simpson sold his pet cat. Magician sold him chocolate. Marge threw the chocolates out of Ralph’s window. In the morning, Bart noticed a huge chocolate egg. Super Bart Simpson climbed up the chocolate egg. He found a giant house full of candy. An evil giant man called Homer lived there. Super Bart Simpson stole the chocolate golden egg. Super Evil Homer chased Super Bart Simpson. Bart quickly climbed down the chocolate egg. Magi and Lisa chopped up the chocolate egg.

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Zakaya Leslie Supersnail

Cricket Green School (Year 3 – Age 8) Supersnail saved the beetle from the well. Supersnail is sticky. The fly take Supersnail to her lair. The bees take Lizard fly.

Zaroon Patel

Stuck in the Mud Cricket Green School (Year 5 – Age 10) Bacon is stuck in the mud. The Mouse is helping Bacon.

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Young Writers Competition 2025 Participating Junior Schools Alderbrook Primary School Aragon Primary School Benedict Academy Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School Cricket Green School Cuddington Croft Primary School David Livingstone Academy Donhead Preparatory School Dundonald Primary School Esher Church School Fircroft Primary School Haselmere Primary School Hatfeild Primary School Holy Trinity CofE Primary School Joseph Hood Primary School Kew Green Preparatory School King’s College Junior School Links Primary School Malmesbury Primary School Manor Park Primary School Meadlands Primary School Merton Abbey Primary School

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Merton Park Primary School Park Academy Pelham Primary School Poplar Primary School Rokeby School Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Sellincourt Primary School Sheringdale Primary School Shrewsbury House School St John Fisher RC Primary School St Mark’s Primary School St Mary’s Catholic Primary School St Matthew’s CE Primary School St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School The Sherwood Primary School The Study Prep Trafalgar Junior School West Wimbledon Primary School Westbury House School Wetherby School Willington School Wimbledon Chase Primary School Wimbledon High Junior School Wimbledon Park Primary School

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Index A

Aashna Paudel.................... 146 Adam Werneman................ 148 Adrianna Rose Buchanan..... 74 Alabama Wilkinson............... 18 Alela Parnell......................... 150 Alexander Mattmann............25 Aliina Culley......................... 152 Amelia Baloch.......................84 Andrias Anthony................ 208 Angie Lee...............................86 Anika Jhunjhunwala................9 Annabella O’Kelly..................88 Ao Wagatsuma......................42 Aone Yip............................... 126 Arden Leung......................... 90 Aria Rajadhyaksha................43 Arianne Han...........................92 Arin Pandit.............................44 Arwin (Jay) Jakkula............. 154 Aveer Gulati........................... 27

Charis Peck.......................... 127 Chloe Beecroft......................94 Chloe Campbell..................... 76 Conrad Jones...................... 156

B Beatrice Hudson....................14

D Damien Uzdin.......................... 5 Daniel Buntting.....................96 David Ricardo Hill................ 158 Delphi Murphy.....................160

E Eliza Betal..............................46 Eloise Thong..........................48 Emilia Griffiths.......................22 Emma Youngae Bartels.........98 Esther Lomax......................100 Ettore Romano......................50 Evaan Nirale...........................38 Eve Waugh........................... 129

F Frankie Kerbey................... 208 Freddie Allman.....................101

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George Hammond.............. 162 Kacper Janik....................... 204 Giulio Formisano................. 132 Kasmeeta Vaseekaran........180 Gracia Tang.......................... 164 Kasper Leung......................... 11 Kavish Dureja...................... 182 Keeran Saigal.......................108

Hamza Iqbal........................ 103 Haniya Hajendra.................. 105 Henry Jurd........................... 166 Lael Park.............................. 184 Lea Jade Nasri.......................54 Lemoi Mitchell......................110 Iker Hincapie Pico...............106 Leo Hoyland...........................39 Imogen Hicks...................... 134 Leo Imani...............................56 Isabella Mackie...................... 77 Leo Panattoni-Wallace.........112 Isabella Ozolua.................... 168 Luca Franklin Casey..............23

Isabella Ritson..................... 170 Isla de Broise....................... 172

Marlow Thomlinson................ 7 Maya Pal.............................. 139 Jack Hockey.........................174 Mimi Uccellani Razavi...........58 Jasmine Stewart ................ 176 Momina Khan...................... 186 Jemima Jennings................ 138 Jemima Rose.........................34 Jessica McCarthy..................52 Nasri Ga-al........................... 188 Joseph Emmanuel.............. 178 Nicole Sanchez Carrillo.......114 Joshua Lam...........................28

O Oliver Tong-Nery...................59 Orla Vashisht....................... 140 Orlaith Jackson....................... 4 Ottilie Johnstone...................78 Otto Warrick.......................... 61

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Paulina Sobiesiak................ 142 Valentina Thakhin................ 143 Viaan Jain............................ 120

Rachael Jane Koak................63 Rory Seddon.......................... 31 Walter Furniss.......................69

Safaa Bassawan.................... 15 Sana Ahmed.........................116 Sarah Kadir............................65 Shun Ji Wong.......................190 Sicily Rose de Bernardini.... 192 Skyla Ward.............................40 Sophie Woodford................ 194 Sophie Yu Ching Tang........... 67 Sylvia Yijia Guo.................... 196

Yusuf Hussain........................ 81

Z Zakaya Leslie...................... 209 Zaroon Patel....................... 209 Zoey McKissock.................. 122

T Talitha Frost......................... 198 Tate Nolan........................... 205 Thomas Cei.......................... 80 Tiana Saldanha.................. 200 TJ Hughes...............................17 Tom Lea................................118

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Young Writers Competition 2025

Enjoy our collection of poems and stories, selected from entries to the 2025 Young Writers Competition, around the theme ‘The Legend’. The anthology includes entries from over 40 primary schools across South London and Surrey. Enoy the wide range of talented writing and storytelling from the Winners, Runners-up and Highly Commended entries to the 2025 competition. These are poems and stories of fun and excitement, of courage and wit, of adventures across the world...