Teeny, tiny Timbo was so tiny, that he spent the first year of his life in an empty goldfish bowl. It wasn’t so bad. He had a teeny, tiny crib from his sister’s dollhouse, and a teeny, tiny rug to go on the floor, and he even had his own teeny, tiny teddy bear.
Conor held on tight as the ship rose through the night sky, higher than the tallest trees, higher than the highest mountains. The Earth got smaller and smaller beneath them, until it was no bigger than a blue-green marble. Past the moon they went, past Mars, and Jupiter, and Saturn, too.
Poor little bird. Everyone else in the forest had a much prettier song – the other birds, the wind, the stream. And so as the sun was rising, she stayed silent. She stayed in her nest all that morning and all that afternoon, with her head tucked under her wing.
One by one, the children of Juniper Lane found their way into the secret garden. They had picnics on the grass, and played games, and made flower crowns for the stone lion’s head. And though the stone lion’s expression never changed, somehow it seemed pleased to have the children’s company.
“What are you doing in my puddle?” Theo said to the little silver fish.
“What are you doing poking your stick in my ocean?” the silver fish said to Theo.
“This isn’t an ocean,” said Theo.
“Careful,” said the silver fish. “Things aren’t always as they appear.”
Anika patted her snow pony goodbye, and turned to go inside. But just as she had her hand on the door, she heard something behind her. It sounded like a whinny, like a real pony.
There was once a little stone house in a hollow in the woods. Oh, but it was a lovely little house, snug and warm and dry! But no one even knew the house was there – except the wind, and the birds and the mice.
The day that Jonathan was born, his grandfather planted a tree in Jonathan’s backyard – a special tree. Jonathan was a very tiny baby, and the tree – well, it was a very small tree.
“It seems it’s up to us to find our missing family,” said Abuela. “And the sheep will have to come with us too.”
“But you’re too old and I’m too young,” said Felipe.
“Nonsense!” said Abuela.
The night carousel was beautiful – with sparkling gold and silver lights. And around it were the most fantastic creatures: lions and tigers and giraffes and zebras, unicorns and dragons and horses with wings, all carved out of smooth wood.