Maya's Dragon Lantern Adventure
Maya's Dragon Lantern Adventure
When Maya discovers a mysterious glowing lantern in her grandmother's attic, she never imagines it will lead her on a magical journey through the clouds. But some adventures choose you, and this little dragon has been waiting a very long time for the right friend to find him.
Maya loved November.
Maya loved November.
The air was cold and crisp.
The air was cold and crisp.
The leaves were orange and red.
The leaves were orange and red.
But most of all, she loved making lanterns with her grandmother.
But most of all, she loved making lanterns with her grandmother.
"Today we make magic," Grandma said with a smile.
"Today we make magic," Grandma said with a smile.
She put colorful paper on the kitchen table.
She put colorful paper on the kitchen table.
Maya's eyes grew wide.
Maya's eyes grew wide.
"What kind of magic?"
"What kind of magic?"
Maya asked.
Maya asked.
"The magic of Saint Martin," Grandma replied.
"The magic of Saint Martin," Grandma replied.
"Long ago, there was a kind soldier named Martin.
"Long ago, there was a kind soldier named Martin.
He shared his warm coat with a poor man on a very cold night.
He shared his warm coat with a poor man on a very cold night.
Now, every year, children carry bright lanterns to remember his kindness."
Now, every year, children carry bright lanterns to remember his kindness."
Maya picked up red paper.
Maya picked up red paper.
"I want to make a dragon lantern!"
"I want to make a dragon lantern!"
"A dragon?
"A dragon?
How wonderful!"
How wonderful!"
Grandma laughed.
Grandma laughed.
"Dragons are very lucky."
"Dragons are very lucky."
They worked all afternoon.
They worked all afternoon.
Maya cut the paper carefully.
Maya cut the paper carefully.
Grandma helped her glue the pieces together.
Grandma helped her glue the pieces together.
They made a beautiful red dragon with golden eyes and a long tail.
They made a beautiful red dragon with golden eyes and a long tail.
"Now we put the candle inside," Grandma said.
"Now we put the candle inside," Grandma said.
She placed a small, safe candle in the dragon's belly.
She placed a small, safe candle in the dragon's belly.
When she lit it, the dragon glowed like fire.
When she lit it, the dragon glowed like fire.
"It's alive!"
"It's alive!"
Maya shouted with joy.
Maya shouted with joy.
That evening, Maya put on her warmest coat.
That evening, Maya put on her warmest coat.
She carried her dragon lantern outside.
She carried her dragon lantern outside.
The street was full of children.
The street was full of children.
Everyone had different lanterns.
Everyone had different lanterns.
There were stars, moons, houses, cats, and even a giant fish!
There were stars, moons, houses, cats, and even a giant fish!
"Hello, Maya!"
"Hello, Maya!"
called her friend Tom.
called her friend Tom.
He had a blue star lantern.
He had a blue star lantern.
"Your dragon is amazing!"
"Your dragon is amazing!"
"Thank you!
"Thank you!
Your star is very bright," Maya said.
Your star is very bright," Maya said.
The children began to walk down the street together.
The children began to walk down the street together.
Their lanterns made the dark night beautiful.
Their lanterns made the dark night beautiful.
Parents walked behind them, singing old songs about Saint Martin.
Parents walked behind them, singing old songs about Saint Martin.
Maya looked around.
Maya looked around.
The lanterns looked like floating dreams.
The lanterns looked like floating dreams.
Some were big, some were small.
Some were big, some were small.
Some were simple, some were fancy.
Some were simple, some were fancy.
But all of them were special.
But all of them were special.
"Why do we walk together?"
"Why do we walk together?"
Maya asked her grandmother.
Maya asked her grandmother.
"Because light is better when we share it," Grandma explained.
"Because light is better when we share it," Grandma explained.
"One lantern is nice.
"One lantern is nice.
But many lanterns together make the whole world brighter."
But many lanterns together make the whole world brighter."
They walked through the park.
They walked through the park.
They walked past the shops.
They walked past the shops.
They walked by the river.
They walked by the river.
Everywhere they went, people came outside to watch.
Everywhere they went, people came outside to watch.
Old people smiled.
Old people smiled.
Babies pointed at the pretty lights.
Babies pointed at the pretty lights.
Dogs wagged their tails.
Dogs wagged their tails.
At the end of their walk, all the children stood in a big circle.
At the end of their walk, all the children stood in a big circle.
They held their lanterns high in the air.
They held their lanterns high in the air.
The lights danced in the wind like tiny suns.
The lights danced in the wind like tiny suns.
"Make a wish," Grandma whispered to Maya.
"Make a wish," Grandma whispered to Maya.
Maya closed her eyes.
Maya closed her eyes.
She wished that everyone in the world could feel as happy and warm as she felt right now.
She wished that everyone in the world could feel as happy and warm as she felt right now.
When she opened her eyes, her dragon lantern seemed to wink at her.
When she opened her eyes, her dragon lantern seemed to wink at her.
Maybe it was just the wind moving the candle.
Maybe it was just the wind moving the candle.
Or maybe it was real magic.
Or maybe it was real magic.
Maya decided it was definitely magic.
Maya decided it was definitely magic.
The best kind of magic comes from sharing light and kindness with others.
The best kind of magic comes from sharing light and kindness with others.