Door opens to another call for help

December 19, 2022

Editor’s note: This is Chapter 6 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. “Well, it sounds like you two sure brightened up her holiday,” Mr. Hinkly said the next afternoon as Anna and Tyler filled him in on what they’d done for Mrs. Campbell. “I hope so,” Anna said. She couldn’t help fidgeting in her seat, shooting glances back toward the storeroom. Mr. Hinkly smiled. “Go on,” he said. “Find out where your next adventure will be taking you.” Anna and Tyler rushed back to the storeroom, but at the door ...

Children do a good deed for neighbor

December 18, 2022

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Chapter 5 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. Anna couldn’t stop thinking about what they’d seen. It made her sad to see Mrs. Campbell so upset, especially since she was always so cheerful when they saw each other. “Tyler,” she said as they left The Book Secret, “we need to do something for Mrs. Campbell. You heard what Mr. Hinkly said — we saw the door because we’re meant to help!” Tyler slowly nodded. “Yeah. You’re right. It’s just hard to believe that actually happened. ...

Door reveals memories, mysteries

December 17, 2022

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Chapter 4 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. By MEGAN SMITH and HOLLY NITTOLI Correspondents Mr. Hinkly crossed his arms and frowned at them. “So I see you found the door,” he said. Anna and Tyler looked at each other, wide-eyed. Anna whirled around to look at the doorway, but only saw a tiny storage closet filled with a mop, bucket and cleaning chemicals. “You know about it? What is it? How does it exist?” Questions fired out of Anna, and Mr. Hinkly held up a hand to silence her ...

Stepping through door to suprises

December 16, 2022

Editor’s note: This is Chapter 3 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. “Hey,” Tyler called, the box of mugs forgotten as he stood next to Anna, watching the door slowly open all by itself. “Is someone in there?” Silence answered from inside the door, and Anna frowned as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. She could see people moving beyond the door, in a room that looked like a cozy living room. It didn’t make any sense for a room like that to be back here. “What are you doing?” Tyler held her ...

Mysterious door attracts curiosity

December 15, 2022

Editor’s note: This is Chapter 2 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. “That reminds me, Ty,” Anna said as she led them to their favorite table next to the small electric fireplace against the wall. “My dad said to tell you if you want to help him with a few deliveries tomorrow morning, he’ll pay you. With the snow coming, he wants to try to get them done early.” Anna could easily do the deliveries herself, but she knew Tyler really enjoyed helping. He liked being able to earn a bit of money to help out his mom ...

Snowfall delivers Christmas magic

December 14, 2022

Editor’s note: This is Chapter 1 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. The day that changed Anna’s life forever began at her favorite place: The Book Secret. It was the first day of Christmas vacation, and she was eager to find a few more books to put on her Christmas list. As always, the first thing she did when she stepped into the small bookstore with the even smaller bakery was let her nose carry her toward the delicious scents of freshly baked snickerdoodles and peppermint cocoa. “Hi, Anna!” The store’s owner ...