Lily the cat purred, her soft fur brushing Scarlett's cheek. "Good morning, Lily!" Scarlett giggled. Lily was 54 in cat years, very old and very wise! Scarlett, at two years old, was much younger, but she loved to read with Lily snuggled beside her. Today was special. Mommy said they were going to the Street Market! Scarlett had never been, but she heard it was full of yummy smells and colorful fruits.
At the market, Scarlett's eyes opened wide! So many colors! A kind lady held out a juicy red strawberry. "For you, little one!" she smiled. Scarlett took a bite. It was the sweetest, juiciest strawberry ever!
Suddenly, a beautiful song filled the air. High above, perched on a basket of bright yellow lemons, sat a tiny bird. It sang a song so clear and bright, it made Scarlett’s heart happy.
“He’s singing about the magic of reading!” a boy with a wagon full of books told Scarlett. “See those words on his wing?”
Scarlett gasped. Tiny words shimmered on the bird’s wing: “Reading makes your dreams take flight!” The little bird winked at Scarlett, then soared into the sky.
“I want to read everything!” Scarlett declared. She pointed at a book with a big orange pumpkin on it. “Mommy, this one!”
Back home, snuggled on the couch with Lily, Scarlett read about pumpkins. She learned how they grew and all the yummy things you could make with them. “Lily,” she whispered, "Reading really does make your dreams take flight! Just like the little bird said!"
Lily purred and nudged Scarlett’s hand. Scarlett knew, even without words, Lily loved reading too. From then on, every trip to the Street Market was an adventure, filled with new books, new songs from the magical little bird, and new stories waiting to be discovered!
