Showing results by narrator "Sarah Bacaller" in All Categories

Why do humans have a horror of skeletons? Is this aversion justified? What does it signify? Such are the animating questions of this essay by G. K. Chesterton, who acts as a witty defendant for humanity’s hidden form.

With G. K. C.’s characteristic wit, he explores in this essay the virtues of baby-worship, as adults are invited to see the world anew through the eyes of children. Furthermore, argues G. K. C., an appreciation of our youngest humans “forces us actually to remodel our conduct in accordance with this revolutionary theory of the marvellousness of all things.”

It’s 1993. Beth McMaugh is eleven years old and about to start Year Six. Her best friend, Ashlee, assures Beth that it is going to be the best year ever, but then why is she sitting with the popular girls? When the new strange, nerdy kid, Jools, befriends Beth, she is swept up instead into the School Nerd Club. Behind everything is a secret from Beth’s past, a secret so terrible it stays with her, every day. Making the spirals come. And there was that day at the beach. Is that why Ashlee doesn’t want to be friends? Is that why her Mum avoids her? Has Beth ruined everything?

Grace Marshall is eleven years old. She’s curious and creative and dreams of becoming a magician called Grace the Amazing! Grace’s only friend is her art teacher, Pamela. When she discovers that Pamela is ill, the fragile certainties Grace relies on threaten to slip away. On her mission to find a cure for Pamela using miraculous magic, Grace asks the big questions about life, love, and friendship.

Humility gets a bad rap these days, especially when contrasted with philosophies of egoism and self-assertion. But can we see the world as it really is without losing ourselves for a moment to take up the perspective of another?

This essay is one in a series titled The Defendant, first published as a collection in 1901, after the individual essays were published in The Speaker. Here, a selection of these essays has been reissued by Voices of Today for a new generation.

This essay is from a series titled The Defendant, first published as a collection in 1901, after the individual essays were published in The Speaker. Here, a selection of these essays has been reissued by Voices of Today.

In Year Three, earrings are everything. Shiny gold stars, diamond studs, dangly rainbows, buzzy bees. Almost everyone’s got them. Everyone except Mavey, that is. Mavey’s twin sister Beth says it’s time to join the pierced ear club. Her best friend Woody says earrings are totally silly. And Mum? She just says it’s Mavey’s choice. But if she wants to fit in, Mavey must face the ultimate horror. A giant. Crunching. Piercing. Gun. Gulp.

Take a fantastical trip to a magical world and meet four tiny sprites with attitude! In between heavy metal practice sessions and cheeky pranks, Talia, Lily, Marri, and Dawn get caught up in some scary adventures. When Lily suddenly disappears, her sprite siblings fear the worst. Who can they trust? Winston the rainbow trout? Rocket the magpie? Who is friend, and who is foe? With a clever plan and a few tricks up their sleeves, the sprites bravely face up to the dangers and risk themselves to save each other. But are they too late?

Join Ariana at the Treasure Chest – come and find the secret ingredient. Ariana is excited for the food truck competition. Her friends Hunter and Jake are confident their family will win the big prize. All they need is a standout dish. Can they find what they need at the Treasure Chest?

Attention Campers! Seeking maximum adventure? Looking for maximum fun? You need CAMP MAX! Tania’s all set to go on camp! She’s planned which cabin she’ll be in, what snacks to take, she’s even arranged for her best friend, Emily, to come too. There’s one small problem though: Emily’s parents gave away the money that would have bought her ticket. Luckily the town talent show offers Camp Tickets as a prize – all they have to do is win one for Emily. But even as they rehearse to win, no one’s expecting Tania’s own ticket to go missing.

Join Ariana at the Treasure Chest – come and find a special talent. Ariana is excited for the talent show at school. She can't wait to see her friends perform, especially Maya. But Maya doesn't believe she has a special talent. Can Ariana and the treasures from the thrift shop help her friend Maya discover her unique talent before show day?

All out of Duck Nuts, fresh out of milk, and his best friend, Gregory, is nowhere to be found! Only a miracle can save Brian—and this day—from disaster!