Free eBooks - Childrens Stories and Bedtime Reading

Title: Horatio Hotbottom and the Flying Machine

In a little village, just beyond the hills, lived a curious boy named Horatio HotBottom. He was always laughing and he was full of tricks. Everybody liked Horatio, he had lots of happy friends and he was fun to be with, especially during the long hot summer holidays when the sun shone all day, and the days seemed as though they would last forever.

Horatio wasn't like the other children, he had the most marvellous imagination and he would dream-up amazing things to do, and all the boys and girls loved his adventures, and he was always full of surprises!

One sunny afternoon on a very hot day, Horatio was sat by the window, gazing up at the sky. He had just finished drinking some of his favourite lemonade, and the bubbles caused him to make a few burping sounds. He thought it was funny and it made him giggle out loud.

The clouds were fluffy, and the birds were soaring high in the sky as if they were floating like a leaf caught by the wind. He dreamed of floating in the sky like them, high above the world, where he could see everything and be free like a wild bird. He liked birds so much, and used to feed the robins in the garden when they were hungry. Horatio was always kind and caring, and he loved animals.

Horatio "I wish I could fly!" Horatio sighed. Suddenly, he had an idea. "What if I could use some balloons and my kite, could that help me to fly? What if I could make a flying machine that could lift me into the clouds?" So many exciting thoughts were in Horatio’s mind. He could fly like the birds and be one of them for a day.

So, Horatio set to work. He gathered some twine, some big red balloons, and a basket. He attached the balloon to a harness, made a few adjustments, and after a few hours his hard work produced an elegant flying machine. The balloons would lift him into the air and he would use his kite to steer and change direction and go as fast as he could.

Horatio took his new machine to the common where all his friends had gathered to watch him attempt to fly high in the sky.

"Ready for take-off!" Horatio exclaimed, tugging the strings. The balloon started to rise slowly, and Horatio screamed with excitement as his friends watched him lift into the air. They all chased behind Horatio as he gently lifted into the air. All his friends were reaching up towards him as they wanted to be up there with Horatio too. Horatio was laughing so much because he was having such fun. He almost fell out of the basket, but he now held on more tightly, just in case.

Up, up, up he went! Higher and higher, past the rooftops, past the trees, and up into the blue sky. Horatio giggled, feeling the wind rush through his hair and the sun warm his face. He lifted his kite out of the basket and just as he did so the kite caught the wind and he could feel the strength of the wind as the kite pulled him along so fast. In the distance so far below he could still see his friends chasing him on the ground below. He thought that next time he would use a bigger basket and get more balloons so his friends could share in this marvellous adventure.

Audio Example - click this link

Please go to Store to select the titles, or enter your email address below and a free eBook will be sent to you within 24 hours.