Stories – Page 2 – Stone Soup

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Where young artists paint the world with words

The international magazine of stories, poems, and art by young writers and artists. Published continuously since 1973.

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The Magical Smile

by Stephanie Gomory, Illustrated by Tania Karas

Published January 6, 2017

My Burton had a taste for dramatics. Her daily schedule was crammed full of acting lessons, ballet, and auditions. Her...
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Heart and Soul

By Jill Cooley , Illustrated by Jessie Hennen

Published January 5, 2017

My fingers trembled as I laced up my toe shoes. I drew in a long, shaky breath. Why, when I...
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Nutcracker Dreams

By Rachel Hellwig, Illustrated by the author

Published December 13, 2016

My holiday wish was to dance in the Nutcracker. I was eleven years old and a student of Charlotte Kingston...
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Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

By Hannah Postel, Illustrated by Leigh Marie Marshall

Published November 26, 2016

I stare at the flickering candle, the small light throwing echoes onto the flimsy curtain wavering with our movements. That...
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The View from Santa Chiara

By Mariel Dempster, Illustrated by Claire Neviaser

Published November 22, 2016

One thing was for certain, she never wanted to go. She never wanted to go to Santa Chiara. Francesca stared...
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A Bouquet

By Esther Lyon, Illustrated by Leslie Osmont

Published November 21, 2016

The oily paste on my lips tastes like dried lotion as my tongue shapes the outside of my shocking red...
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Ellie’s Market

by Alice Mar-Abe

Published February 5, 2016

“Alexandra! Alexandra!" came the excited voice of my younger cousin Clara from the hallway. "You get to take Max and...
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A Sliver of Moonlight

by Aja Corliss

Published January 30, 2016

Click, clack, sounded the dancer’s feet, echoing out in the auditorium. The smooth piano accompanied her and the audience and...
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To Be a Swan

by Alison Buick

Published January 27, 2016

“And remember, auditions for Swan Lake are tomorrow!” Sydney’s ballet instructor, Elise, chirped. “Ballet class is dismissed!” “Syd, who...
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The Unfinished Jester

by Emma T. Capps

Published January 23, 2016

In Memoriam. Angelo Salvatore D’Amico, 1919–1989. That was what I wrote, at the bottom of the painting, in felt-tip pen....
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The Magical Smile

Story Published January 6, 2017 by Stephanie Gomory, Illustrated by Tania Karas

My Burton had a taste for dramatics. Her daily schedule was crammed full of acting lessons, ballet, and auditions. Her room overflowed with masks, stage makeup, and old playbills.
Read More →

Heart and Soul

Story Published January 5, 2017 By Jill Cooley , Illustrated by Jessie Hennen

My fingers trembled as I laced up my toe shoes. I drew in a long, shaky breath. Why, when I had longed for these new satin shoes just a few months ago, did I want so badly to take them off and crawl u...
Read More →

Nutcracker Dreams

Story Published December 13, 2016 By Rachel Hellwig, Illustrated by the author

My holiday wish was to dance in the Nutcracker. I was eleven years old and a student of Charlotte Kingston Ballet School. My teacher, Mrs. Brooke, had told me that the director from the local ballet c...
Read More →

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Story Published November 26, 2016 By Hannah Postel, Illustrated by Leigh Marie Marshall

I stare at the flickering candle, the small light throwing echoes onto the flimsy curtain wavering with our movements. That cloth is all that separates us from the audience; they're out there, waiting...
Read More →

The View from Santa Chiara

Story Published November 22, 2016 By Mariel Dempster, Illustrated by Claire Neviaser

One thing was for certain, she never wanted to go. She never wanted to go to Santa Chiara. Francesca stared out the huge windows of the dining hall; the rain beat harder and harder against the window,...
Read More →

A Bouquet

Story Published November 21, 2016 By Esther Lyon, Illustrated by Leslie Osmont

The oily paste on my lips tastes like dried lotion as my tongue shapes the outside of my shocking red lips. My grandmother applies the red tube that was once hers when she was my age.
Read More →

Ellie’s Market

Story Published February 5, 2016 by Alice Mar-Abe

“Alexandra! Alexandra!" came the excited voice of my younger cousin Clara from the hallway. "You get to take Max and me shopping for Halloween costumes!
Read More →

A Sliver of Moonlight

Story Published January 30, 2016 by Aja Corliss

Click, clack, sounded the dancer’s feet, echoing out in the auditorium. The smooth piano accompanied her and the audience and judges looked very pleased with the performance.
Read More →

To Be a Swan

Story Published January 27, 2016 by Alison Buick

“And remember, auditions for Swan Lake are tomorrow!” Sydney’s ballet instructor, Elise, chirped. “Ballet class is dismissed!” “Syd, who are you auditioning for?
Read More →

The Unfinished Jester

Story Published January 23, 2016 by Emma T. Capps

In Memoriam. Angelo Salvatore D’Amico, 1919–1989. That was what I wrote, at the bottom of the painting, in felt-tip pen. That isn’t the beginning of this story. It’s the end.
Read More →