Amy had three sons, Dave, Bill and Bob. Every year her sons sent her expensive gifts on her birthday.

The eldest son Dave, had a lot of money and he wanted his mother to have the most expensive gifts, but he didn't know what to buy. So he put an ad in the newspaper. "Wanted—the greatest gift for my mother.”

About a week before his mother's birthday, a man came to his office. He brought a big bird.

“This bird can speak six languages and sing eight songs.”the man said.

“Really?  I'd like to listen to it," Dave said.

The man made the bird talk in French and tell a joke in Japanese. Then the bird sang a beautiful song. Dave was very happy and paid eight thousand dollars for the bird. The next day Dave sent the bird to his mother with a birthday card.

The day after his mother's birthday he called his mother. “Well, mother”he asked, "What do you think of the bird?”

“Oh, it's very delicious, dear.”said his mother.

    Three small fish lived in the sea. When they were very young, their parents died. They had to look after each other day after day. Finally, they grew up and could swim in deep water.

    One morning, a big wave(浪) pushed the three fish to a shallow water. It also pushed a small boat there. It was hard for them to go back to the sea because the boat was right in front of them. The largest fish realized(意识到) that they were in danger, and said they had to find a way to leave there as fast as possible. The second largest fish agreed with his elder brother, but the youngest one did not. He said that there was much time for their activities, so he would not worry at all and still swam happily.

    At last, the largest fish returned to the sea by jumping over the lowest part of the boat. The second largest fish were also successful in joining his elder brother in the other side of water. But the youngest one still swam there happily.

    Two hours later, when the sun came up, the water in the small shallow part dried up(干). The youngest fish died finally.

Hans Christian Andersen(安徒生)

    Hans Christian Andersen is a great writer. He wrote many popular stories for children all over the world. April 2 is his birthday and it is also Children's Book Day.

    Andersen was born(出生) in 1805. When he was a little boy, his father read him a story every day. He felt very happy at that time. But his father died when he was 11 years old. Then he had to leave school. Andersen started working as an actor and singer. He loved reading books so much that he went back to school at 17. His first book came out in 1835. From then on, he wrote about one book a year for 37 years.

    There will be a park about Andersen's sales(传说) and life in Shanghai. If you like Andersen, you can go there to learn about his life and tales, and you can play games, too.

    I am 13. It's my first time to go to New York. I go there with my friend Emma. We get to New York at about 10pm, and we want to do some sightseeing(观光). So we go to the Empire State Building. But the 86^th floor(层) is cold. A long time later, we go to the hotel(酒店).

    On the second day, we go shopping in the morning, visit the Statue of Liberty at noon, and go shopping again in the afternoon.

    It is rainy on the third day, but we get up early in the morning. We have some bread and go to Rockefeller Center. We see the whole city there. I feel like I am on top(顶部) of the world. In the evening, we walk around Times Square, watch all the people and the street performers(街头艺人). At 11pm, Emma and I go back to the hotel. We go back home the next day. New York is really a good place.

    Today is the fifth day of July. It is Judy's birthday. When she comes back home from school, she sees a card on the table. It says, "There's a present(礼物)for you, Judy. Look for(寻找)it in your bedroom. "Judy runs in—to her bedroom. Her parents are looking at her and smiling. On the chair she sees a red box. She thinks her present is in it。She opens it, and there is a piece of paper in it. She reads it, "Dear Judy, I'm your present. My first letter(字母)is in the word 'dear', but not in 'pear'. My second letter is in 'red', but not in 'bed'. My third letter is in 'bus', and in' four'. And you can find my last letter in both(两者) 'home' and 'music'. What am I? "Judy thinks for a while and says, "Aha, I know. But where is it?" Her father tells her it is in her drawer.

    What is it? Do you know?