Elisa loved going on boat rides with her dad, Livy, during the summer. One special summer, when Elisa was 7 years old, her dad brought home a baby seagull. Elisa was so excited and named the little bird “Now,” but she liked to call her “Naw” for short. Naw was a cute, gray-spotted bird, and Elisa loved her from the moment she saw her.
For the first week, Naw lived in a cozy cardboard box in Elisa’s house. Naw was always hungry! Livy showed Elisa what Naw could eat, like sculpin, seal fat, whale blubber, and tiny krill. Naw gobbled up the sculpin with her yellow beak, and Elisa watched in amazement as Naw grew bigger, with white and gray feathers and pink webbed feet.
Elisa and her brother, Jimmy, loved going to the shore when the tide was low. They hopped from rock to rock, gathering sculpin and krill for Naw. They were careful to watch the tide to stay safe. When Naw got too big for her box, she moved to the top of the family’s shed. Elisa fed her just like her dad taught her. She even took Naw to show her friends, and they all had fun watching Naw swim in the ponds.
Elisa loved Naw and learned how to care for her. Every day after school, she rushed home to feed and play with Naw. As Naw grew, Elisa wondered how she would learn to fly. Her dad said, “If you throw her toward the Northern Lights and stars, she will fly.” Elisa was nervous but trusted her dad. She picked up Naw, and with all her strength, she tossed her into the air. Naw flapped her wings but landed on the tundra.
On the second try, Elisa threw Naw higher, and Naw glided a little before landing. On the third try, Elisa was excited. She threw Naw again, and this time, Naw’s wings flapped strongly, and she flew! Elisa was thrilled to see Naw soaring in the sky. Naw flew high and then returned to the shed, making Elisa very happy.
After her first flight, Naw often flew around town with other seagulls. Elisa worried she might not recognize Naw among the other birds. So, she tied a pretty pink ribbon on Naw’s foot. Now, whenever she saw seagulls flying, she could spot Naw easily. Naw was brave and explored everywhere, but she always came back to Elisa’s shed.
One day, Elisa came home, and Naw wasn’t on the shed. She waited, but Naw didn’t return. Elisa was sad, but her mom comforted her, saying, “Sometimes you have to let things go. Naw will always be a beautiful spirit.” Elisa wiped her tears and remembered all the fun times with Naw.
Whenever Elisa watched the seagulls by the shore, she hoped to see a pink ribbon on one of their feet. She loved watching them fly in the fresh Arctic air, always remembering her special friend, Naw.
If you love stories like Elisa’s, there are many more to discover! Books are full of exciting adventures and laughter. You can read them anywhere—on a car ride, in a plane, or even on a train. Ask your guardian to help you find some books, and you’ll be glad you did!
Thanks for reading! For more stories, try the Vooks app for free today.
Seagull Spotting Adventure: Next time you visit a park or the beach, try to spot different types of birds. Bring a notebook and draw the birds you see. Can you find a bird that looks like Naw? Notice their colors, beaks, and feet. Write down what they are doing. Are they flying, swimming, or eating? Share your drawings and observations with your family or friends.
Build a Bird Nest: Just like Naw needed a cozy box, birds need nests. Gather some twigs, leaves, and grass from your backyard or a park. Try to build a small nest using these materials. Think about how birds might use their beaks and feet to create a safe home. Once you’re done, imagine what kind of bird might live in your nest and draw a picture of it.
Flying Experiment: Create a simple paper airplane and see how it flies. Try throwing it gently and then with more strength, just like Elisa did with Naw. What happens when you change the way you throw it? Does it fly higher or farther? Experiment with different designs and see which one flies the best. Discuss with your friends or family why you think some designs work better than others.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Elisa and her baby seagull
Elisa loved to go boating with her dad, Livy, whenever they went out during the summertime. One summer, when Elisa was 7 years old, her dad brought home a baby seagull. Elisa named her seagull “Now,” but called her “Naw” for short. Naw was a small, gray-spotted bird, and Elisa fell in love with her from the moment her father brought her home.
For the first week, Naw lived in a cardboard box in Elisa’s house. Naw was always hungry, and Livy taught Elisa which foods she could eat. She fed Naw sculpin, seal fat, whale blubber, and even small krill. Being hungry all the time, Naw swallowed the sculpin whole with her yellow beak. Elisa was impressed as Naw grew and grew, developing white and gray feathers and pink webbed feet.
Elisa and her brother, Jimmy, went to the shore together during low tide. It was easy to hop from one rock to another, and they gathered sculpin and krill for Naw to eat. They made sure to watch carefully for the tide to stay safe. Once Naw got too big to live in the cardboard box, she lived on top of the family’s shed. Elisa fed her just as her father had taught her. She even took Naw down the street to show her friends her pretty pet bird, and she and her friends chased Naw around and watched her swim in the nearby ponds.
Naw was loved by Elisa. She taught Elisa how to care for and feed an animal and how to have patience. Each day after school, Elisa rushed home to find Naw. She fed Naw, hugged her, and then brought her out to play.
As the days passed, Naw grew even more. One night, Elisa asked her father how Naw would ever learn to fly. Livy replied, “If you throw her in the air toward those Northern Lights and stars, she will fly.” Elisa was afraid to throw her pet seagull, but knowing that her father spent most days on land and knew about many animals, she believed he was right. Naw was about the size of a football and quite heavy. Elisa picked her up and held her for a moment, then, gathering her strength, she threw Naw high into the air, aiming for the Northern Lights and the stars. Naw fluttered her wings but did not fly; she landed on the tundra, looking excited and scared at the same time.
On the second try, Elisa threw Naw even higher. “Wow!” Elisa screamed as Naw flapped her wings and glided a little bit in the air. But Naw soon landed right back on the tundra. On the third try, Elisa was no longer scared; she was excited for Naw to finally fly. Elisa threw Naw once again. A gust of wind whipped against Elisa’s face, but she soon realized it was actually Naw’s large wings flapping in the air. Naw was flying!
Elisa looked up at Naw with excitement; she was finally flying! Naw quickly flapped her wings and climbed high into the air, gliding on the wind. Elisa started to feel worried that Naw might never return, but when Naw flew right above Elisa and returned to the top of their shed, Elisa was relieved.
After that first flight, Naw often flew around town, mixing with the other seagulls by the shoreline. Elisa thought, “How will I know which bird is mine when there are so many other seagulls?” Then she had an idea. Elisa found a pretty pink shiny ribbon in her mom’s sewing box and tied a beautiful bow on Naw’s foot. Elisa smiled and said to Jimmy, “Now we’ll know where she is wherever she goes.”
Sure enough, when Elisa saw seagulls flying along the shoreline, she knew exactly where Naw was. She watched while Naw hunted krill and sculpin on her own. Sometimes Naw even played with other seagulls. Naw was one brave seagull; she traveled all over town and returned each night to Elisa’s shed.
One day, Elisa came home from school, and Naw was not on top of the shed. “Where could my beautiful bird be?” Elisa thought. The next day, Naw still had not returned to the shed. After a few more days, Elisa knew that Naw was not coming back. “Mom!” Elisa cried to her mother. “Naw is gone!”
Elisa’s mom gave her a big hug and said, “Sometimes you have to learn to let things go. Naw will always be a beautiful spirit; she taught you many things, but she could not stay on our shed forever.”
Elisa wiped her tears and went back outside to play. After that day, whenever Elisa watched the seagulls on the shorelines, she quietly hoped to see a small pink bow tied to one of the birds’ feet. She often gazed into the distance of the land and the sky, watching the beautiful seagulls and hearing them enjoy the fresh, cold Arctic air. As she watched, she remembered Naw and her beautiful spirit.
If you don’t have books, then what are you waiting for? Kids Safe has storybooks that are brought to life, and it’s fun! I like to read books about fantasy and love. I tell other kids to get books because they’re full of stories and laughter. I’ll read them on the go, in a car, in a plane, even on a train. I’ve never been on a train! Don’t wait around; ask your guardian to download books now. You’ll be glad you did!
Thanks for watching! For more stories, try the Vooks app for free today.
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This version removes any inappropriate or unclear content while maintaining the essence of the story.
