\u00a0<\/p>\n We humans are incredible creatures, and imagination is our superpower. There are no limits to our creativity!<\/p>\n Here at Storytime Towers, we realised this when judging the Create a Cover Star!<\/strong> contest. We got so many amazing and original entries, and no two were alike.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We had to pick one winner to appear on the cover of this month\u2019s issue, and that was the monstrously cute Octosaurus! It was created by 8-year-old Nuala Hosp N\u00ed Mh\u00f3r\u00e1in<\/strong> from Ireland, and we\u2019ll sure you\u2019ll love the story about how the Octosaurus hatched and made its first friend. The art for \u2018The Octosaurus from the Deep!\u2019 <\/strong>was crafted by the talented Bruno Leite<\/strong><\/a>, based on Nuala\u2019s drawings.<\/p>\n We hope that you are as inspired by Nuala\u2019s creation as we were. With stories, we have a chance to explore new places, characters and possibilities. When you next read a tale, why not imagine what could happen next, or what the heroes or villains could get up to next? Reading is a great opportunity to let our creativity run wild.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Whose Home Is It?\u2019<\/strong> is a fun fable set in India. It features a lapwing (a kind of bird) and a rabbit who are arguing about who a cosy nest belongs to. They seek a wise animal to decide for them\u2026 but unfortunately choose a cunning cat who pretends to be peaceful and holy! What other creature do you think they could have chosen, and how might the story have ended then? Susan Box<\/strong><\/a> was one of several talented artists who submitted art for this story, and we\u2019re sure you will agree that her style is truly special!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018The Wild Piper\u2019<\/strong> is an Irish story about a wild girl with a special gift for music. Izzy Robe<\/strong><\/a> captures the enchantment of this story and brings the characters to life in a special way. At the end of the story, the fairy folk reveal a big secret\u2026 but can you imagine what is it?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n With \u2018Free-Range Fun\u2019<\/strong>, we imagined what might happen after Jack (of \u2018\u2026and the Beanstalk\u2019 fame) took the magical golden-egg-laying hen home. The answer: he discovers that healthy, happy hens need good homes and decides to build his new pet one. You\u2019ll love the lively art provided by Wira Klino<\/strong><\/a>, too.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n When it comes to inspiring tales, few come close to the legends of King Arthur and his knights. \u2018The Lady of the Fountain\u2019<\/strong> is one of these stories, and it contains all the ingredients we\u2019ve come to expect: quests, heroism, monsters and acts of derring-do! Natalie Leah<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s illustrations suit the mood perfectly, and we\u2019re sure they will stir your imagination. What do you think the hero of the tale will do next?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We hope that reading these stories has planted some creative seeds in your minds. Why not write down some of them and see what they grow into?<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.storytimemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/130Spreads_overview.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOur Imaginations Have No Limits!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>There are many stories about strange beings that lurk in the wilderness \u2013 but none is quite like \u2018The Baccoo\u2019<\/strong>! This Caribbean creature is said to be half covered in bark and half in fur, and he will do jobs for you in return for bananas and milk. However, if you can\u2019t pay him, that means trouble! Dante Guerino<\/strong><\/a> did an amazing job rendering this fantastical creature, too. What would you ask him to do if you found one in a bottle? Let your imagination go as wild as the Baccoo!<\/p>\n<\/a>Stories can take us to lands that never existed \u2013 and that\u2019s what the fairy tale of \u2018Princess of the Seven Cities\u2019<\/strong> does. With help from Emanuela di Donna<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s enchanting art, this story transports us back in time to the mythical island of Atlantis, and tells us about why it supposedly slid beneath the waves many ages ago. Can you imagine any other magical places that might once have existed? What happened to them? These thoughts could lead to the creation of an amazing tale, so why not explore them?<\/p>\n<\/a>Stories don\u2019t need to be fictional to stir our imaginations, either! \u2018The Maria Way\u2019<\/strong> is about a girl who wanted schools to be more inspiring and creative and she was a real girl who created her own schools! Davide Abbati<\/strong><\/a> provided lovely fairytale-worthy art for this story, and we hope it inspires you to imagine ways you could change the world for the better. After all, the future is built by the boldest dreamers!<\/p>\n