King Leo and the Magic Book

One morning, a boy called Leo was building a tower out of blocks when someone knocked at the door.

"Leo," said Nurse, "they've come to fetch you. You're going to be a King."

"Oh," said Leo. "I'll need my blocks then."

He did not need his blocks. But he did get a crown, a palace, a Prime Minister, and — best of all — a very old, very thick book that lived in a room all by itself.

"Don't read it," said the Prime Minister.

Leo read it.

The first page showed a butterfly, and a butterfly flew out.

The second page showed a bluebird, and a bluebird flew out.

Leo thought this was wonderful.

Then he turned the third page.

There was a dragon on the third page. A big one. Red and green, with gold underneath.

"Hmm," said Leo.

He should have shut the book.

He didn't shut the book.

The dragon flew off the page and out of the window, rattling like a tin roof. Everyone in the town ran away. The dragon sat on the hill and blew a bit of fire, just to settle in.

Leo felt very bad.

"I must fix this," he said.

He put on his bravest face (it was the same as his usual face, but more determined). He ran to the hill. He opened the book to the dragon's empty page.

"Excuse me," said Leo to the dragon. "I think you dropped this."

The dragon looked at the empty page. It looked at Leo.

Then it went back in. Dragons know when something is theirs.

Leo shut the book. He put it on the very highest shelf.

He went back to his blocks.

"Well done," said Nurse.

"Thank you," said Leo. "I won't do that again."

He didn't. Well — not for a whole week.