Calling All Kids #12

Twinkle descends from his sky home to join his earth friends at the carnival, only to discover that one pal isn't enjoying the festivities—young Junior is too small to ride the merry-go-round's big horses. With a little ingenuity and help from a friendly sea horse, Twinkle and his companions work together to give Junior a magical carnival experience all his own.

Marco Polar Bear and his helper Bobby Beaver use a magic linoleum rug to journey to the island of Ceylon in search of pearls, learning about the dangerous world of pearl diving along the way. When Marco attempts to retrieve oysters from the ocean floor himself, he discovers that the waters are home to some formidable creatures—and decides that discretion might be the better part of valor. Back at their store, the pair find themselves with a different sort of appetite entirely.

Freckles imagines himself as the clever hare in a retelling of the classic race, and this time he comes prepared—he packs an alarm clock to wake him before the tortoise can overtake him on the way to the old oak tree. It's a playful twist on the original fable, where ingenuity and a little modern help give our quick-thinking hero the edge he needs.

A gifted but unwelcome piper earns the ear of a fearsome ogre—who spirits him away to a mountain cave where a princess languishes in captivity. When the ogre leaves the piper and princess alone, the musician discovers that his much-scorned bagpipes might just be the key to their escape. This charming 1947 tale shows how even the most reviled talent can save the day when it matters most.

Pug and Curly set out for a sailing adventure, but when their boat loses its sail, the two friends must figure out how to steer back to shore without it. With nothing but quick thinking and teamwork, these two landlubbers face the unexpected challenges of being stranded on the open water.