How Dragons Got Their Wings
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Ages 4 - 15
Illustrations by Gryffon Baum |
 Synopsis: Dragons once used magic to fly. Now they use their wings. Two dragons meet two little girls from two thousand years apart and tell the story of how they got their wings. This story is written in ’story teller’ style and is designed to be read aloud. Be prepared to use your best two dragon voices!
©2022 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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Dawson Does One Thing Different Every Day
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Ages 5 - 15
Illustrations by Gryffon Baum |
 Synopsis: Dawson is in a rut. Every day is just like the day before. So she decides to do one thing different every day, just as the title says.
Maybe the one thing different you do today is read this story?
©2022 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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The Girl Who Could Make Stuffed Animals Come Alive
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Ages 5- 14
Illustrations by Gryffon Baum |
 Synopsis: When Natasha names stuffed animals, just so, they come alive. Can she learn to control this power and use it for good? Of course she can, since this is a children's story!
©2020 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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The Cicada with Only One Wing
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Ages 4 - Adult
Illustrations by Gryffon Baum |
 Synopsis: A cicada is born without the ability to fly and wonders at his purpose in life. Able to be read to one’s self (older children and adults) or read aloud as a bedtime fable for younger children.
©2018 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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The Hummingbird Garden
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Ages 6 - 13
Illustrations by Gryffon Baum |
 Synopsis: Malik is assigned two "Finish Me" stories to complete. He struggles until he gets a little help from the objects in his room. Or was it his imagination?
©2018 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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"I'll Be One Of Us By Myself" -or- The Three Doors In The Pit
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Ages 6 - 13
Illustrations by Mikey Baum |
 Synopsis: Five children – or two children (depending on how you count them) – find three doors in a pit and take very different journeys. This story is written in ’story teller’ style and is designed to be read aloud.
©2017 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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The Baby Trumpet Fish and the Mangrove Tree Seed
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Ages 5 - 12
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: A baby trumpet fish is afraid to brave the open waters - past the hungry turtles and the sharks and the tarpons – to swim out to the reef. But she must! Luckily she gets help from a mangrove tree seed.
©2016 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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The Chair on the Top of the World
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Ages 4 - 12
Illustrations by Camilla Baum |
 Synopsis: Tomas set out on an adventure to look down from the top of the world. He meets a unicorn, a pair of graham-cracker eating dragons, and lots of small (and hungry) birds. But where is the chair on the top of the world? And what’s does the top of the world have to do with a marble?
Can be read aloud or read to oneself. (Important: Always pre-read these stories before you hand them to your children.)
©2015 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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My Friend Kimmi Could Really Spell Things
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Ages 5 - 14
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: When Kimmi spells an object, that object magically appears right in front of her … and then disappears within the hour. One day, Kimmi's uncle is lost, but her magic power is not quite enough to bring him back. It also takes some smart thinking by the first person narrator. -- Meant to be read aloud, as if it were a real story from the reader's own childhood.
©2014 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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The Girl who was Born with only Two Arms and Two Legs
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Ages 6 - 12
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: Imagine being born with only 2 arms and 2 legs in a world where everyone else has 4 of both. Meant to be read aloud to children of all ages, this parable follows the trials and success of Quarta, a girl handicapped by having just four limbs.
©2013 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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The Boy Who Could Turn Into Things
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| Ages 5 - ? |
Synopsis: No one ever notices the small, quiet boy in the classroom. But he has a secret: he can turn into things, such as a bird, a chair, a marble and whatever he wants. One day, this ability becomes very important - in more than one way. Written in the first person, story-teller style for reading aloud to your children.
©2012 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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Alec and the Stream of Words and Ideas
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Ages 5 - ?
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: Alec (of Alec and the Clams) finds a new stream. Instead of fish, though, this stream contains words and ideas, which Alec tries to catch. Meant to be read aloud, this visual story is a whimsical addition to the world of Alec and other "Stuart" stories.
©2011 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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Growing up in Kalapana
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Ages 5 - ?
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: The story starts with our hero floating in the ocean just off the coast of Hawaii. Where does it go from there? You will need to read the story ... aloud to your child(ren) ... to find out what happens next and the “identity” of the story’s hero. The story reveals the unusual rebirth of a real town devastated by volcanic lava.
©2010 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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Snowplows in the Wild
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Ages 4 - ?
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: Some towns have wild animals that appear during snowfalls. Our town has wild snowplows. But don't worry, the wild snowplows won't hurt you. Called "a cross between a fairy tale and child's tale," Snowplows in the Wild is a story the whole family can enjoy.
©2009 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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Escape to Monkey Island
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Ages 4-15
Illustrations by Camilla Baum, age 10 |
 Synopsis: Leo, a rhesus monkey, escapes the laboratory in search of real-life Monkey Island, which is just off the shore of Puerto Rico. Told in in first-person (or more accurately: first monkey), this story is written to be read aloud.
©2008 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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Mavi Fare, The Mouse In The Mosque
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Ages 4-15
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: Mavi Fare, the legendary Blue Mouse of Istanbul, is trapped in the Blue Mosque. Inside are men with brooms who want to kill him and outside are many hungry cats who want to eat him. Read by David D. Friedman, author of Machinery Of Freedom, Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life, and Harald.
©2007 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
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Pushing The Glacier
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A “chapter” book for children ages 5-12
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: Callan’s family home is slowly being pushed into the sea by a glacier. Pushing back doesn’t seem to work, so – with the help of a chocolate-loving troll – Callan searches for a better solution. Older children can read to themselves or, if you have a good ‘troll’ voice, it’s a fun story to read aloud.
©2006 Stuart B Baum and StuartStories.com
Read the Story or Download the PDF file
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The Little Time Thief
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Ages 4-12
Illustration by Camilla Baum |
 Synopsis: Allina steals fifteen minutes from the class bully and saves the time for later. A small, understated story that can be read aloud or to yourself.
©2005 Stuart B Baum and Camilla Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file
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Rocktalker
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Ages 6-15
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: Lucy can talk to rocks, though they are more interested in telling her things than listening to what she has to say. We follow Lucy’s life in brief intervals, learning, along the way, that sometimes we end up in a different place than we might imagine. Meant to be read aloud.
©2004 Stuart B Baum and Zoë M. Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file
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The Giant Who Cried Waterfalls
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Ages 4-14
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: Against her parents' wishes, Bonnie travels to the top of the mountain to see what is causing the twin waterfalls. Her discovery creates an ethical dilemma and the start of an over-sized adventure. Written in story-teller style ... making it most fun to read aloud.
©2004 Stuart B Baum and Zoë M. Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file or Listen to the Story
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Ona, Cloud Rider
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Ages 4-11
Illustrations by Molly Baum (Age 12) |
 Synopsis: 3-year-old Ona has learned how to ride clouds. One day, while showing her friend Michael B. how it's done, they get caught in a lightning storm. But before that, we learn about the missing cups and the raining frogs.
Designed to be read aloud or to one's self.
©2002 Stuart B Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file
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Ruffino, The Truffle Pig
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Ages 4-12
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: Fun to read aloud, especially if you use a different voice for Ruffino's comments. This story follows Ruffino on his hunt for truffles and two missing children.
Special thanks to the mushroom-shaped stools at the Comfort Suite Hotel's pool-side bar for helping me come up with this story idea.
©2002 Stuart B Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file
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Jack and the Lump of Clay
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Ages 5-13
Illustrations by Hal Baum (Age 8) |
 Synopsis: A different Jack. A different cow. And a whole new adventure. Using some magic clay and his growing problem-solving skills, Jack reverses his fortunes, captures the Kingdom’s biggest foe, and rescues the King’s niece. But what happens to the cow? And whatever happened to the first Jack’s cow?
Designed to be read aloud or to one’s self.
©2001 Stuart B Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file
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How The Firefly Got Its Blink
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Ages 5-11
Illustrations by Zoë M. Baum |
 Synopsis: Designed to be read aloud, this fable is about a nondescript beetle that's determined to play with a certain child. So determined, in fact, that he ends up becoming the firefly. Watch for the one moment where children can’t help but laugh out loud. 2003's most popular StuartStories story.
©2000 Stuart B Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file
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The Same Old Story Book
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Ages 5-12
Cover illustration by Fred Plewa |
 Synopsis: The youngest child reads the new book during story hour, but the tale he reads isn’t the same one the other children see. A book within a book, "The Same Old Story Book" can be read to one’s self or aloud.
©2000 Stuart B Baum
Read the Story
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The Shrunken Giant
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Ages 4-10
Illustrations by Molly Baum (Age 9) |
 Synopsis: The town's giant hates children because they are so small. A good witch turns the table on him and a not-so-surprising thing happens.
© 1999 Stuart B Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file.
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The No Monster, The Please Police, And The Big Tickle
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Ages 3-10
Illustrations by Molly Baum (Age 8) |
 Synopsis: Three very short bedtime stories designed to be read together. A father decides to make up three stories: one for his son, one for his daughter, and one for himself. The "No Monster" is about a boy who "no's" everything and the fairy who finds a way to make him more agreeable. In the "The Please Police" a tiny "please" officer teaches a little girl to be more polite. And in the "Big Tickle" the two children are sent to bed in a hurry. Without a doubt, this is my most popular tale with the children and a great last story before bed.
© 1998 Stuart B Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file
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A Speck Of Wishing Powder
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Ages 6-12
Not illustrated |
 Synopsis: A small fairy loses a speck of wishing powder which is used by a boy to bring the world's imaginary friends to life. You and your child(ren) hurry along after the action at a break-neck pace. Written in story-teller style, "Wishing Powder" is not an easy read, but is ultra-engaging. Read first to sort out the voices and plotline, as well as to determine if you and your kids can handle this.
© 1998 Stuart B Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file.
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The Right Magic
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Ages 4-10
Illustrations by Victor Tito |
 Synopsis: Becca and Bill are bored. So Dad decides to conjure them up a friendly dragon to entertain them. The kids must supply the ingredients, but aren't as careful as they might be and learn a lesson about paying attention -- especially when creating magic potions. Written in the classic style.
© 1997 Stuart B Baum
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Hal's Frog Prince Story
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Ages 4-8
Not Illustrated |
Synopsis: My son (then age 4) told this story at dinner one night. I had been working on "The Frog Princess" (as of yet still unfinished) and he said, "I have a better story." Sadly, he did. It's basically a joke.
© 1997 Hadrian Baum
Read the Story
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The Boy Who Outraced His Shadow
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Ages 4-10
Illustrations by Victor Tito |
 Synopsis: The title here pretty much explains the story. Dustin goes so fast on his bicycle that his shadow cannot keep up. I thought this story would be more popular, but for some reason it generated very little response.
© 1996 Stuart B Baum
Read the Story or Download the PDF file.
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The Pirates and Their Yo Ho Ho
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Ages 4-11
Illustrations by Victor Tito |
 Synopsis: Nicely illustrated throughout and written in the classic children's story style, this tale tells of pirates who kidnap various members of a family in order to get help locating their missing ‘Yo Ho Ho.' Kids love this story and play/sing along, but parents have complained about where the ‘yo ho ho' is finally found.
© 1996 Stuart B Baum
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The Princess, The Dragon, And The Very Bad Knight
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Ages 4-12
Cover illustration by Fred Plewa |
 Synopsis: Your ordinary "dragon rescues princess from an evil knight" story. Told in story-teller style, this mid-length tale is the one parents seem to like to read the best.
© 1995 Stuart B Baum
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Pastafazool
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Ages 4-10
Cover illustration by Fred Plewa |
 Synopsis: The sultan searches the lands for anyone strong and fast enough to climb his castle's tallest spire. The prize? Princess Mahleeba's hand in marriage. Pastafazool succeeds with the help of a flying carpet. But what's at the top of the as-yet unclimbed spire? Told in classic children's story style.
© 1994 Stuart B Baum
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Fooey, The Horse
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Ages 3-9
Illustration by Fred Plewa |
 Synopsis: No one wants to ride Fooey, the clumsiest horse in the stable, until one day, Fooey stumbles onto something interesting. Told in classic style. Enjoyably illustrated throughout. Very much a favorite among younger children. Be prepared to read it many times.
© 1993 Stuart and Molly Baum
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Alec And The Clams
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Ages 5-10
Illustrations by Zoë Baum |
 Synopsis: Whimsical fable about how Alec, the ‘boy who lives in the woods just past where you are allowed to go' is repaid for a good deed and learns to eat clams. Sort of an odd tale and not for all tastes.
© 1991 Stuart B Baum
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The Laziest King, A Bedtime Story Set In Medieval Japan
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Ages 4-12
Not illustrated |
Synopsis: Fuyuzara Tadashi sleeps through an invasion by the Evil Count Dag. But who can blame him? His bed is so comfortable! This was the first of my ‘holiday' stories and puts parents to sleep as well as children.
© 1990 Stuart B Baum
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