← Back to the collection
A story to share

Ava and the Clockwork Sparrow's Secret

Find a cozy spot. Read together. Pause for the good questions.

Story time

Make yourself comfortable.

8 pages to explore
Cover illustration for Ava and the Clockwork Sparrow's Secret.
Story illustration
Page 1 of 8

Part 1

At the toy museum, Ava found a brass sparrow that chirped, bowed, and then stopped. Its display card said a hidden key made it move.

Listen to this page
1 / 8
Read the complete storyAll 8 pages together · text edition

Ava and the Clockwork Sparrow's Secret

Read aloud, take turns, or pause for a question. The illustrated page-by-page reader is above.

Page 1

Part 1

At the toy museum, Ava found a brass sparrow that chirped, bowed, and then stopped. Its display card said a hidden key made it move.

Page 2

Part 2

Ava looked beneath the wings and tail, but found no key. Three tiny symbols decorated the base: a sun, a feather, and a circle.

Page 3

Part 3

She pressed the sun first. The sparrow chirped once, but the panel stayed closed, so one symbol alone was not enough.

Page 4

Part 4

A faded picture showed the sparrow bowing toward a feather and turning around. Ava guessed the movements pointed to an order.

Page 5

Part 5

She pressed feather, circle, then sun. The sparrow bowed, turned once, chirped, and a small drawer clicked open.

Page 6

Part 6

Inside rested a winding key shaped like a silver seed. The guide explained that the toy maker had designed a playful sequence puzzle.

Page 7

Part 7

Ava wound the sparrow only twice as the guide instructed. It hopped along its track and returned safely to the starting perch.

Page 8

Part 8

Ava learned that pictures and movement can be instructions. When the first attempt failed, changing the order revealed the clockwork secret.

Try the story activity →
Keep exploring

What will you try next?

Read each question together. Choose the answer that matches the story.

Try the story activity
Say it. Clap it. Sing it.

Ava and the Clockwork Sparrow's Secret

Share a rhyme inspired by the story. Read the words together, tap a gentle beat, or make up your own tune.

Open the rhyme

Intro

Brass bird chirped and bowed its head,
Then stood still upon its ledge.

Verse 1

Hidden key was somewhere near.
Sun, round circle, feather clear.
Pressing sun made one small sound,
But no secret key was found.

Chorus

Pictures move and movements say,
Which small symbol leads the way.
If one order does not do,
Change the order; test anew.

Verse 2

Feather, circle, sunshine last—
Bow, turn, chirp; the drawer unlatched.
Silver seed-shaped key inside
Made the clockwork sparrow glide.

Final Chorus

Wind it twice, as guides explain.
Bird comes safely home again.
Picture clues and ordered play
Opened up the hidden way.

Print the rhyme ↓
Guess Galaxy on YouTube

Make it story time.

Enjoy the video version of this story, then talk about your favorite part.

Watch on YouTube Opens YouTube in a new tab.