The Try-Everything Club

by Marcus Wright

River wasn't sure what he liked to do. Could a special club help him find out?

Grade 1: Early readers10 pages

A child who doesn't know what they're good at starts a club to try new activities and discovers their hidden talent

Characters

River

Coach Kim

+2 more

Style

Sepia & Nostalgic

Story

Story Arc

River walked into the big recreation center. Bright banners hung from the ceiling. A sign said, “The Try-Everything Club!” River felt a little nervous.

First, River went to the art table. He picked up a paintbrush. Other kids made colorful pictures. River’s painting looked messy, and he sighed softly.

Next, River tried basketball. His friend Maya dribbled with ease. River tried to bounce the ball. It bounced away from him. His shoulders dropped.

River sat on a nearby bench. He watched other kids having fun. He pulled at a loose thread on his sweatshirt. Maybe the club was not for him.

Coach Kim walked over quietly. She sat down beside River. “How are things going today?” she asked with a warm smile. River looked up slowly.

River mumbled, “I am not good at anything.” Coach Kim listened closely. She nodded her head. “It’s okay to not be good yet,” she said.

Coach Kim looked around the big room. “This club is about trying new things. It is okay to take your time.” She pointed to a table with many blocks.

River walked to the building station. He picked up a big block. Then he found a tall, empty box. He started to stack them carefully, one by one.

River kept stacking and building. He added smaller boxes and tubes. A tall, wobbly tower grew bigger and bigger. He placed a final piece with care.

River stood proudly beside his tower. Coach Kim smiled from a distance. River still wasn’t “the best,” but he kept trying. He had found something he loved.

The end

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Words to know

recreation: This means playing and having fun, like at a park or a special building.; River walked into the big recreation center.
banners: These are long pieces of cloth with pictures or words on them, often hung up for special events.; Bright banners hung from the ceiling.
nervous: This is when you feel a little worried or shaky inside, like before trying something new.; River felt a little nervous.
messy: This means something is not neat or tidy, like paint spilled everywhere.; River’s painting looked messy, and he sighed softly.
dribbled: This is when you bounce a ball up and down while running or walking.; Maya dribbled with ease.
shoulders dropped: This is how you look when you are sad or disappointed.; His shoulders dropped.
mumbled: This is when you say something in a quiet, unclear way, like you don't want to be heard.; River mumbled, ‘I am not good at anything.’
closely: This means paying very careful attention to what someone is saying or doing.; Coach Kim listened closely.
building station: This is a place where you can play with blocks and build things.; River walked to the building station.
wobbly: This means something is not steady and might fall over.; A tall, wobbly tower grew bigger and bigger.
proudly: This is when you feel very happy and good about something you did.; River stood proudly beside his tower.