The Paintbrush That Paints Real Things

by Luna Nightingale

Lucas found a special brush. It could paint real things!

Grade 1: Early readers10 pages

A child finds a magical paintbrush that brings their paintings to life, but learns that some things shouldn't be created

Characters

Lucas

Painted Dog

Style

Oil Portrait Realism

Story

Story Arc

Lucas sat on his rug. He held a crayon. A blank paper waited. He often drew pictures of things he wished he had.

Under his chair, Lucas saw something new. It was a shiny paintbrush. He picked it up carefully. It felt warm in his hand.

Lucas dipped the brush in blue paint. He painted a small toy truck. *Vroom!* The little truck rolled right off the paper.

Lucas smiled a big smile. This was amazing! He thought of a friend. He wanted a fun friend to play with.

He painted a wild dog. It had many colors. The Painted Dog barked loudly! It bounced off the wall.

The Painted Dog zoomed around the small room. It knocked over Lucas’s block tower. Lucas looked worried. “Oh no!” he whispered.

The Painted Dog chased its tail. It bumped the table. Lucas’s crayons rolled everywhere. The small room felt too full.

Lucas saw the mess. The Painted Dog looked a little sad. This was not fun anymore. He thought about what to do.

Lucas held the magic brush again. He closed his eyes. He painted a green field, far away. Then he painted the Painted Dog happily running in it.

The Painted Dog was gone. Lucas sat down. He drew a picture of a field. He liked imagining things best of all.

The end

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Words to know

blank: This means there is nothing on it, like empty paper.; A blank paper waited.
shiny: This means something looks bright and reflects light, like a new toy.; It was a shiny paintbrush.
carefully: This means to do something with a lot of attention and gentleness, so it doesn't get hurt.; He picked it up carefully.
dipped: This means to put something into a liquid for a short time.; Lucas dipped the brush in blue paint.
vroom: This is a sound that a car or truck makes when it goes fast.; *Vroom!*
amazing: This means something is very surprising and wonderful.; This was amazing!
wild: This means something is untamed and a little out of control, like an excited animal.; He painted a wild dog.
loudly: This means to make a very big noise.; The Painted Dog barked loudly!
zoomed: This means to move very quickly.; The Painted Dog zoomed around the small room.
knocked: This means to hit something by accident and make it fall over.; It knocked over Lucas’s block tower.
worried: This means to feel a little scared or sad because something bad might happen.; Lucas looked worried.
whispered: This means to speak very softly, so other people can't hear you easily.; “Oh no!” he whispered.
chased: This means to run after something trying to catch it.; The Painted Dog chased its tail.
bumped: This means to hit something lightly.; It bumped the table.
mess: This is when things are not in their place and are all around, like after playing a lot.; Lucas saw the mess.
magic: This means something that seems to do impossible things, like in a fairy tale.; Lucas held the magic brush again.
happily: This means to be feeling or showing joy and pleasure.; Then he painted the Painted Dog happily running in it.
imagining: This means to make pictures or ideas in your mind about things that are not real right now.; He liked imagining things best of all.