The person I love and admire the most is my mother. She is 39 years old. She is beautiful and she is kind. She is a housewife.

My mother has long hair. Her favourite colour is blue. She can cook very well. She is a hardworking lady. She teaches me good habits and manners.

Her favourite drink is apple juice. She does not scold me. She always helps others, especially the poor. All she wants is to educate us and make us good citizens of Sri Lanka.

When I am ill, she takes me to the doctor and takes good care of me. She sacrifices herself for us. I love my mother and she loves me too. I think my mother is the best mother in the world. I am very lucky to have a mother like her.

Myself

By Dinushi Tharushika (Grade 3), Giggles International School

My name is Dinushi Tharushika. I am seven years old. My school is Giggles International School. I like to eat mango. I like to drink mixed fruit juice.

My best colour is yellow. My mother's name is Sriyani and my father's name is Nishantha. My sister's name is Jayani. My best subject is Maths. I like to read books and papers.

The importance of reading newspapers

By Farhath Mohamed (Grade 8), St. Lawrence's Convent, Wellawatte

We should be aware of what is happening in the world around us. Reading newspapers helps us to keep abreast of local, national and international events. Apart from carrying political news, newspapers also cover cultural activities like music, dramas and theatre.

They also cover music concerts, review books and report on art exhibitions. They carry interviews with celebrities. There are humorous articles in the newspapers as well kid's pages and the latest trends in fashion.

Many newspapers also have columns where medical specialists answer your questions and lawyers answer your queries on legal matters.

Newspapers have been around for a long time. Despite news programmes on TV and radio,
newspapers will continue to be widely read.

It is newspapers that have guarded our rights guaranteed by the constitution. Newspapers point out what's wrong . In a democracy, newspapers are necessary to keep a check on politicians and public servants. We must read newspapers and benefit from them.

A dog show I have been to

By Naveksha Gunasekara (11 years), Bishop's College

A dog show I have been to is the "Bouwwa Show." It was held on September 27 at the Viharamahadevi Park (Sathutu Uyana). It was organised by the Blue Paw Trust. It was for Sri Lankan Bouwwas only. There were a lot of Sri Lankan dogs (Strays adopted by an owner).

There were a lot of events like the 'Best tail', 'Cutest dog', 'Best eyes', 'Best dress' and a lot more. It started at10 a.m. and finished around 2 p.m. There were a lot of people, with and without dogs.

After the events finished, there was a horse who was dressed up colourfully and who had a special talent for dancing. Can you believe it, a horse who can dance?

After that the crowd went to the other side of the park and guess what? There was an army dog show. That was really interesting! The dogs went through rings of fire and one dog was taking a baby and riding a bicycle.

Not only that, there was face painting, a pet vet clinic stall, a dog food stall and an Alliance Insurance stall for pets and much more. It was a really fun day in my life!

My cousin

By Vinuli Weliwita (Grade 5), St. Bridget's Convent

My cousin's name is Ruchika Kishore. She is in Grade 6. She is fair. She is 10 years old. She was born in 1998. I am younger to her. Her birthday is in December. She is very good.

She goes to Bishop's College. She is very thin and small. Her hair is long. She likes to play badminton. She likes to eat pizza and to drink Milo.

She doesn't have sisters or brothers. She is kind. She is a good cousin to me. I love my cousin.

My library

By Sanidu M. Arachchige (Grade 1), Gateway College, Rajagiriya

I have a library at home. It is filled with lots of books. In a corner of my study room I have a place to sit and read. A story reader, phonic laptop and a computer are also there.

All the books are neatly numbered and arranged according to the different subjects. My grandparents and parents help me to read. Flash cards, puzzles and Funday Times magazines are also arranged in order.
In my home, the library is my best place.

I like to read a lot. Once I got a certificate from my College for reading. I am proud of that. I want to read a lot and be a perfect child.

My pet

By Anil Pandithakoralege (8 years), St. Peter's College

There's a pet in my home
It hops like a frog
Its colour is white
With dots in black

Who is it?
It's my rabbit
Its name is Michael
Bright like a candle
It runs very fast
And happily eats grass

At night it stays
In the hutch and sleeps
It sleeps with a "ZZZZ…"
And it's afraid of cats

My hobby

By Eresha Mapa (Grade 8), St. Paul’s B.M.V., Kelaniya

Everyone should have a hobby to spend their leisure time. Most hobbies are about collecting
various things. My hobby is collecting stamps. I have stamps from various countries. They are from Sri Lanka, Australia, U.S.A., Korea etc.

I have over 100 stamps. I started collecting stamps when I was in Grade 6. By collecting stamps, I can get a good knowledge about various countries. I can find out information about animals, birds, flowers and various other things. I exchange stamps with my classmates and with my cousin brother. My aunties also give me stamps.

During my leisure time I like to look at my collection of stamps. Collecting stamps is a very good hobby.

Amazing mobile communication systems in the modern world

By Hashani Kumarasinghe , (Grade 6), Vision International School

We know our ancestors had no communication systems like this modern world we live in. They had to
communicate with the help of hoots, fire, smoke, bow and arrows, tame birds.

But in this modern world today, communication has been developed to its maximum with modern technology. Today we can communicate through a simple mobile phone to a person in any country although while travelling in a vehicle, not only voice but written messages can also be sent to any
person in the world through a small simple palm held mobile phone.

Now it has been developed to camera and TV phone, so that two persons in conversation can be seen by each other through the small screen in their phones. This is done by the amazing satellite system which was first introduced to the world in a science fiction novel written by Sri Lankan citizen Sir Arthur
C. Clarke who died a while ago. We remember him with much respect for his marvellous service to mankind.

The Poppy Day

By Dilushi Dorenagama (Grade 8), Girls' High School, Kandy

November 11 is Poppy Day. After four long years, the 1st World War, ended on November 11, 1918 at 11.11 a.m.

Therefore the Sunday before or just after November 11 is celebrated as Poppy Day. It is in order to commemorate dead soldiers of the world war.

The poppy was first dedicated to soldiers. In 1921, Britain started making poppy flowers, employing four French wounded soldiers. Today these flowers are sold in billions. Except Canada, all other countries in the world sell poppies. The funds are to help soldiers who are casualties of the war. So please buy a poppy on November 11.

My pet

By Harith Abeykoon (9 years), Kingswood College, Kandy

My pet is a dog. Its name is Bingo. It’s brown and white in colour. It eats everything I give. It likes to play with me. It likes to play with other dogs too. I love my Bingo very much. But now I'm very sad. I can't play with Bingo again. It is dead. Good bye my Bingo.

The importance of English

By Hafsa Aswin (13 years) , Gampola International School

Sri Lanka is still a developing country. We are not self sufficient in many things. We have to depend on other countries. For example we import food, clothes, machines etc.

Therefore we must have connections with other countries. Other countries do not know our language. If we have a common language we can easily communicate with them. So there should be an
international language like English.

Nowadays methods of travel and communication are developing. The world is developing very fast. Countries discover many new things. They publish these in English.

Sri Lanka is a multi-racial country. There are many communities such as Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers. They speak in different languages. They all can't understand all the languages. So there will be problems. If we all can use a common language like English there will be no problems.

English is the second language of our country. Most of the people can speak English so when they go abroad they can do their duties well. But if they don't know English, they will have problems in their duties. So all the people will have to know English well. So it will be easier.

My plans for the school holidays

By Tharushi Jayathilake (11+ years), Little Flower Convent, Bandarawela

My plans for the school holidays are really wonderful. I hope to go to Sandringham Estate in Lindula, where my father would be waiting for us.

Then, after a week, we will go to Colombo to visit my mother's family. We will spend time with my grandmother, grandfather, my punchi Subadra and my uncle Iranga. We hope to go to Anuradhapura to see the wonders of that ancient and wonderful city. My most favourite thing in Colombo is the Rambutan season. I am looking forward to taste the sweet, juicy fruits.

When I am in Colombo I hope to buy books for my book voucher for Rs. 1,000 from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop. I won that from the 'Learning at the Library' competition. My happiness is doubled this time as my sister too has won a prize in 'Panther Fun Games' in Funday Times

. We hope to collect her prize too. At the end of the month we hope to go to Arugam Bay. Our neighbour in Bandarawela who owns the Arugam Bay holiday resort invited us to spend some time there. We will have a wonderful time at the beach and in Pothuvil. We might be able to see elephants too.

And definitely I will not forget to watch my favourite CDs. And I hope I'll be able to eat delicious food which my mother will make. I can't wait till the holidays arrive and we'll have a really, great time.

Ode to cricket

By Tharindu Bandara (Grade 7), Bandarawela Central College

Cricket is a funny game I like,
Bowlers bowl fast as a motor bike,
Fielders have to field well alike,
And batsmen have to make the winning strike.

'Slip' is a fielding place which is hard,
A wonderful catch is worth a million.
In face of beamers you will life guard,
But cricket is the game I'll never discard!!!