The name of my Barbie doll is 'Cutie'. Cutie is very beautiful. My Barbie doll can sing beautifully. My Barbie doll has golden hair. Cutie has very beautiful eyes. My Barbie doll has a golden crown and a lovely necklace.

Cutie has a pretty party dress. She moves her hands when she sings. Cutie is like a princess. I love my Barbie doll very much.

Myself

By Thihansa Ranaweera (Grade 4), Musaeus College

My name is Thihansa. I go to Musaeus College. I am nine years old. I like to eat fruits. I have one brother. My favourite colour is red. I live in Rajagiriya. I like to drink orange juice. My hobby is reading storybooks.
I am in Grade 4. My school is in Colombo 7.

My favourite subject is Maths. I have four family members in my family. I like to see nice sceneries. I have a garden. In my garden there are plants, flowers and bushes. There are grasshoppers and ladybirds too.
I like to do my studies alone. My brother's hobby is collecting stamps. I love my family.

Polar bears

By Azraa Saheed (Grade 5), Lead the Way Girls' International School, Dehiwala

Polar bears actually live in cold places in the ice. They live and hunt for food along the shores and seas in the Arctic. The polar bear is the world's largest flesh-eating animal living on land. It spends most of its time in the water. Polar bears are excellent swimmers.

They can swim at ten kilometres per hour. They use their front paws and hind legs to swim. The polar bear has a thick coat made up of hair which preserves heat. They are so well protected from the cold that they have to move slowly to prevent from over-heating. Polar bears can eat and store a large amount of fat when there is plenty to eat.

These polar bears are now in danger. They are reducing in numbers. People hunt them for fur and the ice is melting in the Arctic sea because of poisonous chemicals and gases. We should save the polar bears.

My school sportsmeet

By Susal Dabarera (8 years), St. Peter's College

Every year we have our sportsmeet in our school ground. A sportsmeet is called a day which we can run, jump, shout and also enjoy. We do many events in a sportsmeet.

Still we are small so the teachers are making houses for us to stay. I became first in the 100m running race. I got a nice present but the seniors who became first got trophies, cups and medals. When I grow up I will try to get trophies, cups and medals. Anyway all the children are happy to take part in the sportsmeet because it is so interesting.

My class teacher

By D. Abrahamy (Grade 2), St. Bridget's Convent

My class teacher's name is Miss. Christine. She stands in front of the class when she teaches. She takes care of every pupil in the class. She is very simple in her dress.

She is always punctual to class. She is very kind and patient with us. She always wears a cheerful smile on her face. I always listen to her advice. I love my class teacher very much. I thank God for giving me such a good teacher.

The qualities children should have

By Uzma Khan (10 years), Muslim Ladies' College

All of us are born the same into this world. But it is our qualities that make us different. Even though you have money or power, if you don't have good qualities it is useless.

We must help each other when in need. We can help by giving money, by our deeds or just by cheering someone when they are sad. Big or small, rich or poor, all are people, and all live in this world.

At school, when someone needs a pen or a book, we must share with them. When they find it difficult to understand their lessons, we must teach them. When someone falls or is injured, we must take care and look after them well. It is not fair skin or beauty that makes us really beautiful, but pure thoughts in our hearts.

In our childhood we must grow qualities like love, caring, sharing, generosity and mercy. That would take us to a good place when we grow big. We must say only good things about others and never hurt them by using bad words. Respecting and listening to our elders is very important in building up our characters. Let us cultivate good qualities in our childhood and grow up as good citizens of the world.

My birthday

By Noor Rahma Fazmin (Grade 5), Ilma International Girls' School

Today is my birthday (March 21). I am eight years old today. I am celebrating today with my parents, grandparents, brother and other relatives. This time we are not celebrating my birthday on a grand scale, but on a small scale.

We had a small party for my birthday today. My Dada and Mama presented me with valuable gifts which I will never forget. My grandfather Appa gifted me Gel pen and my grandmother Umma gifted me a Felt pen.

I liked these pens very much, so I started to write with these pens. My other relatives also came with many gifts for me at my birthday party. I was so happy I enjoyed the day with my family.

My best friend

By Fahd Fazly (Grade 5), Wesley College

My best friend's name is Dhinuksharan. He is very talented in cricket. His favourite subject is Maths. When I fall sick in school, he helps me a lot. He also helps me to do my work. He shares his food with me. His favourite sport is cricket. His favourite cricketer is M.S. Dhoni.

The way I got friendly with him was; one day I was in the park during the interval, playing and then he also came. After that I asked him his name and he said "I am Dhinuksharan." After that he asked me what is my name and I said that I am Fahd. From that day onwards we were best friends.

My pet

By Ayeshi Kumari (Grade 8), Dikkapitiya Vidyalaya, Welimada

My pet is a rabbit. Its name is Tikira. It is black and brown in colour. It is very beautiful. It eats rice and carrots. It can hop. It is five years old.

Its mother's name is Tikiri. Its father's name is Sudda. It has one sister and two brothers. It has two long ears. It lives in a hutch. I love my pet very much.

My school

By Thisum Jayawardana (Grade 2), Kalutara Vidyalaya

My school is Kalutara Vidyalaya. Our principal is Mr. Rathnasiri Perera. It is the biggest school in the Kalutara District. It is a boys' school. It is near the Kalu Ganga. Cricketer Dilshan is an old boy of our school.

Martin Wickramasinghe

By Shashika Dilshara (Grade 7), Sangamitta B.V., Galle

Mr. Martin Wickramasinghe was born on May 29, 1890. He was born in Koggala. It is in the Galle District of the Southern Province. His mother was Mrs. Nonchahami Liyanage. His father was Mr. Don Bastian Silva. He got his education at Bonavista Vidyalaya of Galle.

He wrote many stories for elders and children. His first book was 'Leela'. He wrote a lot of novels like 'Soma', 'Seetha', 'Unmada Chithra' and 'Rohini'. He wrote 108 short stories like 'Wahallu', 'Mage Kathawa',
'Gehaniyak'. He also wrote many English stories. Some of them are Buddhism and Art, Revolution and Evolution, Aspects of Sinhalese Culture.

Martin Wickramasinghe gave us a big service. He died on July 23, 1976.

My home

By Isuri Jayalath (8 years), Dammissara National School, Naththandiya

My home is in Haldanduwana. It is a beautiful village. My home is near a paddy field. It has a home
garden full of flower trees and fruit trees. My parents, grand-father, grandmother, sister and brother live with me in my home.

We are very happy. My home is sweet home.

My grandmother

By Ashfa Rasmy (7 years), Greenwood International College, Matale

My grandmother is Siraji Buharideen. She is a retired English teacher. She is sixty-two years old.
We can't forget her birthday because she was born on the day that Ceylon got its
independence.

She is tall and fair and has long hair. She is very kind and loving. Her hobby is gardening. She has a lot of flower plants. I am sad to say that two years back she fell and broke her leg. Now she walks with the help of a crutch. She is unable to do her work. I help her sometimes.

She cares for me a lot and helps me in my studies. She tells stories and poems. I can remember when I was small she kept me on her lap and read stories and articles from the Funday Times. This is how I improved my reading and writing.

She gets angry when I don't keep my things in its right place. She always advises me to obey my
parents, teachers and elders. I pray that she will be well soon. May Allah bless her.

Playing the game

By Nasrin Zawahir, Gampola International School

Sportsmanship means the right spirit in which a man should take part in any sport, or play any game. 'To play the game' sums up certain qualities. A real sportsman plays any game in a sporting spirit – that is he plays to win; he plays more for his side than for himself in perfect cooperation with his team. He plays fair, obeying the rules of the game.

If his side wins, he is glad, but modest about his share in the victory and generous and courteous to his opponents. If his side loses, he is of course sorry, but he sincerely congratulates the opponents on their victory.

School games properly played teach us 'to play the game'. Playing the game means playing fair and standing for honour, loyalty and duty.

And when school days are over, and the boy goes out into the world to do a man's work, he must still play the game on the larger playground of life.

He will carry the spirit of a hotly contested football match into business and will keenly compete with his rivals and play to win, putting his brains and energy into making a success. But he will play fair – not trying to surpass his competitor by underhand means, but by harder work, smarter brains and better goods.

Offering flowers

From an overseas reader

By Nuhansi Wijesinghe (8 years), Nakara Primary School, Australia

We offer flowers to the Lord Buddha because we respect him and we are just like flowers. When we offer flowers after some time the flowers wither and we too die in the same way after some years when we are old.

All beings born, suffer and die. Lord Buddha has found a way to escape it about 2500 years ago.

Parrot

By Janusha Pooja, (Grade 2), Oxford International College, Badulla

A parrot is green in colour. It is a beautiful bird. Parrot likes to eat fruits. It has a red beak. I love parrots very much.

A special gift

By Lakshikaa Srithar (Year 5), Gateway College, Kandy

In the year 2007 after my term exams were over… I got all my results and they were good ssssmarks. My mother was really happy. One Saturday morning I got ready and came down to the dining table to have my
breakfast. Then I saw something wriggling in a box. The box said 'Congratulations'. I knew who had given it. They were my parents.

As it was wriggling I was anxious to open it. When I opened it, there was a surprise waiting for me. It was a cute little kitten. I quickly ate my breakfast and gave the kitten some milk. Then I took her out and thought of a name for her. I kept its name as Kitty.

Kitty was white in colour. Kitty was running around the house. After a few days, Kitty got used to come to my room and sleep, Now Kitty is three years old. Kitty is still playful and active. Thank you Mum and Dad. I will never forget this special gift in my life.