Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step right up and behold the wonder and majesty of the Barrel of Monkeys Story Archive! Here you may read over 10 years worth of stories written by children in the Barrel of Monkeys program. Search below or browse by categories to the right.
By Michelle W., Gwendolyn Brooks
Once there was a girl named Ashley and a Man named Frankie. They’re on their 10th date. Frankie breaks up with her. She gets really mad and slaps him. “Why!” she said. Frankie said “I’m moving to Alaska.” “I’m going to miss you!” “Yeah!” “Well, isn’t this when you say I’ll miss you too?”
By Cristian V., 4th Grade, Columbia Explorers Academy
I remember when I was a little boy I put a rubber band on my hand and when I went to sleep the rubber band started getting tight on my hand. So my dad woke up he was very worried so he look at my hand and saw the rubber band and he took it off and then my hand didn’t bother me no more.
By Abbey A., 2nd Grade, South Loop School
Setting: A shoe the size of a house
Characters: 800 feet tall American Girl Doll / A talking picture
Narrator: Once upon a time there was a talking picture. 1 day he was going to ask a 800 feet tall American Girl Doll a question. So she did.
Talk.: How tall are you?
Ame.: (Nothing)
Talk.: What? I didn’t hear you.
Ame: (Nothing)
Talk.: I asked you a question!
Ame.: (Nothing)
Talk.: ANSWER ME!
Amer.: (Nothing)
By Kevin V., 3rd Grade, Cleveland School
Yesterday I went to my dad’s soccer game but they lost the game. They were in the finals but it had to end some time. I was sad my dad was sad my dad’s team was sad, like I said, it had to end some time.
By Chris G. , 4th Grade, Hough Street School
When I first started chess I couldn’t even beat my Mother. Then I started chess club. Every year I got better. Soon I didn’t need to think all that hard and I rarely lost. I’m still taking chess club. Recently I have won a first place trophy. Now I am pretty good at chess. I can play billets chess (chess with 5 minutes on the clock) with no problem. In a book I read it said that Bobby Fisher was mostly famous because he competed with the Russians and won. My favorite two openings are the Stone Wall and an opening of my own making (pawn e-3 bishop c4 then knight f3). Now I am really interested in chess. I have lots of chess variations and travel chess boards that I take on vacations. I play chess a lot. Now I am awesome at chess.
