kids ebooks - Leo's Journey to Save the Future

The Butterfly and the Time Machine

One warm summer afternoon in the quiet town of Willowbend, a boy named Leo sat in his garage, surrounded by wires, blinking lights, and scattered tools. Leo was only ten years old, but he had the mind of a scientist and the heart of an explorer. He loved building things that no one believed could work. His latest invention

was his most ambitious yet — a small, silver machine shaped like a cube, with glowing blue buttons and a tiny screen. Leo called it the “Time Jumper.” “It’s almost ready,” Leo whispered, tightening the last screw. His dog, Bobo, wagged his tail beside him, though he clearly had no idea what Leo was building. Leo didn’t know if the Time Jumper would actually work.

It was supposed to open a portal to different times — past or future — just by entering the date. But before Leo could test it, something unexpected happened. A butterfly. Not just any butterfly — this one was bright gold with blue sparkles on its wings. It fluttered through the open garage window and landed softly on the Time Jumper. Leo stared at it

in awe. “Whoa… where did you come from?” he said. As if it heard him, the butterfly twitched its wings and accidentally pressed a glowing button. WHIRRRRRRR! The Time Jumper lit up like a spaceship. A swirling tunnel of light opened in front of Leo and Bobo, and before they could move, the butterfly was pulled into it. “No! Wait!” Leo shouted. Without thinking, he

grabbed the Time Jumper and dove after the butterfly. Bobo barked wildly and leapt in too. In an instant, everything disappeared. They landed with a soft thud on a grassy hill. The air smelled fresh and earthy. Birds chirped in the distance. But this wasn’t Willowbend. The buildings were made of wood and straw, and people walked around wearing robes and sandals. Leo rubbed his

head. “Where… are we?” A man passed by pushing a wooden cart and looked at Leo strangely. “You shouldn’t be here, child. The elders don’t like surprises.” Leo’s eyes widened. “Are we in the past?” The Time Jumper screen blinked: Year: 412 B.C. Leo’s jaw dropped. “Ancient Greece!” Bobo barked at a goat passing by. The butterfly — that same golden creature — fluttered ahead,

leading the way. Leo followed it through a narrow path, passing children playing with pebbles and men painting on stone walls. The butterfly finally landed on a tree in front of a small school. Inside, kids sat on stone benches, listening to a bearded man talk about stars and numbers. Leo watched through the open door. “They’re learning… without books.” He was fascinated. He had

never seen people so curious, so eager to understand the world. He quietly sat near the door, listening. Hours passed, and Leo didn’t even notice. But then the butterfly flew off again. “Wait!” Leo whispered, grabbing the Time Jumper and chasing it through an olive grove. Suddenly, it tapped the machine again. WHIRRRRRRR! The portal opened once more, and Leo and Bobo were swept in.

This time, they landed in a jungle. Towering trees loomed above them. Strange sounds echoed all around — chirps, howls, and drips of water. “Are we in the future now?” Leo checked the screen. Year: 3087 A.D. They had jumped far ahead in time. Metal towers rose through the trees, almost invisible from the forest floor. Drones buzzed past like hummingbirds. Children flew on hoverboards

above the ground, their faces glowing with holographic screens. “This is… amazing,” Leo said, stepping forward. But something felt wrong. The trees were covered in wires. The rivers were thin and almost dry. Animals peeked from hiding places, scared. Leo stopped a girl on a hoverboard. “Why is the forest like this?” She shrugged. “We needed space for solar farms and water tubes. Nature doesn’t

matter anymore.” Leo frowned. He looked at Bobo. “That’s not right.” Suddenly, the golden butterfly zipped through the air again. It landed on the Time Jumper and tapped a new button. Another portal opened. Leo and Bobo were thrown through time again. They landed in the middle of a desert — but it was the same place. Willowbend. Or what was left of it. The

screen blinked: Year: 7024 A.D. There were no houses. No trees. Just dust, wind, and silence. Leo shivered. “What happened here?” He walked through the empty town, recognizing where his garage used to be. The Time Jumper screen was cracked. The butterfly flew in circles, as if trying to show him something. He followed it to a collapsed sign that once read: “Welcome to Willowbend.”

Leo sat down in the dust. “Did we do this? Did we forget how to care?” The butterfly landed on his hand. It fluttered gently, then rested. Leo whispered, “I need to go back. I need to fix this.” The Time Jumper sparked. One last time, it opened a swirling tunnel. Leo, Bobo, and the butterfly jumped in. They landed back in the garage. Everything

was just as it had been. The screwdriver was still on the floor. The sun still shone through the window. But something inside Leo had changed. He looked at the butterfly, which now rested peacefully on the window sill. Leo turned to Bobo. “We have work to do.” He picked up a notebook and started sketching new ideas — machines that used less power, ways

to grow food at home, and plans to plant trees in every backyard. He created a group at school called "Future Fixers," teaching kids about nature, science, and balance. And every time he doubted himself, the butterfly would appear — golden and glowing — as if to remind him why he started. Over time, Willowbend changed. It became greener, brighter, and full of life. Kids

played in gardens, families rode bikes, and trees danced in the wind. The future was no longer lost. It was blooming. And somewhere high above, the golden butterfly flew free, knowing its job was done.

Moral: Caring for the world means caring for tomorrow. Even the smallest change today can save the future.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's Talk About a Story!

Here is a special section for parents to help start a conversation after reading the story with their child.

1. What did Leo see in the future that made him feel so sad and worried that he wanted to change things when he got back home?

2. The story shows that small actions can help the future. What are some small, kind things we can do for our planet, like planting a tree or saving water, that can make a big difference over time?

3. Imagine if the golden butterfly had never flown into Leo's garage. How would the story be different, and what important lesson might Leo have never learned?

4. Leo created the "Future Fixers" club to work with his friends. Why do you think it's important to work together with others when you are trying to do something big, like caring for the world?