The Festival of Tiny Boats

In Riverbend, spring arrives with the Festival of Tiny Boats, a day when children craft little vessels from wood, cloth and string and send them down the river. Grandpa Jo, who has organised the event for years, shows the young builders how to shape a hull and tie a sail, warning them that the water is friendly but can be tricky, so they must mind the current and look out for one another.

Ten-year-old Max adores inventing, and this year he has a secret plan: a boat fitted with tiny mechanical paddles hidden inside. His best friend Lila studies it with sparkling eyes, while Toby, the reigning champion, smirks beside his sleek red boat and stopwatch. When the race starts, Max's paddles spin and his boat pulls ahead, but a stronger current soon sweeps several small boats toward the waterfall. Max faces a choice between winning and helping, and what he decides shifts how everyone in Riverbend sees the race. This gentle tale by Yavuz DEMİRKIRAN follows Max, Lila, Toby and Grandpa Jo through a cheerful spring day of building, racing and teamwork, and can be read on Online Masal.