The Wooden Boy

In Grandpa Carl's workshop, where sunlight mingles with sawdust, a wooden puppet named Toby comes to life. Made of honey-coloured wood, with bright blue painted eyes, a red scarf and a blue apron full of tiny tools, Toby is different from the other toys: while they play, he watches the gears and dreams of becoming a great inventor. His stiff wooden fingers make every task hard, but he keeps practising, turning gears and tying strings, cheered on by his friend Pip, a rag doll with button eyes and orange yarn hair.

When the town water pump breaks and Mayor Hattie hurries in for help, Toby sees his chance to make a difference. Doubted by the mayor and watched by a curious crowd, he gathers gears, strings and wooden wheels to build a clever device for turning the pump's handle. This gentle tale by Yavuz DEMİRKIRAN follows his patient work in the square, and young readers can enjoy it on Online Masal.