My pets are two pairs of love birds. My father bought them for me. They are in a large cage. They are beautiful and fly about freely.

I love to hear them singing in the morning. I feed them with some small grains called bujjari and green leaves like mukunuwenna.

I have to protect them from my cat Ronnie who is watching and waiting to pounce on them. I love my pets very much.

My home garden

By Dewmalee Jayamanne (8 years), Ceylinco Sussex College, Kurunegala

I have a large home garden. It has many beautiful flowers. They are roses, gardenia, temple flowers and orchids.

My home garden has many fruit trees. They are bananas, papaws, mangoes, rose apples and guavas. A lot of butterflies and birds come to my home garden. We have spared some mango trees for birds.

I like to walk and see beautiful flowers in my home garden. In the evening I put water to the plants. My garden looks very beautiful when it has trees and flowers.

A terrible storm

By Pasan Perera (14 years), Gateway College, Kandy

When I was a small boy – about 7 – 8 years of age I was in Saudi Arabia with my family. It was a very sunny day, but suddenly it became very dark. For the first time in my life I thought that it is going to rain in this country but to my surprise it was not going to rain but something strange was going to happen.

My father wasn't with us at that moment to share the experience because he was at work. Anyway all our family members went shopping. On our way back home, we saw people running as if the police was chasing them. They said something in Arabic but unfortunately we didn't understand anything. But, their faces were full of fear.

Then only I realized what it was. I told my family to run and find shelter because a terrible sand-storm was on its way! For about two minutes the whole city of Riyadh was covered in sand. We couldn't see anything. It was as if we were blinded by sand.

I was a young hero for my family that day! After about 15 minutes, when my father gave me a call, I told him that everything was fine.

Kindness to animals

By Dileepa Tissera (12 years), Ecole Internationale, Kandy

All living beings need food as well as kindness to live. Kindness is an emotion which all people, animals and even plants need. Some animals like dogs, cats and parrots like being petted by people.

There are some animals that are used by people for heavy work such as carrying logs, pulling carts and other heavy work. If they don't do the work properly, they are beaten with sticks and are treated very badly.

People must always be kind to animals or else in their next birth they will have to suffer the same cruelty that they did to the animals. We must not scold them by using harsh words, when we scold and hit them the animals become tougher than ever. So please be kind to animals at least from today.

Peace has come …

By Menasha Udayakumara (12 years), Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy

Now we are a free nation. The endless war which had been going on for nearly three decades has now been concluded, thanks to His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, our Defence Secretary, and all the members of the three armed forces and the police. The guidance given by our president cannot be described in words.

They have built a free country for us. Now it is our job to protect the peace and develop our country. What we can do to contribute to nurture our nation is to help the less fortunate ones suffering from poverty, and we can build relationships with children of other religions and nationalities.

What had to be done has been done. Now it is our turn. Lets join hands and develop our motherland.

My pet cat

By Nabeel Fuad (9 years), Lalith Athulathmudali College, Mt. Lavinia

My pet cat's name is Pimmy. Its colour is white and grey. Pimmy likes to eat fish as well as bread with marmite. Pimmy is a very loving cat. It waits till I come home from school to play with me.

Pimmy likes to play with a rope. When I run with a rope, it will come running behind me. When I get ready to go out with my parents, Pimmy is sad. It knows that we will get late and he will fall near my mother's feet and keep on crying. We always make sure to give his meal before we go out.

When I call him, Pimmy… Pimmy. He will come as fast as he can. My mother has trained him not to scrape or bite. Pimmy is a very obedient cat. It respects my father. When he comes home from work, Pimmy will sit near the door until he pets him.

Pimmy will be two years old on May 24. I wish that he will live with us for years and years.

Tiptoe's party

By Achini Perera (12 years), Our Lady of Victories Convent, Moratuwa

Tiptoe was a pink and white pixie. She was very fond of parties. One day she thought of giving her own party to her good friends. So, she invited Teddy the brown bear, Tick the brownie, Blue the rabbit, Snack the gnome, Snook the mouse, Black the Witch dog, Pink, Ponk and Pon the three pigs and her best friend Snow the white pixie.

She asked them to come at seven o'clock in the evening to her house at Primrose Lane. Tiptoe was very happy and she got everything ready for the party.

She made snow cones, chocolate cakes, jam buns, blackberry tarts, currant pudding, rice pudding, ice coffee and lemonade. By the time she finished hanging all the decorations it was nearly seven o'clock and she had to hurry.

When the guest arrived, Tiptoe wasn't dressed properly and the front bell started ringing. She went to her room to put on a new dress made out of pink and white silk and she looked at the clock and said, "Oh dear! It is getting late and all my guests will go away!" She ran to the door and peeped out. "Oh my!" she said in horror.

"My guests are all gone. What a pity!" she said in a sad manner. "I will have to eat all the stuff by myself. Next time I will be on time," Tiptoe said to herself. I hope for Tiptoe's sake that she will always be on time.

The calm spirit

(Written for my beloved father)

By Duke Fernando (14 years), St. Joseph's College

As light as a feather
As calm as a breeze
As divine as a saint
As close as a friend

As free as a swan
As faithful as a friend
As strong as a rock
As loving as a mother

When I see his calm face
I see him like a saint
His calm words and thoughts
Aren't second to God.

My father

By Binura Ariyaratne (7 years), Ananda College

My father's name is Indunil. He is a customs officer. He is big and tall. He has a black car. In the morning he drops me to school. He brings me lots of books, toys and other presents. He takes me to the park. In the weekend my father takes us on trips.

He likes to read newspapers and watch television. He has a big cupboard filled with books. My father likes to eat rice and vegetables. He likes to drink tea.

He has two sisters. My father is fond of my school because he is an old Anandian. I am his eldest son. He loves me. I love him very much.