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Illustration of page 1 of story The Jade Bell Gondola

High above the morning clouds, a city of hanging gardens swayed from silver towers.

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The Jade Bell Gondola

5-9 years old • 7 minute • Using calm repair words

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Bao and Sao ride a bell-shaped gondola through a city of hanging gardens, where every breeze makes tiny jade notes shimmer in the air. When a mix-up cracks the welcome bell’s song, they discover how calm repair words can soften hurt feelings and help everyone listen again.

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Full text

Read in full The Jade Bell Gondola

20 pages, approx 7 minutes while listening. Enter the child’s name in the reader above so the narrator can call the child’s name correctly.

  1. 1

    High above the morning clouds, a city of hanging gardens swayed from silver towers. Every leaf held a dewdrop, and every dewdrop rang a tiny jade note when the wind slipped by. Bao hugged his burnt-orange backpack. Sao’s star pendant flashed as he whispered, “It’s singing hello.”

  2. 2

    A gondola shaped like a round green bell drifted toward them on a ribbon of golden cable. Its roof chimed ting-ting-tong, soft as spoons tapping teacups. Bao grinned so wide his cheeks bunched up. “That one is ours,” he said, and Sao bounced on all four paws.

  3. 3

    The gondola door opened with a polite little ring. Inside, velvet cushions circled a clear floor, and far below, fish-shaped kites sailed between balconies of basil, orchids, and lime trees. Bao took Sao’s paw. “We’ll ride to the Welcome Tower and hear the biggest bell,” he promised.

  4. 4

    They floated between towers where gardeners waved from ladders and blue butterflies lifted like confetti. Then the Welcome Tower came into view, crowned by a jade bell taller than a house. It rang once—bong—then wobbled into a raspy clank. Sao’s ears tipped back. “That hello sounds hurt.”

  5. 5

    At the tower platform, two little gondolas bumped noses in a viney traffic knot. A basket of moon-pears tipped, rolling around Bao’s shoes, and a gardener gasped, “My festival fruit!” Bao’s tummy squeezed. Sao pressed close, not hiding, just helping him stay steady.

  6. 6

    Bao stepped into the bell-shaped gondola, and it rocked once, as if saying hello. Sao hopped beside him, his star pendant flashing gold against the jade glow. When the wind slipped through the open rim, the gondola answered with a tiny, clear note.

  7. 7

    The gondola glided away from the platform and out over the garden city. Waterfalls poured from balcony roots, lantern fruit bobbed in the breeze, and bridges of vines curved like sleepy smiles. Bao laughed softly, but kept one hand on the rail so Sao would feel brave.

  8. 8

    At the next tower, a round welcome bell hung in a frame of flowering bamboo. A gardener in a mossy cap invited them to tap it gently to greet the gardens. Bao lifted the little mallet, and Sao’s tail wagged so hard it brushed Bao’s elbow.

  9. 9

    Bao’s tap landed crooked. The bell did not sing its bright hello; it made a wobbly clonk that shivered through the tower pots. A family of sky-sparrows fluttered up, and Sao tucked his tail, whispering, “Oh no, I bumped you.”

  • 10

    For a breath, Bao’s cheeks felt hot. Then he looked at Sao’s worried face and let his own voice come out gentle. “I know it was an accident. Let’s fix it together.” The cracked note still hummed, but Sao’s ears lifted.

  • 11

    The gondola reached the highest garden tower just as the great welcome bell lifted in the breeze. Instead of singing one clear jade note, it gave a clattery bonk that made the flower bridges shiver. Sao’s ears flattened, and Bao felt his happy stomach drop like a pebble.

  • 12

    A tiny bell-keeper fluttered down, carrying a spool of silver cord and looking near tears. “Someone tugged the tuning vine too hard,” she said. Bao pointed before he thought. “Sao jumped on it!” The words flew out sharp, and Sao tucked his tail close.

  • 13

    The tower grew quiet except for the gondolas chiming far below. Bao saw Sao’s paws had muddy vine marks, but he also saw his own sneaker print beside the snapped cord. His cheeks warmed. The mix-up had not been only one friend’s mistake.

  • 14

    Bao took one slow breath, the kind his grandmother used before fixing a wobbly kite. He turned to Sao and the bell-keeper. “I’m sorry I blamed you. I think I tugged it too. Can we fix it together?” Sao blinked, then nudged Bao’s knee.

  • 15

    Together they worked slowly: Bao held the silver cord steady while Sao brushed leaves from the bell’s hairline crack. The bell-keeper showed them how to listen for the smallest hum. When Bao loosened his grip, the jade note softened, as if the bell liked gentle hands best.

  • 16

    The tower keeper’s cheeks were pink with worry, and Bao felt a hot little spark of blame rise in his chest. Sao nudged his hand with a soft paw. Bao breathed once and said, “I’m sorry it got mixed up. Can we fix it together?”

  • 17

    The keeper’s shoulders loosened like a ribbon untied. She showed them the thin silver crack where the bell’s note bent sideways. Sao tilted his ears, and Bao held the tiny jade clapper very still until the sour sound trembled into a clue.

  • 18

    They rode the bell-shaped gondola in a slow circle around the tower, gathering shy notes from wind chimes, lily pools, and balcony birds. Each time someone reached too fast or guessed wrong, Bao tried the words again: “Let’s pause. I want to understand.”

  • 19

    Back at the bell, Bao fitted the gentlest note into the crack while Sao steadied the cord with both little paws. The keeper gave one careful pull. A clear jade tone rolled over the gardens, and every gondola answered in bright, tiny rings.

  • 20

    When their gondola drifted down through the evening light, Bao and Sao sat shoulder to shoulder, tired in the happy way. The city of gardens shimmered behind them. Bao whispered, “Repair words make room,” and Sao’s pendant chimed once, like it agreed.

    • For parents

    Go further with your child after the story

    The Jade Bell Gondola is a 20-page English adventure for 5-9 years old. Through a vivid problem and a safe, earned resolution, children see why ride a bell-shaped gondola between garden towers, choose a gentle phrase after a mix-up, and help tune the cracked welcome bell matters; parents get a natural opening for a short conversation and a five-minute practice at home.

    Story guide

    The Jade Bell Gondola for whom?

    Children 5-9 years old who are beginning to practise using calm repair words in real moments, not just in pretend play.

    Story problem solved

    The adventure gives a child a safe rehearsal space for ride a bell-shaped gondola between garden towers, choose a gentle phrase after a mix-up, and help tune the cracked welcome bell. Parents can notice the character’s choice, then connect it to one small moment at home without turning the story into a lecture.

    The synopsis does not reveal the ending

    Bao and Sao ride a bell-shaped gondola through a city of hanging gardens, where every breeze makes tiny jade notes shimmer in the air. When a mix-up cracks the welcome bell’s song, they discover how calm repair words can soften hurt feelings and help everyone listen again.

    Learning goals

    What will your child learn?

    • Notice the moment when ride a bell-shaped gondola between garden towers becomes useful.
    • Try the next part of the process: choose a gentle phrase after a mix-up, and help tune the cracked welcome bell.
    • Name one choice the child could practise during the next ordinary day.
    Talk together

    Stories with the same topic group

    Stories to tell children before going to bedStories teach children to recognize and name emotionsThe story teaches children to be independent and serve themselvesStories teach children safety skillsThe story teaches children to be polite and how to speak to othersStories for 5 year oldsStories for 6 year olds

    Questions after listening

    1. Which detail first told Bao and Sao that the adventure was changing, and how did they respond?
    2. What did the friends learn about using calm repair words after their first idea did not work?
    3. Where could your family try one tiny version of “ride a bell-shaped gondola between garden towers” this week?
    Activity with your child · 5–10 minutes

    Make a tiny using calm repair words plan

    1. Ask your child to point to one moment in The Jade Bell Gondola when ride a bell-shaped gondola between garden towers mattered.
    2. Together, name one ordinary family situation where the same choice might help; let your child suggest the first move.
    3. Act it out for five minutes, then ask what felt easier and what kind of help would be useful next time.

    Short answer, easy to look up

    Frequently asked questions

    What can children learn from The Jade Bell Gondola?

    The story makes using calm repair words concrete: children watch Bao and Sao notice a problem, make a choice, and adjust it when the world answers back. The learning stays connected to the characters rather than sounding like a rule sheet.

    How should a parent talk about using calm repair words after the story?

    Start with the story detail your child remembers. Ask what the characters noticed, what they needed, and what a small version of that choice might look like at home; there is no need to test for a single correct answer.

    Is this story suitable for shared reading?

    Yes. The page-by-page illustrations and short English scenes suit a calm read-aloud for 5-9 years old; pause when your child wants to predict, and return to the same story later if a particular choice feels important.

    Content information

    TalePillow Studio · Updated Aug 17, 2026

    Editorial methodResponsible unit