Don’t Judge the Book by it’s Cover

Sam lived in a small, bright town where everyone knew each other, and his family was at the heart of it. He was the kind of boy everyone liked—easygoing, friendly, and always ready to help. Every day after school, he’d meet up with his friends at the park, and they’d play all kinds of games: tag, hide-and-seek, or sometimes just kicking a soccer ball around. Sam was one of those kids who was loved because he was fair and fun to be around, always making sure everyone had a good time.

One afternoon, while they were playing in the park, Sam noticed something different. A boy stood alone by the swings, looking a bit out of place. He was dressed in worn, patched-up clothes, his hair was messy, and he didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the group. Sam’s friends, always quick to judge, started whispering among themselves, snickering and pointing.

“Look at him,” one of them said, his voice filled with that all-too-familiar tone of teasing. “He looks so… strange.”

But Sam didn’t join in. Instead, a little knot of sadness twisted in his stomach. He knew what it felt like to be the odd one out. Sam had always been the type to see the good in people, so without a second thought, he walked over to the boy.

“Hey there,” Sam said, offering him a warm smile. “I’m Sam. What’s your name?”

The boy looked up, startled, and then quietly replied, “I’m Max.”

Sam could see he was shy, probably nervous about talking to anyone. But Sam wasn’t about to let him stand there all alone.

“Do you wanna join us? We’re playing tag,” Sam offered, hoping to make him feel welcome.

Max’s eyes lit up, and for the first time, he smiled. “Yeah, I’d love to!” he said, his voice more confident now.

Together, Sam and Max ran back to the group, and Sam introduced him to his friends. At first, there was a bit of hesitation, but as soon as the game of tag started, Max proved to be lightning fast. Soon, everyone was laughing, and the park felt like a place where anything could happen.

As they ran around, Sam and Max started talking. Sam learned that Max had recently moved to the town with his family. They didn’t have a lot of money, which explained the patched clothes. But what surprised Sam was Max’s hidden talent—he was an amazing artist. Max showed Sam a drawing he had done of the town, and Sam was blown away. It wasn’t just a sketch—it was detailed and beautiful, full of life.

“Wow, Max! You’re really good at this!” Sam said, genuinely impressed.

Max blushed, clearly shy about his talent. “Thanks. I’ve always liked drawing, but no one’s ever really noticed before.”

From that day on, Sam and Max became inseparable. They played together every day, and Max even started teaching Sam how to draw. Max was no longer the lonely new kid—he had a true friend now, and the kindness Sam showed him made all the difference.

One day, the town announced they’d be hosting a big fair. There would be games, rides, food, and even contests. Everyone in town was buzzing with excitement, and Sam and Max couldn’t wait to go.

At the fair, they tried everything—games, rides, cotton candy—but what really caught Sam’s eye was the sign for the drawing contest. Without missing a beat, Sam turned to Max.

“You should totally enter, Max! You’re the best artist I know.”

Max hesitated, nerves creeping in. “I don’t know… what if I’m not good enough?”

Sam gave him an encouraging nudge. “Trust me. You’ve got this.”

Max took a deep breath and agreed. He found a quiet corner, pulled out his drawing materials, and began sketching. His pencil flew across the paper, capturing the bustling fair—the bright, colorful booths, the people laughing, the rides spinning in the distance. Soon, a crowd gathered, watching in awe as the scene came to life in front of them.

When Max finished, he turned his drawing in to the judges. They were immediately impressed, whispering among themselves before announcing the winners. When it was time to announce first place, the head judge looked out over the crowd.

“And the first prize goes to… Max, for his amazing drawing!”

Max couldn’t believe it. He had won! His heart swelled with pride as he accepted a big blue ribbon and a box of brand-new drawing pencils. Sam cheered louder than anyone, his face beaming with pride for his friend.

The other kids who had laughed at Max before now stared at his drawing in awe. They couldn’t believe how talented he was. Feeling guilty for their earlier teasing, one of them stepped forward.

“We’re sorry, Max. We didn’t know you were so good at drawing. Can we be friends?” the kid asked sincerely.

Max smiled, his shyness melting away. “Of course! Let’s all be friends.”

From that day on, the kids in town treated Max with the kindness he deserved. They learned an important lesson: never judge someone by how they look on the outside. It’s who they are on the inside that matters.

As for Sam, he was just glad he had been there for Max when no one else was. Their friendship made the town even brighter, a place where everyone helped each other, and kindness was always the first thing people showed.

And so, through Sam and Max’s bond, the town learned a valuable lesson that day: true friends look beyond the surface and see the goodness inside.