Afghanistan

Imagine a place with very tall mountains. Their tops are covered in shiny white snow, even when the sun is warm. Down below, in the cozy valleys, the sun shines bright and makes everything warm. I am like a big, warm heart right in the middle of the world, connecting all my friends. I am a special land full of stories. I am Afghanistan.

A long, long time ago, I had a very special path. It was called the Silk Road, and it started around the 1st century. Friendly travelers would walk on my path with their gentle camels. The camels carried soft, shiny silk and yummy-smelling spices to share with people far away. My people saw these wonderful things and learned to make beautiful treasures too. They wove colorful carpets with fun patterns, soft enough for a nap. In the 1400s, they made sparkly blue tiles and built the beautiful Blue Mosque. It shines like a jewel in the sun.

Sometimes, there have been sad days, but my people are strong, just like my big mountains. They know how to be happy and share joy. Today, children fly colorful kites that dance in the wind. Happy music is played on an instrument called a rubab, and it makes you want to clap your hands. Every year on March 21st, everyone celebrates a happy festival called Nowruz to welcome the spring. The children of Afghanistan have big dreams for a bright and happy future, and I will always be here, holding all their wonderful stories and songs.