Cute horned monster with backpack and apple in front of a back-to-school building.

Smiling Monster Ready for Back to School

A fluffy horned monster grins with an apple, backpack, and book while a school banner hangs under the clock tower.

🎨 How to color it

Color the fluffy monster sunshine yellow, the backpack bright teal, the apple cherry red, and the school clock tower warm brick orange. Use chunky crayons or broad markers for the monster’s big furry body and the blank sign, letting little hands color right over the tiny fur lines if they want. Try making the falling leaves two colors—pumpkin orange and golden brown—so the first-school-day breeze feels extra lively.

The story behind this coloring page

Orrin’s Apple Bell — Under the tick-tock tower, Orrin squeezed the red apple charm in his pocket. Read the full story →

Under the tick-tock tower, Orrin squeezed the red apple charm in his pocket. He wanted Door Three, his very own classroom, but the schoolyard smelled of wet leaves and chalk dust, and every door looked too tall.

Then the charm gave a tiny ding. Orrin followed the sound past the big sign, past the swirling leaves, to a quiet hook beside the clock. He hung the apple there. Bong-ding! The clock answered, warm as toast.

“Here,” whispered Orrin.

Ever since, the school clock rings one little apple note before the first bell, so every new student knows where they belong. Next time you see Orrin’s apple, can you hear its secret ding?