The Roller Coaster of Dreams!
What happens when Ed Sheeran, Perry the platypus, and Larry the albino lion are stranded on the International Space Station after Dr Doofenshmirtz blows up their only rocket home?
In this episode, chaos reigns on the ISS. Ed throws a bag of meat at Larry whilst Perry tries to keep everyone calm. They're running low on food, they're stuck in space, and Ed just wanted to go to the ISS 'for sun' because he's so rich and wealthy. Then, out of nowhere, a rollercoaster appears.
They hop on and ride around the entire solar system collecting rocket parts: sun powder from the sun (guarded by a riddle-speaking door), mercury rock from Mercury (guarded by another riddle). Perry solves the first riddle with his puzzle skills ('It's an echo!'), Ed triumphantly solves the second ('A river? Correct I'm the best!'), and together they build a new rocket, re-enter Earth's atmosphere, and land safely in London.
Absurd, joyful, and powered entirely by the logic of 'what if the most random things happened in space?', this is a story about unlikely friendship, problem-solving under pressure, and celebrating the moment you make it home.
This story proves what one Year 6 student told us: "The only superpower you need is imagination."
About the Story
Story Type: Space adventure comedy with riddle-quest structure
Themes: Unlikely friendship, teamwork, problem-solving, adventure as solution to disaster
Setting: International Space Station, the Sun, Mercury, Earth's atmosphere, London
Key Elements:
- The crew: Ed Sheeran (rich, wealthy, went to ISS 'for sun'), Larry the albino lion (appetite for goat), Perry the platypus (talks, smart, good at puzzles)
- Dr Doofenshmirtz blowing up their only rocket home
- Running low on food on the ISS
- A rollercoaster appearing out of nowhere in space
- Riding around the solar system collecting rocket parts
- Sun powder from the Sun (booster fuel)
- First riddle: 'I have no mouth but I can speak, I have no ears but I can hear. What am I?' (Answer: echo)
- Mercury rock from Mercury
- Second riddle: 'I have a mouth but I don't eat, I have a bed but I don't sleep, I have a bank but no money. What am I?' (Answer: river)
- Building the rocket together
- Landing in London
- Group celebration: 'Yoohoo we're home!'
Why This Story Matters
This author has created something gloriously chaotic that somehow maintains perfect internal logic. Ed Sheeran goes to the ISS 'for sun' because he's rich? Sure. Perry the platypus can talk and solve riddles? Absolutely. A rollercoaster appears in space and takes them around the solar system? Of course it does.
Notice the character dynamics: Ed is confident to the point of arrogance ('Correct I'm the best!'), Perry is the calm problem-solver ('Chillax, dude!'), and Larry is just there being an albino lion with an appetite for goat. These aren't deep character studies, they're archetypes deployed with comedic precision.
And those riddles? They're actual proper riddles with legitimate answers. The author isn't just throwing random nonsense at the page, they're structuring a quest with genuine obstacles that require intelligence to overcome. Perry gets the first one quickly (he's good at puzzles, as established), Ed gets the second one after thinking slowly (proving he's not just wealthy but clever when he focuses).
When children are given complete creative autonomy, they create stories where Ed Sheeran can be stranded in space, platypuses can talk, and rollercoasters can appear out of nowhere to save the day. They don't worry about realism, they worry about whether the story is fun. And this story is tremendously fun.
That ending, 'Yoohoo we're home!' shouted by all of them together, is pure joy. They worked as a team, solved the problems, built the rocket, and made it back to London. That's a proper hero's journey, just with significantly more chaos and significantly less gravity.
About StoryQuestâ˘
StoryQuest is a validated methodology that achieves 100% engagement across all learners, including reluctant writers, boys, and students with SEND. The approach is simple but profound: give children complete creative autonomy over something that truly matters to them.
Resources & Links
Bring StoryQuest to Your School:
Visit my-storyquest.com to download the curriculum guide and discover how your students can become published authors.
Start Friday Night Storytelling at Home:
Download Gabriel's StoryQuest Family Kit at theadventuresofgabriel.com
Read Gabriel's Adventures:
The international #1 bestselling series that started it all, co-authored by Kate Markland and her son Gabriel Khan. Available at theadventuresofgabriel.com
Connect with Kate:
Website: katemarkland.com
Share This Episode
Know a teacher struggling with reluctant writers? A parent whose child says 'writing is boring'? A school leader looking for proven literacy solutions? Share this episode with them.
Because every child has a story. And when we give them the freedom to tell it, extraordinary things happen.
Keywords
Child authors, creative writing for children, literacy education, reluctant writers, StoryQuest, student engagement, children's storytelling, authentic writing, educational innovation, child-led learning, space adventure, comedy stories, riddles, Ed Sheeran, Perry the platypus, solar system, Bradford UK, UK education
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Production: StoryQuest
"When given complete creative control, children don't just create great stories, they discover their voice. And that voice deserves to be heard." - Kate Markland