Disney Friendship Stories by Disney Book Group

O n a distant planet, a blue creature named Experiment 626 stood before the Grand Council. His creator, Jumba Jukiba, was with him. Because 626 destroyed everything he touched, Jumba had been accused of creating a monster.
    The Grand Councilwoman turned to 626. “Show us there is something inside you that is good,” she said.
    â€œ Meega, na la queesta! ” replied 626.
    â€œSo naughty!” the Grand Councilwoman gasped. “It has no place among us. Take it away!”
    Experiment 626 was put on a spaceship that would drop him off on a distant planet. But before he reached his new home, he escaped in a police cruiser. He headed straight for Earth—and the tiny island of Kauai.
    The Grand Councilwoman sent Jumba and an Earth expert named Pleakley to retrieve 626.

    Meanwhile, on the island of Kauai, a little girl named Lilo ran as quickly as she could. She was late for her hula class.
    When she arrived, Lilo scurried into line, leaving a trail of saltwater behind her. The other dancers slipped on the wet floor and toppled over.
    â€œStop!” yelled her teacher. “Lilo, why are you all wet?”
    â€œYou’re crazy,” said Mettle, one of the dancers.
    Lilo pounced on her.
    â€œLilo!” yelled her teacher, pulling her away.
    â€œI’m sorry,” said Lilo. “I’ll be good.”

    But no one wanted Lilo to stay, so she went home. Lilo was very lonely. She didn’t have any friends; her parents were gone; and her big sister, Nani, though a good big sister, was having a hard time learning how to be a parent. To top it all off, a social worker was threatening to take Lilo away from Nani.
    That night, the sisters got in a huge fight. Lilo went to her room and slammed the door shut. Nani went upstairs and apologized.
    Suddenly, Lilo saw something flash in the night sky. “A falling star!” she cried. “Get out, I have to make a wish.”
    Nani went into the hallway but stayed by the door so she could hear her sister’s wish.
    â€œI need someone to be my friend,” Lilo whispered.
    Nani hadn’t realized how lonely her little sister was. Tomorrow, she decided, they would get a dog to keep Lilo company.

    The flash Lilo had seen was Experiment 626’s ship crashing on the island. A trucker found him and took him to an animal shelter. All the other animals were scared of 626, but he didn’t care. He scrunched two of his four arms in toward his torso so he would look more like a dog. That way, he’d be adopted and have a place to hide from the aliens who were chasing him.
    â€œHi!” Lilo said when she saw 626.
    â€œHi,” the creature replied, and then gave her a hug.
    She walked back to the front room and told Nani she’d found the dog she wanted. “He’s good,” she said. “I can tell. His name is…Stitch.”
    They took Stitch home even though Nani thought he looked strange.

    Nani was glad Lilo finally had a friend. When she left for work, Lilo and Stitch went for a ride. They rode all around the island, even stopping for ice cream along the way. Stitch was wild, but he and Lilo had fun.

    Later, at the restaurant where Nani worked, Stitch spotted Jumba and Pleakley, who were dressed as tourists. When the aliens tried to capture Stitch, he almost bit Pleakley’s head off. Nani’s manager was furious and fired her. It was just the kind of thing Lilo and Nani didn’t need.

    At home, Stitch also began to tear things apart.
    â€œWe have to take him back,” Nani said.
    â€œWe adopted him!” Lilo cried. “What about ‘ohana? Dad said ‘ohana means family! Family means—”
    â€œNobody gets left behind,” Nani finished. “I know.” She remembered how welcoming her parents had been, and how important family was to them. She changed her mind. She would give Stitch another chance—for Lilo’s sake.
    That night, while Lilo was sleeping, Stitch