Leo and the Park Surprise

Read-aloud note

Read slowly, soften your voice near the end, and leave a small pause before the final goodnight line.

Story

At bedtime, a tiny tap made everyone wonder. Leo held his red ball very tight.

It was morning, and Nanny Mira was standing at the door with her big yellow bag. "Park time, Leo!" she said. Leo looked at Mama. He looked at the door. He shook his head and held his red ball even tighter.

Mama put on her shoes. Leo held her hand all the way to the park. He could smell the wet grass. He could hear the swings going creak, creak, creak. A little sparrow hopped right in front of him and stopped. It looked at Leo. Leo looked back. The sparrow tilted its tiny head, like it was waiting for something.

Then the sparrow hopped one step. And another. And another, right toward the slide. "Where is it going?" Nanny Mira whispered. Leo forgot about holding Mama's hand. He took one step. Then another. Then he looked back, and Mama was gone. But here is the funny thing. Leo did not even cry. Because right then, the sparrow hopped up the slide steps, all the way to the top, and looked down at him like it was saying, "Your turn, Leo."

Leo laughed. He ran to the slide. He climbed up, one step, two steps, three, and whoooosh, down he went. Nanny Mira clapped her big hands. "You did it!" The sparrow flapped its wings like it was clapping too.

They played and played. The swing went creak, creak, creak. Leo found a shiny pebble and put it in Nanny Mira's yellow bag so he could show Mama later. The sparrow watched from a branch the whole time, its little head tilting this way and that.

And when Mama came back after work, she opened the door and Leo ran to her. "Mama, Mama, a bird showed me the slide!" He gave her the shiny pebble. She held it up and it caught the light. "A bird?" she said. Leo nodded very fast.

That night, Mama tucked him in and asked, "So tomorrow, can you go with Nanny Mira and find what the sparrow does next?" Leo pulled his blanket up. He thought about the slide. He thought about the creak, creak, creak of the swing.

"Yes," he said. "I think so.". At last, everything felt warm and close. Softly, softly, home we go. The tap was back where it belonged.

Scenes

The Yellow Bag at the Door

Morning light spilled through the window. Nanny Mira stood at the door with her big yellow bag. Park time, Leo! But Leo squeezed his red ball tight and shook his little head.

Hand in Hand to the Park

Mama held Leo's hand all the way to the park. He could smell the wet grass. He could hear the swings going creak, creak, creak.

A Tiny Visitor

A little sparrow hopped right in front of Leo and stopped. It tilted its tiny head, like it was waiting for something. Then hop, hop, hop, toward the slide it went.

Your Turn, Leo

The sparrow hopped to the top of the slide and looked down, as if to say, your turn, Leo. Leo laughed and climbed up, one, two, three, and whoooosh, down he went!

The Shiny Pebble for Mama

When Mama came home, Leo ran to her with a shiny pebble in his hand. Mama, a bird showed me the slide! That night, snug under his blanket, Leo whispered, yes, I think so.