Progressive 02
The Penguin’s Picnic
The sun was shining brightly over the meadow as the penguins prepared for their annual picnic. It was the biggest event of the season for all the animals in the valley. Penguins waddled around, setting up blankets and laying out baskets filled with goodies—fresh fish sandwiches, berry pies, and a mountain of carrot sticks.
“Everything looks perfect!” said Poppie the blue penguin, clapping her flippers together. “This picnic is going to be the best one yet!”
Soon the guests began to arrive. Mrs. Orange Fox brought her famous blackberry tart, the brown squirrels carried acorn muffins, and Mr. White Rabbit hopped over with a giant bowl of carrot salad. Laughter and chatter filled the air.
But just as the games began, disaster struck.
“The carrots are missing!” shouted Benny the gray penguin, staring into the empty bowl. Everyone froze.
All eyes turned to Mr. Rabbit. “Don’t look at me!” he stammered. “I brought my own carrots!”
“You’ve got carrot crumbs on your whiskers!” shouted Mrs. Fox.
Mr. Rabbit’s eyes widened. “That’s from my carrot salad!” he squeaked.
The animals followed a trail of tiny footprints to a nearby anthill. Inside, they found Mr. Red Ant, surrounded by a pile of carrots.
“Why did you take our carrots?” Poppie asked.
“I wasn’t invited,” Mr. Ant said. “I thought if I took the carrots, I could have a little picnic of my own.”
Poppie smiled. “Of course we would’ve wanted you! Everyone’s welcome!”
The animals helped Mr. Ant carry the carrots back to the picnic. Mr. Rabbit was apologized to, and the group spent the rest of the afternoon playing games and laughing together.
Poppie raised her glass of lemonade. “Don’t jump to conclusions—things aren’t always what they seem!”
Comprehension Questions
What were the penguins preparing for?
What foods did the animals bring to the picnic?
What problem happened during the games?
Who really took the carrots, and why?
How did the animals solve the problem?
Your Thoughts
Do you think the animals were fair to Mr. Rabbit? Why or why not?
What could Mr. Ant have done differently?
Have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do? How did it feel?
