Alphabet Adventures
Nellie Invited Everyone!
A is for Ant
Say it: ANT
Ant brings one crumb. It needs a plate of its own. "Plenty of room," says Nellie.
B is for Bear
Say it: BAIR
Bear tries the smallest chair. Oh. Nellie fetches a bigger chair. It takes up rather more room.
C is for Cat
Say it: KAT
Cat is waiting for the cake. Cat is pretending not to be waiting for the cake.
D is for Duck
Say it: DUK
Duck brings a puddle. "I wiped my feet," she says. Nellie puts down a very large mat.
E is for Elephant
Say it: EL-uh-funt
Elephant blows the party horn. PAAAARP! There goes Nellie's hat. "Come in," says Nellie. "Mind the—" Too late.
F is for Frog
Say it: FRAHG
Frog makes one small hop. The jelly makes one BIG wobble. Nellie moves its table back a little.
G is for Goat
Say it: GOHT
Goat wears a balloon like a very tall hat. "Do you like it?" "Lovely," says Nellie, moving another chair.
H is for Hedgehog
Say it: HEJ-hahg
Hedgehog steps away from the balloons. "I'll look after the cups." The cups need a table, too.
I is for Iguana
Say it: ih-GWAH-nuh
Iguana's tail will not fit on the chair. It needs a chair of its own. "Of course," says Nellie.
J is for Jellyfish
Say it: JEL-ee-fish
Jellyfish jiggles beyond the sea window. Wibble-wobble! There is still plenty of room in the sea.
K is for Koala
Say it: koh-AH-luh
Koala hugs the party cushion. "Very comfortable." Nellie squeezes past. Sideways.
L is for Lion
Say it: LYE-uhn
Lion takes a great big breath. Nellie offers a tiny party whistle. Peep! "Perfect."
M is for Mouse
Say it: MOWS
Mouse? That's Nellie! She has invited everyone. The room is full. But where has her dance floor gone?
N is for Newt
Say it: NOOT
Newt peeps out from behind the napkins. "Is the music on yet?" "Nearly," says Nellie, climbing over a cushion.
O is for Octopus
Say it: AHK-tuh-pus
Octopus waves through the sea window. It's a very big wave. Nellie can only wave one tiny paw back.
P is for Penguin
Say it: PENG-gwin
Penguin tries a dance step. Slide, stop. Slide— SPLAT! "We need a bigger dance floor," says Nellie.
Q is for Quail
Say it: KWAYL
Quail taps a very small drum. Tap-tap! Everybody starts to bob. Nobody can go anywhere.
R is for Rabbit
Say it: RAB-it
Rabbit's ears bounce to the beat. The rest of Rabbit would like to join in. "Coming through!" calls Nellie.
S is for Snail
Say it: SNAYL
Snail arrives with the invitations. "Am I early?" Nellie looks at the very full party. "Just in time."
T is for Tortoise
Say it: TOR-tuhs
Tortoise has saved a seat for Snail. "One more chair?" asks Nellie. Then she stops. "We don't need more chairs."
U is for Urchin
Say it: UR-chin
Urchin waits beyond the sea window, dressed in spikes. Nellie turns toward the garden. The garden is empty.
V is for Vole
Say it: VOHL
Vole makes a tunnel under the tablecloth. Peekaboo! Nellie follows. There are the big garden doors!
W is for Worm
Say it: WURM
Worm wriggles through the doorway. Nellie opens both doors wide. "Plenty of room!"
X is for X-ray tetra
Say it: EKS-ray TET-ruh
X-ray tetra swims past the river window. Look—its little bones show through! Outside, Nellie has found room to dance.
Y is for Yak
Say it: YAK
Yak joins the dance. The ground goes thump. Nellie's toes go bump. Now the rest of Rabbit can join in, too.
Z is for Zebra
Say it: ZEE-bruh
Zebra wheels out the cake. "Does anybody need a yellow hat?" Nellie looks up. "So THAT'S where it went!"
The end. Until next time.
A lovely place to leave it.
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