Layla Follows the Footprints
Strange footprints appear in the snow outside Layla’s door. Whose are they?
One winter morning, Layla opened the front door and gasped. The whole world was white. And right across the garden, leading away into the woods, was a line of small footprints.
‘Who made those?’ wondered Layla. She put on her warm coat and boots and called Yusuf the lion. ‘Let’s follow them,’ said Layla. ‘It’s a mystery!’
They followed the tracks across the garden, over the fence and into the woods. The footprints were small and round, with four tiny toes. ‘Not a bear,’ said Yusuf. ‘Not a dog either.’
The trail wound past the frozen stream. It went round a big fir tree. Then it stopped. ‘Where did they go?’ said Layla. They looked around. There was only a pile of snow and something shivering inside it.
Layla brushed the snow away very gently. Out peeped Enzo the rabbit, with big, scared eyes. ‘Oh, hello,’ squeaked Enzo. ‘I was looking for a warm place to sleep. I’m so cold.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Layla, wrapping her scarf round Enzo. They carried Enzo home, where the fire was crackling. Yusuf made hot chocolate. Enzo drank it and started to get pink and warm again.
When the snow stopped, they took Enzo home. And on the way back, Layla looked at the footprints. Four sets now, all side by side. The mystery was solved, and a new friend was made.
The little lesson
A little curiosity and a lot of kindness can turn a mystery into a friendship.
Let’s talk about it
- What animals leave footprints in snow?
- How did Layla help the lost one?
Finish stories to collect Layla as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
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