Pearl Follows the Footprints

Strange footprints appear in the snow outside Pearl’s door. Whose are they?

One winter morning, Pearl 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.

β€˜Who made those?’ wondered Pearl. She put on her warm coat and boots and called Dexter the duck. β€˜Let’s follow them,’ said Pearl. β€˜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. β€˜Not a bear,’ said Dexter. β€˜Not a dog either.’

The trail wound past the frozen stream. It went round a big fir tree. Then it stopped. β€˜Where did they go?’ said Pearl. They looked around. There was only a pile of snow and something shivering inside it.

Pearl brushed the snow away very gently. Out peeped Finn the fox, with big, scared eyes. β€˜Oh, hello,’ squeaked Finn. β€˜I was looking for a warm place to sleep. I’m so cold.’

β€˜Don’t worry,’ said Pearl, wrapping her scarf round Finn. They carried Finn home, where the fire was crackling. Dexter made hot chocolate. Finn drank it and started to get pink and warm again.

When the snow stopped, they took Finn home. And on the way back, Pearl looked at the footprints. Four sets now, all side by side. The mystery was solved, and a new friend was made.

πŸ’‘

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 Pearl help the lost one?

Finish stories to collect Pearl as a sticker in your Sticker Book.

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