Once a year, the jungle held a boat race down the Muddy River. Pearl the panda built a log canoe, and painted it bright green. The prize was a huge fruit basket.
On race day, the animals lined up. Poppy the elephant had a super-fast boat with a pointy front. ‘I’ll win easily,’ said Poppy. Pearl just smiled. ‘May the best boat win!’
‘Ready, steady, GO!’ The boats shot forward. Poppy zoomed ahead. Pearl paddled hard but fell behind. Then Pearl saw Luca stuck on a rock, with water rising round his feet.
Pearl had a choice. Win the race, or help a friend. Pearl turned the boat round without a second thought. ‘Hop on!’ she called. Luca jumped in, and they paddled on together.
Soon they passed another stuck boat, and another. Pearl helped them all. By the time they reached the end, Pearl’s boat was full of friends, and everybody was singing.
Poppy had won. But when Poppy looked back and saw everyone laughing in Pearl’s boat, she frowned. ‘It looks more fun over there,’ she said. Pearl shared the a huge fruit basket, and Poppy got the biggest piece.
The little lesson
Teamwork beats speed.
Let’s talk about it
- Who helped Pearl at the end?
- What would your boat look like?
Finish stories to collect Pearl as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
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