Thumbelina Story Volume 1 | Page 10

so rich. Together Mr. Mole and the field mouse made plans for his wedding to Thumbelina. Thumbelina became more and more unhappy. She didn’t know What Does Talk It Over That Mean? Use the be sureof the Stop to words your story and thewhat to child knows picture help your child answer “weeping” means. this question: Why was Ask her what she Thumbelina so cold? would sound like if she were weeping. Help her know it means “crying.” what to do. But she did know that she did not want to marry the mole. She sat outside the field mouse’s door one autumn day, quietly weeping. Suddenly a dark shadow came over her. She looked up and, much to her surprise, there she saw her friend, the swallow. ”Thumbelina,” said the swallow. ”I am flying south to warmer countries for the winter. Won’t you please come with me now?” This time Thumbelina agreed. She was sad to leave the field mouse, but she knew that it was the only way that she could escape from marrying the mole. She climbed upon the swallow’s back and off into the air they went. They flew for many days. Finally, the swallow landed in a place that Thumbelina had never seen—a lovely little spot, filled with flowers. Make Connections Look back together at the picture on the previous page to help make the link between Thumbelina’s flower and the flowers on these pages. Thumbelina looked at the flower next to her. She watched the petals slowly open. There, in the middle of the flower, sat a little man with a golden crown. He was the same tiny size as Thumbelina! 10 ©2008 Core Knowledge Foundation Thumbelina Preschool Read-Aloud Available only from coreknowledge.org