Pip and the Little Blue Boat

Pip the duckling had a little blue boat.
Every morning, it floated beside him in the pond.
But today, the boat was gone.

“Boat, boat, where are you?” peeped Pip.

He looked behind the tall grass. No boat.
He looked under a big green leaf. No boat.
He looked beside the smooth grey stone. No boat.

Pip paddled round and round.
Can you paddle your arms like Pip?
Swish, swish, swish!

Then Pip heard a tiny tap.
Tap, tap, tap.

The blue boat was hiding in the reeds. The breeze had pushed it there.

“My boat!” cheeped Pip.

He nudged it gently with his beak.
Together they floated across the warm, shiny pond.
Pip paddled slowly.
The little boat bobbed slowly.

Swish, swish, swish.
Bob, bob, bob.

Soon Pip was back beside his cosy nest. His boat was safe. Pip was safe too.

“Goodnight, little boat,” he whispered.

And the pond became still.