Bruno's New Home

 Bruno's New Home

    Bruno shivered. A frosty wind blew through the forest. Bright red and orange leaves danced around the trees. His paws felt like blocks of ice. It was almost winter. Bruno needed a warm, safe place to hibernate, and he needed it now.
    Bruno moved slowly through the woods. He grumbled and growled to himself. Finding a new place to sleep was harder than he thought.
    Bruno climbed up a small hill. He hiked around a pond and walked on a path. No place was right. Finally he made an exciting discovery.
    Bruno spotted a cave in the side of a rocky hill. It was perfect except for one thing. He couldn't fit through the opening. It was blocked with a pile of dirt and tangled roots.
    Bruno sat down to think. "I'll just dig out some of this dirt and make the entrance bigger," he thought. "Then I can finally get to sleep.
    Bruno dug and dug with his huge paws, but the dirt was packed down hard. It took a lot of hard work and effort. He pulled and pulled at the tree roots.
    The roots were strong and too tough to rip out. Bruno stopped to rest. His paws ached. They were red and sore. Suddenly he heard a loud sound. "Crack!"
    Bruno turned quickly and saw a small squirrel eating a nut. He stopped eating and smiled at Bruno.
    "You look like you need help," said the squirrel.
    Bruno sighed. "I have been trying to fit into this cave, but it's hopeless. I've been digging and digging, but I haven't improved the opening at all."
    "I'm Jack, and I can help," said the squirrel.
    "But you are too small," said Bruno.
    Jack told Bruno to sit down and rest. Bruno sat and yawned as Jack scampered away. A few minutes later, he came back.
    "What you need is a book," said Jack. "Reading can help you become educated. Books are filled with knowledge." He handed Bruno a thick red book.
    Bruno moved to a bright, sunny spot. He put on his glasses and tried to concentrate on the story. He paid careful attention to the plot.
    The story was about a lion and a mouse. The lion thought the mouse was too small to help him. One day the lion got caught in a net. The mouse chewed the net's ropes and helped the lion escape.
    "Well, the lion in this story learned an important lesson," said Bruno. "I think I did too."
    The story inspired Bruno. The mouse had sharp teeth, and so did Jack. Jack could help.
    The new friends made a fine team. Jack chewed through the thick roots and Bruno dug out the dirt. They worked together all afternoon. Finally, Bruno could fit through the opening.
    "Are you satisfied and happy with your cozy new home?" asked Jack.
    "I sure am!" said Bruno. "And I learned something, too. Good friends come in small packages."

Talk about the story of the lion and the mouse. How did it help Bruno solve his problem?

Discuss how you and your friends help one another.

Why does Bruno need to find a new home?

How does Bruno make the cave's entrance bigger? Reread the story. Visualize what happens. Then answer the question.