Evie and the Rainy Day

Sample story

Evie presses her little nose against the window. Outside, the rain has stopped, and the garden is sparkling. Every leaf holds a tiny silver droplet, and the grass looks greener than ever before. "Outside!" Evie says, bouncing on her toes. She wiggles into her bright red rain boots — left foot first, then right — and pushes through the back door into the cool morning air. The world smells fresh, like wet earth and flowers waking up. Evie spots the biggest puddle she has ever seen. It sits right in the middle of the garden path, shimmering like a mirror. She takes one careful step closer. Then another. Her boot touches the edge, and the water ripples outward in tiny circles. She jumps. SPLASH! Muddy water flies everywhere — on her boots, on her coat, on the tip of her nose. Evie laughs so hard her belly shakes. She jumps again, harder this time, and the puddle erupts around her like a fountain. A little robin lands on the fence nearby, tilting its head, watching. Evie freezes. She whispers, "Hello, bird." The robin hops closer and...