Page 101 - Lavender-B-4

Let’s read a story about a little sparrow who did not listen to its mother.

Once upon a time, there lived a baby sparrow and his name was Poodik. He lived

on top of a bath-house window, just behind the surround, in a nice warm nest
made of twigs, bits of moss and other soft stuff. He had not yet tried to fly, but
already he was flapping his little wings and poking his head out of the nest. He

was very impatient to know what the outside world was like and whether it was
good enough for him.

‘Tweet, tweet—what are you up to?’ Mother Sparrow would ask him.

And Poodik would shake his wings and, peeping down at the ground would
chirrup back:

‘It’s ch-err-ibly dark down there! Ch-err-ibly dark!’

Then Father Sparrow would come home
with some insects for them to eat and

start boasting.

‘I’m the chief! I’m the chief!’

And Mother Sparrow would chirrup

approvingly: ‘Yes, chief! Yes, chief!’

But Poodik just swallowed the insects
and thought to himself: ‘They give you

a worm with legs on it and talk as if it
was a miracle!’

And he would keep putting his head out

of the nest and looking around. bath-house: a structure, at the seaside, containing
dressing rooms for bathers
‘Now, child! Now, child!’ his mother surround: a thing that forms a border round an

chirruped at him. ‘Mind you don’t fall object
twig: a small, thin branch of a tree or bush
out!’ Put an end to your tactics.’ moss: a small flowerless green plant that lacks
true roots
‘End it! How could I?’ Poodik poking: gently pushing something or someone
boasting: speaking proudly about oneself
chirruped back. approvingly: expressing or showing support,
agreement towards something or someone
‘It’ll be the end of you if there’s a cat about! miracle: a very lucky event that is surprising and
He’ll gobble you up!’ his father explained unexpected
tactics: plans used to achieve something,
as he set off on another hunt. especially in a competitive or challenging situation
gobble: to eat food too fast

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