Never Trust a Squirrel with Socks
Never Trust a Squirrel with Socks — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
Barnaby Buttercup skipped across the crimson dunes, his mismatched socks flapping in the wind. "Hurry up, Penelope!" he called to his companion, a small, blue badger struggling to keep pace. Penelope huffed, her tiny paws sinking into the ochre sand. "Must we always traipse through the Painted Desert right after breakfast, Barnaby?" she grumbled.
Page 2
Barnaby stopped abruptly, causing Penelope to bump into him. "Look, Penelope! A sign!" He pointed to a crooked wooden post sticking out of the sand, a tattered piece of parchment nailed to it. Penelope squinted at the sign. "It says, 'Beware the Sock-Snatching Squirrel!' And underneath, a tiny knapsack, filled with...socks?"
Page 3
"A Sock-Snatching Squirrel?" Penelope scoffed. "Sounds preposterous! I don't trust it, Barnaby." Barnaby pondered for a moment, stroking his chin. "Well," he declared, "as Leonardo da Vinci said, 'He who is not a good man himself cannot recognize goodness in others.' Maybe the squirrel isn't so bad. Let's find him!" Penelope sighed. "Oh, Barnaby, your optimism is going to get us into trouble, but alright, let's go."
Page 4
They followed a trail of scattered socks deeper into the desert.
Page 5
Inside the cave, it was cool and dark. "Hello?" Barnaby called out, his voice echoing. Suddenly, a small, furry creature darted from behind a rock, clutching a sock in its paws. It was a squirrel, but unlike any they had seen before—this one wore tiny spectacles and a miniature waistcoat. "Greetings!" the squirrel squeaked. "I am Professor Nutsy, purveyor of pulchritudinous pullovers... or, well, socks!"
Page 6
Page 7
Penelope tapped her foot impatiently. "So, you're a sock thief!" Professor Nutsy wrung his paws. "I prefer 'sock connoisseur!' But, alas, you are correct." Barnaby stepped forward. "What if," he said, "we could help you find socks in a more...ethical way? We could knit them for you! Penelope is a brilliant knitter!" Penelope gasped. "Barnaby!"
Page 8
Professor Nutsy's eyes widened. "Knit socks? For me?" Penelope sighed and pulled some yarn from her backpack. "Very well," she grumbled. She quickly knitted a tiny blue sock. Professor Nutsy, overcome with joy, exclaimed, "Eureka! These socks are simply divine! You are a genius Penelope." He handed her a tiny book: "In exchange for these lovely socks, I give you the complete history of the Painted Desert. You two will discover how this region was made, by one of the most unique characters in history!"
Page 9
Barnaby took the book eagerly. "The history of the Painted Desert! Amazing!" Penelope smiled. "Perhaps sock-knitting for a squirrel isn't so bad after all," she admitted. Professor Nutsy, wearing his new sock as a tiny hat, declared, "From this day forth, I shall be known as Nutsy the Ethical Sock Connoisseur! And I will only wear socks which are given to me."
Page 10
As the sun set over the Painted Desert, casting long shadows across the dunes, Barnaby, Penelope, and Professor Nutsy walked towards the horizon. "Well, that was an adventure!" Barnaby exclaimed. Penelope nodded. "Indeed. And I learned a valuable lesson: never underestimate the power of a good pair of socks, or the power of a good friend."
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)