The Great Underpants Gnome Escape
The Great Underpants Gnome Escape — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
"Quick, Barnaby, before Mrs. Higgins sees us!" Penelope whispered, tugging her best friend behind a giant oak. Barnaby, cheeks flushed and spectacles askew, puffed, "Are you certain this is a good idea, Penelope? Underpants gnomes are quite...unpredictable." Suddenly, a small giggle echoed from behind the tree, followed by a rustling sound.
Page 2
Peeking around the trunk, Penelope gasped. There, nestled amongst the roots, sat a tiny gnome, no bigger than her thumb, meticulously sewing a pair of underpants with shimmering thread. "He's real!" she exclaimed, eyes wide. Barnaby, adjusting his spectacles, cautiously approached. "Observe the peculiar stitch pattern," he murmured, leaning in. "According to 'Gnomes and Their Garments,' a remarkably obscure text my grandfather cherished, this indicates a fondness for... polka dots!"
Page 3
"Polka dots? That's absurd!" Penelope giggled. "We have to help him! He looks terribly overworked." Barnaby hesitated. "But what can we possibly do? As Leonardo da Vinci wisely said, 'Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer.' Perhaps we could offer him a vacation?" A mischievous glint appeared in Penelope's eyes. "Operation Gnome Liberation is a go!"
Page 4
Their first attempt involved a miniature hammock strung between two toadstools. "Relax, little gnome!" Penelope chirped, but the gnome merely glared and snipped his thread harder. Barnaby offered him a tiny cup of dandelion tea. The gnome recoiled, splattering the tea with a flick of his wrist. "Perhaps," Barnaby mused, wiping his spectacles, "we need a more... persuasive approach."
Page 5
Suddenly, Penelope noticed a small, discarded flyer stuck to a nearby mushroom. "Look!" she cried. "'The Great Underpants Gnome Escape Competition!' It's tonight!" Barnaby squinted. "Apparently, Mrs. Higgins captures underpants gnomes and forces them to sew elaborate garments for her prize-winning petunias!" Penelope gasped. "We have to enter him in the competition so he can win his freedom!"
Page 6
Entering the competition proved more difficult than anticipated. Mrs. Higgins' garden was surrounded by a moat filled with... jelly! "Jelly?" Penelope exclaimed in dismay. "How are we supposed to get across that?" Barnaby, ever resourceful, rummaged in his bag. "Aha! My emergency marmalade sandwiches! Perhaps a sticky bridge is just what we need!"
Page 7
Working together, they carefully laid the marmalade sandwiches across the jelly moat, creating a sticky, precarious bridge. "Careful now," Barnaby cautioned, as Penelope took her first step. Just as they reached the other side, the gnome they were trying to help emerged from Penelope's pocket. He leapt from the last sandwich. "Now to win this thing!" he shouted as he marched off toward the sewing machines set up for the competition.
Page 8
The competition was fierce! Other gnomes sewed furiously, creating extravagant underpants. But their gnome, remembering Barnaby's advice, took a deep breath and began to relax. He recalled the polka-dot fabric he was working on. He sewed on each dot carefully. The gnome began winning the crowd over, and it was clear he was going to win. That's when Penelope shouted, "You got this, small friend! Believe in your underpants!"
Page 9
The judges were stunned. The gnome's polka-dot underpants, although simple, were impeccably stitched and bursting with... joy! Mrs. Higgins, defeated, released all the gnomes. The liberated gnome turned to Penelope and Barnaby. "Thank you," he squeaked. "I finally know what I want to do with my life. I'm going to open a polka-dot underpants boutique!"
Page 10
"A polka-dot underpants boutique?" Penelope laughed. "That's brilliant!" Barnaby smiled. "Indeed. And remember, Penelope, as Mark Twain said, 'Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.'" The three friends walked off into the sunset, ready for their next adventure. The garden was filled with polka-dot underpants.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
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