Max冬冬

If you give a mouse a cupcake, he'll ask for some sprinkles to go with it.
When you give him the sprinkles, he might spill some on the floor.
Cleaning up will make him hot, so you'll give him a bathing suit and take him to the beach.
He'll want to go in the water.
Then he'll look for seashells.
He'll find a few other things as well.
He'll put them in his pail and try to pick it up, but it'll be too heavy.
He'll decide he needs to work out at the gym.
First he'll warm up on the treadmill.
Then he'll lift a weight or two.
He might even try a karate class.
After the gym, he'll want to go to the park.
When you get there, he'll see the rocks.
He'll climb as high as he can.
At the top, he'll see the lake.
He'll want you to take him rowing.
He'll be the captain, and you'll have to row.
Then he'll notice the merry-go-round and want to go for a ride.
He'll want you to go for a ride, too.
You'll choose the horse with the purple mane, and he'll get on the whale.
The whale will remind him of the science museum.
He'll ask you to take him there.
First he'll find the dinosaurs.
Then he'll visit the Hall of Apes.
When the museum closes, you'll be the last to leave.
On the way home, you'll pass by the beach.
You'll help him gather all of his things.
Then he'll want to race you.
When you get home, he'll empty the sand from his shoes.
He might spill some on the floor.
Seeing the sand on the floor will remind him of the sprinkles.
He'll probably ask you for some.
And chances are, if you give him some sprinkles, he'll want a cupcake to go with them.

Every day Ho looked after a rich famer's cattle. He took hay to the field.
The farmer did not pay him much. Ho had only dry bread to eat.
One day a very thin, old man came up the lane. He looked hungry. Ho gave his bread to the man.
"Thank you," said the man. He gave Ho a gift. It was a golden paintbrush.
Ho made paints from plants, berries and mud.
"What shall I paint?" thought Ho. He began to paint some hay. The hay became real!
The sun was hot. The stream was dry. So Ho painted a blue stream.
The stream became real! Now the animals and the people had water to drink.
The rich farmer had lots of food to eat. But the children and workers were hungry.
Ho painted lots of food. It became real!
Ho painted lots of things for people. They all became real.
He painted... a wheel...a bucket ... and some clothes.
The rich farmer wanted the magic paintbrush. He put Ho in jail and took the brush.
The farmer was greedy. He painted gold. But the gold did not become real.
"Oi, you! The paintbrush does not work for me. Paint me a mountain of gold!" ordered the farmer.
Ho painted the mountain of gold. He painted a blue sea all around it. The gold and the sea became real.
The farmer was angry. "I cannot swim. Why did you paint the sea!" he shouted.
"I will paint a ship for you," said Ho. The ship became real.
The farmer set off in the ship.
"When I get back, you will paint everything I want. The world will be mine!" he laughed.
But Ho painted a gale. The gale became real. It took the farmer, far, far away.
Ho returned to the farm. He painted things for those who were kind and good to others.
The rich farmer was never seen again.

I'm a cowboy and I round up cows. I can lasso anything.
Dad says...
"It's time for the cowboy to come inside and get ready for bed."
I'm a general and I have to stop the enemy army with my tank.
Dad says...
"It's time for the general to take a bath."
I'm a space cadet and I zoom to the moon.
I capture a robot with my ray gun.
Dad says...
"This giant robot has captured the space cadet and is going to put him in the bathtub right now."
I'm a sea monster attacking a ship.
Dad says, "It's time for the sea monster to have a snack."
I'm a zookeeper feeding my hungry animals.
Dad says...
"Feeding time is over. Here are the zookeeper's pajamas."
I'm Super Critter flying over the city.
I'm a train engineer being chased by bandits.
Dad says, "The bandit chief has caught you so put on your pajamas."
But I'm a race car driver and I just speed away.
Dad says, "The race is over. Now put on these pajamas and go to bed."
I'm a bunny hopping around my garden.
Dad says...
"Just go to bed!"
"But I'm a bunny and bunnies don't sleep in a bed."
Mom says, "Shhh!"
Dad says, "Go to sleep."
Well, maybe a tired bunny could sleep in a bed...
just this once.

Pucca was a little penguin boy. He liked to do the same things that all little penguin boys like to do.
But most of all, he liked to spend time in his father's cup store. He just loved watching his father making his special cups -- in so many different colors.
But practically everyone in town already owned one of these handmade cups. So business wasn't very good.
Pucca's father knew he had to do something. So he packed up his cups and left to sell them in the next village. He said goodbye to his son. "Wish me luck, Pucca," he said as he left.
Pucca had to stay home.
But maybe, he thought, if he could help, his father could stay home, too.
So he started to play with the special clay his father used to make the cups.
He tried and he tried. But he only really enjoyed making figures that looked like his favorite things.
He even made some that looked like his friends.
Then Pucca had an idea. He decided to turn Ms. Parrot's figure into a cup.
She was taking care of Pucca while his father was away.
And when she saw the cup, Ms. Parrot was thrilled.
"What a beautiful cup!" she exclaimed. "It looks just like me. I must have it."
Pucca was excited that someone wanted to buy his very first cup, so she gave it to her.
Parrots love to talk, and Ms. Parrot was no exception.
She showed that cup to everyone!
And she told them how talented Pucca was.
Soon everyone was at the cup shop, wanting Pucca to make cups for them, too.
They all wanted a cup as special as they were.
Pucca got right to work.
He was so busy working on the cups, he didn't realize that his father had returned home.
"Dad! You've come home just in time," said Pucca, greeting his father.
"It's wonderful! We have so many orders for special cups -- you won't ever have to leave home again."
Pucca's father hugged him tightly. "I'm so proud of you. Thank you, Pucca."
And so together they made cups for all of Pucca's friends.
Soon, more and more customers started coming.
In no time at all they had customers coming from all over the world.
They all wanted a special cup of their very own.
Pucca and his father made a cup for everyone.
Look at all the special cups.
Is there one just right for you?

Today Mom took Little Sister and me to the toy store.
I wanted to buy this cool scooter called the Super Streak, but my piggy bank didn't have enough money.
"Why don't you pick something else," said Mom.
But I only wanted the Super Streak. It was so unfair.
Little Sister asked if I wanted to play tea party with her new tea set.
But I told her to leave me alone, because I was still so mad.
Mom said she didn't know why I was mad, because I have lots of other toys.
"There will always be things you want but don't have, Little Critter," she said.
"What's important is appreciating what you do have, like a family that loves you."
On our way home, we saw a boy moving into the biggest house in our whole neighborhood.
And guess what he was riding?
The Super Streak! He had the most toys I'd ever seen in my whole life.
I wish I had so many toys.
The new boy didn't take the bus to school like my friends and me.
He got driven in a limousine.
He told us his name was Holden Harrison III, but that we could call him H.H.
Then he showed us his cell phone.
He's the only kid in school with his very own phone and a name that's just two letters.
"Wow, H.H.!" I said. "You are so lucky."
H.H. invited my friends and me to come to his house for a sleepover.
We went swimming in his gigantic pool...
and we watched a movie on his great big TV.
We made a mess with the popcorn and the candy and the sodas, but the maid said it was okay.
She cleaned everything up.
And in the morning there was this big breakfast just for us.
"Wow, H.H.!" I said. "You are so lucky!
You get the prize in every cereal box since you don't have to share with anybody."
On the way home, I told Mom about all the fun stuff we did at H.H.'s house.
"Why don't you invite H.H. to our house, " Mom asked.
"But he might get bored, since we don't have so much cool stuff to play with," I said.
Mom just smiled and told me to invite him anyway.
When H.H. came over ,we played football.
The dog chewed up one of his new sneakers and got mud all over him, but he didn't care.
He said he had always wanted a dog.
I told Little Sister not to bug us, but H.H. said it was okay.
He even played tea party with her and Kitty.
And he let her win at checkers, tooo.
When it was time for dinner, he helped me set the table even though it was my chore.
And then he helped Dad barbecue the hamburgers.
H.H. said he never gets to help with dinner at his house.
He didn't even mind when Gramma and Grandpa asked him tons of questions
and when Grandma patted him on the head.
He said he never sees his grandparents because they live so far away.
When it was time for H.H. to go, our whole family went outside to say goodbye.
"You're so lucky, Little Critter," H.H. said.
I wondered what he meant, but then I looked around at my family, and all of a sudden I knew.
Maybe I didn't have a Super Streak or a big, fancy house and a maid to pick up my stuff.
But what I did have was the best family in the whole world.
"Thank you, everybody!" I yelled. Then I gave them all a great big hug!

I asked Mom if I could have a friend over, 'cause I just don't want to play alone.
There are so many things we can do--just my friend and me.
First we climb the apple tree.
I could climb higher if I really wanted to.
Then we play in my tree house.
My friend says only babies use a ladder.
Next we play hide-and-seek.
I hide so well that my friend won't ever find me.
We like to play with my racing cars.
They don't work very well in the water, though.
We like to play basketball, too.
I could get the ball if I really tried.
Next we play with my new baseball and my Louiville Slugger bat.
My friend likes to hit the ball, but he doesn't like to chase it.
Then we have a jump rope contest.
My friend jumps a hundred times.
I could do that...
but sometimes I like to let my friend win.
We swing on my swing set, too.
Next time we'll swing on seperate swings.
We take turns playing daredevil on my new bike.
My friend tries to stand on the seat.
It's only bent a little. I bet Dad can fix it when he gets home.
My mom takes care of our cuts and bruises.
My friend cries a lot. I only cry a little.
After we finish playing, we pick up my toys and put them away.
My friend says he'll put away the comic books.
When my friend's mom comes to pick him up, we say good-bye.
We always have fun when it's just my friend and me...
but sometimes it's great just to be all alone.

It snowed and snowed all night long, so today we had a snow day. Hooray!
I wanted to build a snowman. I put on my snow boots and my hat and my mittens and my scarf.
Then, I helped Little Sister put on her snow stuff.
After that, Dad needed my help. We shoveled and shoveled lots of snow...
... and then we had to find the car.
I was going to build a snowman next, but Little Sister wanted to have a snowball fight.
I let her hit me a bunch of times.
I only hit her one time by accident.
So then, I had to say I was sorry and give her a big hug.
I was going to build a snowman after that, but Tiger and Bun Bun wanted to go ice-skating.
So, I showed everyone how I can skate backwards...
... and do jumps.
Then Tiger and I raced. It was a tie.
I was ready to build a snowman next, but Maurice and Molly wanted to go sledding.
I steered all the way down the big hill.
Watch out, Maurice and Molly, here we come!
When Little Sister and I got home, I was going to build a snowman.
But Gator wanted me to help him build a snow fort.
And then Gabby wanted to make snow angels.
Finally! It was time to build a snowman.
First, we made a big snowball for the bottom.
Next, we put a smaller one on top...
... and an even smaller one on top of that one.
Little Sister added prunes for his eyes and mouth, and a carrot for his nose.
And I put Mom's scarf around his neck and Dad's hat on his head.
I even let him wear my sunglasses.
Our snowman sure looked great!
Little Sister was getting cold so we went inside.
The snowman looked cold, too, so I decided to make some of my special hot chocolate to warm us all up.
First, Mom heated some milk while I got out the secret ingredients.
I put everything into the pot and stirred it all up with a big spoon.
Then I put marshmallows on top and I poured the hot chocolate into three big mugs
--one for me, one for Little Sister...
... and one for the snowman.
It was the best snow day ever.
I sure hope it snows again tomorrow!

On Christmas Eve, does a dinosaur sleep?

Does he go up to bed without making a peep?

Or does he sneak out, just to check what's to see?

Does he rip open presents set under the tree?

Does he pick off some ornaments, angels and all?

Does he shake up the tree so the rest of them fall?

Does he eat all the cookies left out for Saint Nick,

giving each candy cane one sloppy lick?

Does he up-end the stockings right onto the floor?

Does he pick out the best gifts so he will have more?

No... a dinosaur doesn't.

He carols with care.

He helps trim the tree so no branches are bare.

He eats all his dinner, then clears away dishes,

and gives his grandparents big Christmas Eve wishes.

When Santa arrives, he's tucked in.

Hear him snore.

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, you good dinosaur!

Every Christmas, Little Sister and I write our letters to Santa.

Then we mail them all the way to the North Pole.

We go sledding at Grandma and Grandpa's farm. I pull the sled up, up, up...

...then we go down faster and faster and faster!

We all decorate the house for Christmas.

Mom and Little Sister hang the wreath.

I help Dad string the lights around and aound the Christmas tree.

"Don't worry, Dad, I'll untangle you."

Dad and I go Christmas shopping.

I find the perfect gift for Mom.

"Won't mom love this, Dad?"

We sing Christmas carols around the neighborhood.

Yum! Yum! "Thanks for the eggnog!"

On Christmas eve, I go to bed, but I can't sleep.

Suddenly, I hear a sound on the roof.

I run to the window.

On Christmas morning, we open all of our gifts.

Finally, there is just one gift left under the tree.

It is the biggest gift of all.

It says, MERRY CHRISTMAS, LITTLE CRITTER! LOVE, SANTA

"Wow! Thank you, Santa!"

Grandma and Grandpa come over for Christmas dinner.

"Merry Christmas, everyone!" I say.

"Merry Christmas, Little Critter!"