The Best Summer Ever by Eve Bunting, Josée Masse Page A

happen.
    â€œI like change,” Chameleon said. He ran to a yellow bush and changed from green to yellow. “See? May I come?”
    â€œCertainly. That will be nice,” Frog said.
    Possum’s babies jumped up and down. “We want to go! We want to go! May we, Frog? May we?”

    â€œCertainly,” Frog said. “That will be nice.”

    Little Jumping Mouse said, “I do not want to stay by myself.”
    â€œThen come with us,” Raccoon said. “Will that be all right, Frog?”
    Frog did not want to be rude. “That will be nice,” he said.
    â€œWe must tell Rabbit goodbye,” Raccoon said. “She will be sad that she cannot come. She cannot leave her new babies.”
    Frog sighed. “We do not want her to be sad. She can come. We can bring her babies. We can each carry one. Or two.”
    â€œYea! Yea!” The little possums clapped their little paws.
    They went to Rabbit’s rabbit hole and called in.
    â€œI think a vacation will be good for me,” Rabbit said. “My babies will like it, too.”

    So Squirrel led the way. They carried the babies. Jumping Mouse could not carry any. The babies were bigger than she was.
    They walked and hopped and ran and swung through the trees.

    â€œHere is the place,” Squirrel said.
    It was lovely. There was grass to eat, and worms, and spiders and flies, and berries, two kinds. There was something for everyone.
    The baby rabbits slept. Everyone wanted to bunny-sit.

    Rabbit slept, too, on the napping rock. “I have been getting no sleep because of the bunnies,” she said.
    When it began to get dark Frog said, “I think it is time to go home now.”
    â€œIt was such a nice change,” Chameleon said.
    â€œFun!” Possum agreed. “Fun is what vacations are for.”
    Frog nodded. “You are right.”
    Raccoon tied Frog’s scarf in a bow. “Let us come again next year.”
    â€œYes,” Frog said. “It was the best vacation ever. Thank you all for coming with me.”
    â€œYou are welcome,” they said.

    Frog felt all pepped up. A vacation was all he had needed.
    Now he could go home and be alone and have thinking time.
    Happy on his very own napping rock.

Frog and Starman

    Frog sat on his rock.
    It was nighttime and cold but he was wearing his blue scarf. Raccoon had stopped by earlier to tie it on for him. He always needed help to tie his scarf.
    He didn’t see the man till he spoke.
    â€œHello, Frog,” the man said. “Lovely night. The stars are so bright.”
    â€œYes indeed,” Frog said.

    The man wore a long black coat and a black cape. He sat on the ground next to Frog.
    â€œI am Starman,” he said. “I give away stars.”
    â€œDo you mean sky stars?” Frog asked.
    â€œOh yes. The ones up above you. Which one would you like?”

    â€œBut...” Frog gazed up at the sky. “How can you pull down a star and give it to me?”
    â€œI cannot,” Starman said. “But I can give it to you and you can leave it up there.”
    â€œI do not understand,” Frog said.
    Starman looked around. “Is this your pond?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBut you leave it where it is, right?”
    â€œYes,” Frog said.
    â€œIs this your rock that you are sitting on?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBut it has been here for years and years and years. Even before you were a tadpole.”
    â€œThat is true,” Frog said.

    â€œSo which star do you want?”
    Frog gazed at the sky. “I like that bright one. May I have that?”
    â€œCertainly,” Starman said.
    Frog gazed for a long time at his star.
    â€œIt will always be there,” Starman said. “Even in daytime, when you cannot see it, it will be there.”
    â€œWill you give my friends stars?” Frog asked.
    â€œYes.”

    Frog gathered his friends. They were all there, except Rabbit who had