V1. Wei’s Happy, Sad Day
Little Listeners (Ages 3-6)
Before You Read 🧐
- What does it mean to be “lucky”? Can you think of a time you felt lucky?
- The title talks about a “happy, sad day.” How can a day be both happy and sad?
Once there was a kind farmer named Wei. She had a beautiful horse she loved very much. 🐴
One day, the horse ran away! “Oh no!” said her neighbors. “That’s so sad!” Farmer Wei just smiled and said, “We’ll see.”
[Pause and Wonder… During Your Reading] 🤔 How do you think Farmer Wei feels? Is she sad like her neighbors, or does she know a secret?
The next day, her horse came back! And it brought a new, wild horse with it. “Hooray!” said her neighbors. “That’s so happy!” Farmer Wei just smiled and said, “We’ll see.”
The next day, Wei’s daughter, Lian, tried to ride the new horse. She slipped and fell, getting a big booboo on her knee. Ouch! 🩹 “Oh no!” said her neighbors. “That’s so sad!” Farmer Wei gave her daughter a big hug and said, “We’ll see.”
[Pause and Wonder… During Your Reading] 🤔 Lian got a booboo. Do you think this is bad luck? What do you think might happen next?
The very next day, the Queen’s messengers came. They needed all the children to help with a big, tiring job in the castle gardens. But since Lian had a booboo on her knee, she got to stay home and rest with her mom. “Wow!” said her neighbors. “That’s so happy!”
Farmer Wei smiled, cuddling with Lian. She knew that what looks sad can sometimes turn out to be happy, and what looks happy can sometimes turn out to be sad. You just have to wait and see!
After You Read 🤗
- What did Farmer Wei say every time something happened?
- Why did Lian get to stay home from the big job?
- What is the big lesson of this story? Is it better to worry right away or wait and see?
