Paloma the Picky Pangolin and the Purple Picnic: A Story About New Things
Paloma the Pangolin was a creature of habit. Every morning, she’d wake up, munch on exactly ten termites (no more, no less!) and burrow into her cozy
hole. She loved her routine, and anything new made her curl up tighter than a spring roll.
One sunny afternoon, Paloma peeked out of her hole and saw a sight that made her scales shiver. A group of animals, all different shapes and sizes, were setting up a picnic under a giant mango tree. There were chattering monkeys with baskets full of colorful fruits, a wise old owl with a steaming pot of something bubbly, and even a playful porcupine balancing a tower of juicy berries. ‘‘What’s going on?’’ Paloma asked her friend Bella the Butterfly, who was fluttering by.
‘‘It’s Purple Picnic!’’ chirped Bella. ‘‘One of the animals organized it so everyone could share new foods and stories. It’s a great way to make new friends!’’
Paloma’s nose twitched. New foods? New friends? The thought made her feel nervous. She only ever ate termites – safe, familiar termites, and Bella was the only friend she had.
Bella noticed the hesitation in her friend. ‘‘Why don’t we join them? It’s always more fun with friends!’’
Paloma hesitated. Stepping out of her comfort zone felt like climbing Mount Everest without any legs! But Bella’s smile was so inviting as she kept insisting, so Paloma decided to take a chance and have a look around with her good old friend.
Slowly, she unfurled herself from her hole and approached the picnic. The colorful fruits, piled high in a basket, looked strange and a bit scary. The bubbly liquid in the owl’s pot smelled funny. Even the berries, stacked precariously by the porcupine, seemed a bit too adventurous for Paloma’s
liking.
Just then, her schoolmate, a monkey named Max, offered her a slice of a bright purple fruit she’d never seen before. ‘‘Hi, Paloma! Good to see you here! This is a starfruit,’’ Max chirped. ‘‘It tastes like sunshine! Try some!’’
Paloma took a tiny bite. To her surprise, it wasn’t bad at all! The starfruit was sweet and juicy, bursting with flavor.
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Can you think of a time you did something new, like taking a swim, going to a new school, or trying out a new food or activity? Did you like
it? What made it scary or exciting? (This question helps readers identify their own experiences with stepping out of their comfort zone and opens a
conversation about overcoming initial fear.)