ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Awnie's House ???? Kids Book Read Aloud: WE DON’T LOSE OUR CLASS GOLDFISH by Ryan T. Higgins
Hi there, my fun-loving reading friends! It’s Annie. I’m so happy you’re here to read with me. Are you ready for a story? Today, we’re going to read about Penelope Rex and her biggest fear. Let’s find out what happens in “We Don’t Lose Our Class Goldfish” by Ryan T. Higgins.
Penelope Rex was a big dinosaur, seven feet tall and covered in scales. But just like you and me, she was a kid with lots of feelings. Sometimes she felt happy, sometimes sad, and sometimes she felt scared. She was afraid of stepping on cracks because she thought it might hurt her mom’s back. She was also worried that her friend William might be right about dinosaurs being extinct. But her biggest fear was Walter, the class goldfish!
Walter was a goldfish who never blinked or talked. Once, he even bit Penelope’s finger! Whenever Penelope needed something from the classroom, it was always near Walter’s bowl. One day, Mrs. Noodleman said everyone would take turns bringing Walter home for the weekend. Penelope was worried. What if Walter tried to nibble her again?
Each weekend, one of Penelope’s classmates took Walter home. When it was Penelope’s turn, she was nervous. She couldn’t focus in school and even spilled her juice! When the weekend came, she tried to keep Walter busy so he wouldn’t bite her.
At bedtime, Penelope thought Walter might like to sleep in the kitchen. But in the morning, Walter was missing! Penelope looked everywhere, even in the neighbor’s fish pond, but Walter was gone. She realized she missed him and his funny, thoughtful eyes.
Then Penelope’s dad found an old banana lamp. “I was going to give it away, but I see you had other plans,” he said. Walter was safe and sound! Penelope was relieved and spent the rest of the weekend having fun with Walter.
Penelope was proud of herself for taking care of Walter. She even tried stepping on a crack, and her mom was just fine! Her parents were proud too. They said she was responsible enough to have her own pet. Every time Penelope faced a fear, she felt braver for the next one.
I hope you enjoyed our story today! Remember, facing your fears can make you stronger. See you next time for another fun story!
Goldfish Observation Journal: If you have a pet fish or know someone who does, spend some time observing it. Notice how it swims, what it eats, and how it behaves. Draw a picture of the fish and write down three things you noticed about it. Share your observations with your class or family. How is your fish similar to or different from Walter in the story?
Face Your Fears Role Play: Think about something that makes you feel a little scared, just like Penelope was afraid of Walter. With a friend or family member, act out a scene where you face your fear and find a way to feel brave. For example, if you’re afraid of the dark, pretend to explore a dark room with a flashlight. Talk about how you feel before and after facing your fear.
Create a Fear-Busting Superhero: Draw a superhero who helps kids face their fears. What special powers do they have? How do they help kids like Penelope feel brave? Give your superhero a name and share your drawing with your class. Discuss how your superhero could help Penelope with her fear of Walter.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello, my fun-loving reading friends! It’s Annie. I’m so glad you came to read with me. Are you ready for a story? In this book, Penelope Rex will face her biggest fear. Let’s find out what it is as we read “We Don’t Lose Our Class Goldfish” by Ryan T. Higgins.
Penelope Rex was seven feet tall and covered in scales. Other than that, she was just like every other kid. Just like other kids, Penelope had lots of feelings. Some things made her feel sad, some things made her feel happy, and some things made her feel afraid. For example, she was afraid of what might happen to her mother’s back if she stepped on a crack. She was afraid William Omoto might be right about dinosaurs being extinct. But Penelope’s biggest fear of all was Walter. Walter never blinked, Walter never talked—probably because he was a goldfish. One time, he bit Penelope’s finger.
No matter which classroom supply Penelope needed, it always seemed to be right next to Walter’s bowl. One afternoon, Mrs. Noodleman announced that we were all going to take turns bringing Walter home for the weekend. Mabel would go first. Penelope couldn’t take Walter home. What if he tried to nibble her again or turn her into dino nuggets while she was sleeping?
The weekend swam by, one by one her classmates took Walter home. Penelope couldn’t pay attention in school. She spilled her juice, accidentally chewed her pencil, and all she could think about was Walter. When the school day ended, there was no escaping her weekend with Walter. Penelope tried to do her usual things, but when that didn’t work, she tried to keep Walter distracted. Distracted goldfish are less bitey.
Then it was time for bed. What was that? Penelope decided Walter might enjoy sleeping in the kitchen. In the morning, Penelope bravely went to feed Walter his breakfast, but all she found was a broken banana lamp. At least it wasn’t Walter. Wait, Walter was missing! What would her classmates say? Walter was her responsibility, and she had to find him.
She looked high, she looked low, and she checked the neighbor’s fish pond. But none of them were Walter. Penelope had to face the facts: Walter was gone. Walter, with his thoughtful eyes and graceful fins, his teeth that he didn’t even use for biting all that often. Maybe Walter wasn’t so scary. Maybe Penelope even missed him.
Then Penelope noticed something. “Oh, there’s my old banana lamp,” said Daddy Rex. “I was going to bring it to the donation center, but I see you had other plans for it.” Walter said nothing; he was a goldfish. For the rest of the weekend, Penelope managed to have some fun taking care of Walter.
“Good morning, Walter!” She was proud of herself and ready to face some of her other fears too, especially the one about stepping on a crack. Penelope tried it, and her mom was fine. Penelope’s parents were proud too. “You did a great job taking care of Walter. We decided you were responsible enough to have a pet of your very own. Every time you face one of your fears, it gives you a little more confidence to face the next one.”
I hope you enjoyed our story today! See you next time!
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