ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Awnie's House ???? Kids Book Read Aloud: DO NOT WISH FOR A PET OSTRICH! by Sarina Siebenaler and Gabby Carreia
Hello, my reading friends! It’s Ani here, and I’m so happy you’re joining me to read a fun story. If you love reading with me, make sure to come back for more stories!
Have you ever wished for a pet? In today’s story, we meet a little girl who makes a wish on a shooting star for a very special pet. Let’s find out what happens in “Do Not Wish for a Pet Ostrich” by Serena Cybeneller, with pictures by Gabby Correa.
The girl’s parents said she could choose a pet, but it had to be one she wouldn’t regret. Her friend Sally picked a puppy, but now her shoes are all chewed up! Tom has a lazy cat that sleeps all day. Even her teacher’s parrot talks so much that she can’t get anything done!
Then, the girl had a big idea. “Eureka!” she shouted. “I’ll wish for an ostrich!” She wished on a shooting star, hoping for an ostrich just like the ones at the zoo.
When she woke up, there it was—a real ostrich! But what do ostriches eat? She tried popcorn, spaghetti, and even marshmallows. Finally, she gave him apples—78 of them!
Uh-oh! The apples got stuck. She called Dr. Wally Kazoo, who said to give the ostrich butter to help the apples go down. It worked! Burp!
Next, they went outside for some fun. The ostrich loved running, and soon they were off on an adventure. People wanted to take pictures with the ostrich, but he just wanted to run!
The girl thought a trip to the beach would be nice. But the ostrich just stuck his head in the sand! When he finally lifted his head, he ran off again.
The girl realized that an ostrich needs to be free. So, she wished on another shooting star for the ostrich to go back to the zoo.
The next morning, the ostrich was gone. The girl was happy because now she could plan her next adventure. Maybe she’ll wish for a unicorn next!
We don’t always get what we wish for, and sometimes that’s okay. I hope you enjoyed our story today. See you next time!
Pet Observation Journal: Choose a pet you know, like a dog, cat, or even a bird. Spend some time observing it. What does it eat? How does it play? Write or draw your observations in a journal. Think about what makes this pet special and how it might be different from having an ostrich as a pet.
Design Your Dream Pet: Imagine you could have any pet in the world, just like the girl in the story. Draw a picture of your dream pet and think about what it would need to be happy. What would it eat? Where would it sleep? Share your drawing with a friend or family member and explain why you chose this pet.
Wish Upon a Star: Just like the girl in the story, think about something you might wish for. It doesn’t have to be a pet; it could be anything you dream of. Write down your wish and why it’s important to you. Discuss with a classmate or family member what might happen if your wish came true and how it could change your day-to-day life.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello, my reading friends! It’s Ani. I’m so glad you came to read with me. If you want to read more stories with me, be sure to subscribe!
Have you ever wished for a pet? Well, in today’s book, we’ll meet a little girl who makes a wish on a shooting star for a very unusual pet. Let’s find out more about it as we read “Do Not Wish for a Pet Ostrich.”
*Do Not Wish for a Pet Ostrich*
Written by Serena Cybeneller
Illustrated by Gabby Correa
My parents once said I could pick out a pet, but it had to be one that I would never regret. One Sally picked wrong when she chose a cute pup; now she can’t find a shoe that has not been chewed up. And Tom has a cat that he says is too lazy, just snoozing all day and making everyone crazy. My teacher’s pet parrot seemed so fun at first, but it chatters so much that she gets nothing done.
Eureka! I shouted. I know what I’ll get! An ostrich would be the best pet I can get! I wished on a shooting star in the night, wishing for an ostrich with all of my might.
Oh star, shining star, make my wishes come true! Please send me a bird like the ones in the zoo. And please will you give him a long skinny neck, and also please give him a beak that will peck.
Then I went to sleep. When I woke up to check, it’s here! I cried out as it pecked at my neck. It looked at me blankly; my wish had come true. Now what will I do?
Breakfast, I pondered. Now what do you eat? Popcorn, spaghetti, marshmallows, meat? This appetite, as you’ve probably guessed, had me running to find more for him to digest. Apples, I cheered while collecting them all, then I carefully stacked them because he’s so tall.
I sat in my chair to observe and to wait as he scarfed down the apples—all seventy-eight. I called up the vet, Dr. Wally Kazoo. “The apples are stuck, doctor! What did I do?”
“Oh no,” Dr. Wally Kazoo said. “Go get him some butter, a big one-pound block. The apples will smoothly go down his long throat. This has worked for a monkey, a pig, and a goat.”
I shoved all the butter right into his beak, and the apples went down as they snuck in to peek. Burp! Hmm, what next? I know! An ostrich is active; we’ll get some fresh air. What a beautiful day! We can go anywhere. An ostrich might like a stroll at the zoo, or maybe instead some jogging will do.
So I put on his leash, and he ran out the door. Then behind him, I flew—boy, this pet is a chore! After our run, we both sat down to rest, but he quickly became my celebrity guest. The crowd just went wild for an ostrich to touch, and they gathered for pictures—oh, it was too much!
He started to run; he was ready to leave. So I started to beg, “Oh come on, will you please?” But he just wouldn’t listen. Although I was pleading, he carried on running until soon he was speeding. I chased him right past a giraffe and raccoon, and on past a hippo and then a baboon.
I finally caught him; I captured him quick, but I was exhausted—this ostrich was slick! “I know where to take you,” I said with a smile. “We’ll go to the beach, and we’ll stay for a while. I think you just need a nice calm place to play. We can go for a swim and build castles all day.”
But instead, he just planted his head in the sand. I couldn’t believe it; it’s not what I planned. I sat and I waited, and waited, and then he lifted his head and was running again.
That’s it! An ostrich, I thought, cannot run in a home. He must be in nature to romp and to roam. So I wished on a star shooting off in the night and wished that moment with all of my might.
Oh star, shining star, make my wishes come true! Please take my pet ostrich right back to the zoo. Please send him away with his long skinny neck; please send him right back with that beak that will peck.
The very next morning, I stretched with a yawn. My wish had come true; my pet ostrich was gone. As I dressed, I decided it’s all for the best because now I have time for my next special guest.
I’ll visit my friend at the big city zoo; I’ll bring him some apples, but only a few. Then I’ll wish on a star shooting off in the night; I’ll wish for a unicorn with all of my might.
We don’t always get what we wish for, do we? And sometimes maybe that’s a good thing. I hope you enjoyed our story today. See you next time!
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