He found Mrs. Baker but she was helping someone else. He went straight to the shelf

Transcription

1 MAGICAL BOOK SHELF Chapter 1 Daniel Brandon bounded up the steps to the library two at a time. Third grade was finally over. It was going to be a long, hot summer and reading some good, new books was just what he needed. He hoped Mrs. Baker could help him find some. She was the best children s librarian in the world. The cool air in the library brushed his face. He walked quickly around the corner to the children s area. The overstuffed chairs, where he had spent many hours, looked inviting. Today, however, he wanted to take a book home. He found Mrs. Baker but she was helping someone else. He went straight to the shelf where they put the new books to look for something on dinosaurs he hadn t already seen, or drawing, or joke books. There were some of the same ones that had been on the new shelf when he was looking for information for school. He checked the shelf again to make sure he hadn t missed anything. Mrs. Baker was still busy. Daniel circled around the shelves while he waited for her to finish. Maybe she had been reading something that she would give to him. She did that often saved books for him that she knew he would enjoy. That s why he liked her so much. Oh, hello, Daniel, she said, spotting him. I ll be with you in a few minutes. I m afraid we don t have anything new right now, but I m sure we can find you something.

2 That s okay, Mrs. Baker. I ll just keep looking around. Daniel ran his finger along the thick books on the shelves, but none of them looked very exciting. Then he turned the corner at the back of the room and noticed a shelf by itself mounted on the wall. I ve never noticed that before. Daniel squinted at it. They must have put it up for the summer. It was a single shelf with a row of ten books, numbered on the spine, all the same size and color. The brackets holding the shelf had heads of elephants on them. Above the books was a sign which read: Adventure Stories for Brave Children. Read Only at Your Own Risk and Never Just Before Bed. Begin Only With Book 1. Be Careful. May Be Dangerous. I ve never seen books with so many rules, he muttered. And how could a book be dangerous? A book could only hurt you if someone hit you over the head with it. He smiled as he pictured it in his mind. What a silly idea. Since he considered himself brave, he grabbed book number one. The title was in gold letters on the front cover: March of the Fleas. It certainly was a strange title for such a fancy-looking book. This looks like it might be interesting. Daniel walked around a few aisles until he found Mrs. Baker. He waved the book at her and smiled. She smiled back, still busy with the same person. Maybe when he came back, she would find him some new books on his favorite subjects. Hello, the woman behind the checkout desk said. Did you see our poster? She pointed to the wall behind her. The circus is coming to town.

3 Daniel looked up and saw a giant poster of a lion jumping through a burning hoop. It also showed elephants with ladies on their backs and plumed horses prancing in circles. A circus? I ve never seen a real circus. Yes, it will be here in a couple of weeks. It should be very exciting. I can t remember the last time we had a real circus in town, she said. I hope I can go, Daniel said. She pointed to the book in his hand. Did you want to check that out? Yes. I found it on a new shelf against the back wall. A new shelf? she asked. I don t remember a new shelf against the back wall. It doesn t have very many books on it yet, Daniel said. I ll have to go back and look at it when I have a chance. She held the book under the scanner and printed a checkout slip. This book is due back in two weeks. Enjoy it. I will. Thanks. Daniel tucked the book under his arm and left. When he got home, Rusty, his dog, greeted him at the door with his tail wagging. Daniel patted his head. There s going to be a circus in town. I hope I can go to it. Rusty jumped up and licked his face. You can t go, though, because they probably don t allow dogs there. Daniel settled down on the couch with the book in his hand. The dog curled up next to him. I m going to read a book that you have to be brave to check out. Daniel scratched Rusty s ears. I don t know why the sign said that, but it did.

4 Rusty leaned into the scratching and stretched out his neck. After a few moments, Daniel pulled his hand away and opened the book. Rusty rested his head on his paws. This sure is a fancy book, Rusty. Just look at the gold letters on the front and the gold pages. Only on the edges, though. The inside is regular. Daniel turned to the title page: March of the Fleas. I didn t know fleas marched, but I guess anyone can march if there are a lot of them and they are all going in the same direction. He turned to the first chapter. It was a fairly short story so it wouldn t take long to read. It was about a village that was almost overcome by a million fleas that were passing through. Imagine, Rusty, a million fleas! It s a good thing that we don t have a million fleas. Daniel patted Rusty s head but Rusty barely moved. Daniel read a little further. He felt a little pinch on his ankle and looked to see a black speck on his skin. It jumped away when he reached for it. We are going to have to give you a bath again, Rusty. Your fleas are starting to come back. Rusty lifted his head, stretched, and lazily scratched behind one ear. Daniel continued reading. In the story, the villagers plotted to get rid of the fleas. They tried everything they could. They sprayed flea spray over the entire village but then they could hardly breathe. They spent all day searching for the fleas and squashing them but that took much too long.

5 This is a good story, but I don t see why I had to be brave to read it. Daniel scratched his ankle again. This book makes me itch, as if I really had fleas on me. activity. Rusty sat up and started frantically chewing his back. Daniel tried to read during all this In the book, the villagers were finally saved when a giant cat arrived in town, sang a song Come Flea With Me, and then left, carrying all the fleas away with him. By the end of the story, both Daniel and Rusty were scratching like crazy. Mom! Daniel yelled. What is it, Daniel? Rusty needs a bath right now. He s covered with fleas! Daniel s mother appeared in the doorway. He d better not have fleas again. I just bathed him a few days ago. Hold still, Rusty. Daniel closed the book to watch. Rusty stopped chewing. Both Rusty and Daniel sat perfectly still while they waited. Daniel s mother separated Rusty s fur in several places and looked at the skin. I don t see any fleas, his mother said. Maybe it s just your imagination. But, Mom, Daniel complained. I m sure I felt fleas. Or at least one flea. Why don t the two of you run outside and get some fresh air? Let me know if you see more later. She went back to the kitchen.

6 play. Since Daniel had finished the story, he placed the book on a table and went outside to

7 Pdf Entry Information Exhibitor Name: Kathy Boyd WEN: 2FAB54 Division: FA Children's Novel Chapte Class: 01 Children's Novel Chapter or Sho Title: Magical Book Shelf Description: Notes: