Moosling the Babysitter

Moosling liked baby animals, and baby animals loved Moosling.

He let them climb up his legs.

He let them ride on his back.

He let them hang on his antlers.

He never got mad.

He never shouted.

He made sure the little ones did not get hurt.

Mothers and fathers asked Moosling to babysit all the time.

One day, Skunk asked Moosling to watch the little skunks.

Moosling said yes.

He liked the baby skunks.

They never ran away or climbed too high

or fell in the pond.

One day, Skunk asked Moosling to watch the little skunks.

Moosling said yes.

He liked the baby skunks.

They never ran away or climbed too high or fell in the pond.

“You have to be careful,” said Skunk.

“Don’t make them mad, and don’t scare them.

You know why, don’t you?”

Moosling did know why.

Skunks — even little skunks — can make a very, very BAD smell when they are upset.

“I will not make them mad, and I would never scare them,” said Moosling.

Then he and the little skunks began to play.

Skunk went off down the road.

But he did not get far.

“Oh, no!” he said.

“I forgot to tell Moosling one very important thing.”

He ran back.

“Moosling! Moosling!” he called.

“I forgot to tell you something!”

“Don’t sing!” said Skunk.

But it was too late.

Moosling smelled very bad for a long time.

But the baby animals didn’t mind.

They loved him too much to stay away.

The Hug

Little Pins wanted a hug.

“A hug will feel good,” she said.

“Will you hug me, Mouse?”

“I wish I could,” said Mouse.

“But it will hurt to hug you.”

“I want a hug,” Pins said.

“Will you hug me, Hoot?”

“I wish I could,” said Hoot.

“But it will hurt to hug you.”

“I wish I could get a hug!” said Pins.

“Will you hug me, Skunk?”

“I can’t!” said Skunk.

“Do you want to shake hands?”

“Come here, Pins,” said Hoot.

“You can play my drum.”

“That will make you happy,” said Mouse.

Little Pins played the drum.

“That was fun,” she said.

But she still wanted a hug.

“Moosling! Moosling!” Pins said.

“Will you give me a hug?”

“Yes, I will!” said Moosling.

Moosling went to Rabbit.

He got Rabbit to take off his jacket.

“Come here, Pins,” said Moosling.

“Put on this jacket.”

Then Moosling gave little Pins a big, big hug.

And so did all her friends!