Happy Flannel Friday!

I’m on a flannel roll… Here’s a flannel board version of Ouch by Ragnhild Scamell

Out of respect for the author, I am not going to write them full text. I took liberties with the story based on what I could actually make with my very limited artistic skills (I’m a little embarrassed by my wonky acorns). I plan to always have the book on hand when I use the flannel so that patrons can check it out if they like the story.  Anyway, here it goes:

Poor little Hedgehog has been working his little quills to the nub to build his little dream nest.

It’s perfect, don’t you think? Lovely colors, and the perfect size for this prickly little hero.

Now that he is finally done he is ready for a nap. He takes one more moment to admire his handiwork, when suddenly…. “OUCH!” An apple falls from a tree, and hits Hedgehog right on his head. Noone likes a knock on the noggin, but for a hedgehogs it’s even worse!

“Why is that?” you say. Well, let’s see what happens to the hero of this cautionary tale:

The apple sticks to his quills!

He tries rolling up in a ball, because that’s a hedgehog’s best defense. The apple doesn’t budge.

Hedgehog is close to tears, when his friend Squirrel comes along. Squirrel has been collecting acorns. Squirrel wants to help his friend.  He grabs the apple with both paws, and pulls with all his might. The apple doesn’t budge. What’s worse, is that squirrel didn’t put down his acorns before he grabbed the apple, so guess what happened?

Next, possum comes along. He’s snacking on some delicious grapes. He offers to help. He grabs the apple with both of his paws, and pushes with all his might. The apple and the acorns don’t budge. To make matters worse, possum forgot to set down his grapes before he grabbed the apple.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blows a little blue scrap of paper through the air. It floats through the trees, over the grass, and past hedgehogs nest, and lands on hedgehog’s back right behind the acorns.

Then pig comes along. He suggests rolling around on the ground to loosen up all that stuff. Hedgehog rolls around on the ground. He rolls and rolls, and then rolls some more. But the apple, the acorns, the grapes, and the blue scrap of paper just won’t budge. And to make matters worse…

Now Otter comes along. He wants to help Hedgehog too. “Try swimming in the pond. The water will wash all that stuff off in no time.” Hedgehog dives into the pond. He swims and he swims, and he swims as fast as he can. But the apple, the acorns, the grapes, the flowers, and the blue scrap of paper just won’t budge. And to make matters worse…

Hedgehog is distraught! I’ll never fit in my perfect little nest! But just as hedgehog is about to give up all hope, and get to work on giant nest that will fit all this stuff, his friend Goat comes for a visit.

I’ll tell you something about goats. They are very special animals for 2 important reasons 1) they are always hungry; and 2) They can eat anything!

It just so happened that Goat’s tummy was rumbling something awful when he ran into Hedgehog. When he spotted his cluttered pal, a wide goaty smile spread across his big goat face.

“Hedgehog!” he says, “Did you make this lovely picnic just for me? It’s not my birthday, but all my very favorite treats are here:” (Remove each item from the board as you say it.) “a crunchy apple, two pretty flowers, three lovely acorns, three fresh little fish, a bunch of juicy grapes, and a crinkly scrap of paper for dessert! Yum, Yum, Yum! You are the best friend a goat could have!”

Finally! Home, Sweet, Home.**

**I cut one 8×10 piece of felt in half length-wise. Then I sewed the two short ends together.

Katie is the hostess with the mostest this week, so visit her blog for the #FlannelFriday Roundup.