The Very Best Bread

Read the beginning

One sunny morning, your child found a small bag of grain sitting right next to the garden. they picked it up and their eyes went wide. "I could make warm bread for everyone!"

Your child hugged the little bag and skipped down the path to find their friends.

Your child found Duck splashing in a big muddy puddle. "Duck, would you like to help me plant some grain? We can make bread!"

Duck flapped his wings. "Oh, that sounds nice, but I'm splashing right now!"

Your child smiled. "That's okay! Maybe next time." And off your child went to the garden. they dug little holes in the soft dirt and dropped the seeds in, one by one, humming a happy song the whole time.

The seeds grew into tall golden wheat, and now they needed water. Your child found Dog chasing butterflies across the yard.

"Dog, would you like to help me water the wheat?"

Dog bounced after a blue butterfly. "Oh, not right now! I almost caught one!"

Your child giggled. "That's okay! Maybe next time." they picked up their little green watering can and gave every stalk a nice long drink.

When the wheat grew tall and golden, your child picked it and carried it to the kitchen. Cat was napping in a warm patch of sunshine by the window.

"Cat, would you like to help me grind the wheat into flour?"

Cat yawned a big yawn. "Mmm, I'm so sleepy."

"That's okay! Maybe next time," your child said softly. they sat down and started grinding the wheat, making a fun little rhythm. *Crunch crunch crunch. Crunch crunch crunch.* your child tapped their feet along with it.

Soon the kitchen smelled like flour and sunshine. Your child was mixing and stirring when Cat's nose began to twitch. Cat stretched, opened one eye, then the other, and padded into the kitchen.

"Your child, can I help now?"

Your child beamed their biggest smile. "The more the merrier!"

Cat jumped right in. They mixed the dough together. They kneaded it with their hands — squish, squish, squish. Cat got flour on her nose and your child laughed. Cat laughed too. They shaped the dough into a round loaf and put it in the oven.

The whole kitchen filled with the most wonderful, warm, golden smell.

When the bread came out, it was perfect — round and golden and steaming. Your child carried it outside and set a big friendly table with plates for everyone.

"Duck! Dog! Cat! Come have some bread!"

Duck waddled over. Dog came bounding up. Cat was already there, proud and happy. They all sat together around the big table, and your child cut thick slices for everyone.

"This is the best bread I ever tasted!" said Duck.

"So warm and yummy!" said Dog.

"We made it together," Cat said, smiling at your child.

Everyone ate and laughed and said thank you, and your child felt so happy their heart could burst.

In the full story, your child is the star: their name is woven throughout, read aloud in a warm, engaging voice. Preview it with your child's name or read about this story on our blog.