Part Two of World Read Aloud Day

In the first part of this pair of stories listeners were left with a storybook Monkey tangled in a tree with his kite on a windy day. His soon to be new friend Rabbit is unsure how to help. The story being read at the Bath Branch of the Rockbridge Regional Library is part of celebrating World Read Aloud Day. The non-profit literacy group LitWorld, who sponsors World Read Aloud Day, encourages readers to look for seven inner strengths in the story: hope, belonging, confidence, esteem, compassion, friendship and curiosity.

Matthew, from the Millboro area, continued reading.

“So Rabbit mustered all his courage, and hoisted his kite into the air. It danced in the sky pulling him right into Monkey’s tree   “Wheeee” cried Rabbit. Rabbit chewed the kite strings and set Monkey free. “You did it!”   cried Monkey.   “It was your idea,” said Rabbit, “I just helped.” “We did it together,” said Monkey, ”You are a clever Rabbit.” Rabbit peered nervously at the ground. “How will we get down? Rabbits can’t climb trees, and I’m afraid of falling.”

“I won’t let you fall,” said Monkey. He was about to carry his new friend down the tree to the ground when the other rabbits came hopping along.

“What are you doing/” they called. “Rabbits don’t belong in trees. Neither do kites.”

“Don’t tell them I got stuck,” whispered Monkey. “They’ll all laugh at me.” Rabbit did not want to embarrass his new friend.   “We’re having the most fun. “ he said. “We’re decorating the tree with our kites” The other rabbits looked at the two kites tangled in the tree. “Could we play too?” they asked. “Of course,” said Rabbit, ”Grab your kites.”

“But it’s too windy to fly our kites.” “Exactly, ” said Rabbit feeling clever indeed. At the end of the day, Monkey helped each rabbit down to the ground. Everyone admired the beautiful tree that they had decorated.

“Let’s play again tomorrow.” “Sure” said Rabbit, “but let’s stay on the ground the next time.”   The rabbits hopped home. Monkey climbed up in the tree. He could not wait to play with his new friends the next day.”

The readers who brought us this story, New Day, New Friends, by C. Alexander London are Ronda, Rebecca, Amber, Matthew, and Easton.   They are our Bath County participants in World Read Aloud Day. World Read Aloud Day is a program of LitWorld, a non-profit organization who believes “ literacy is a

foundational human right that brings joy, economic independence, gender equity and a pathway out of poverty. Everyone should have it.”

For more information about LitWorld, visit LitWorld.org.   And special appreciation to Ronda Clayton, Bath Branch of the Rockbridge Regional Library, and our readers for celebrating with Allegheny Mountain Radio.