At the edge of a meadow, beneath a big apple tree, stood a little house. It had a round window, a wooden door, and a patch of sweet carrots growing outside. A little bunny named Zajo lived there with his mummy.
Zajo had soft fur, long ears, and a curious little nose. Every day, that nose helped him find something new. A flower. A fallen apple. A lovely smell drifting from the kitchen.
One morning, sunshine fell across his blanket. Zajo opened his eyes and stretched his paws. Then a funny sound came from his tummy.
“Rumble, rumble!”
Zajo gave it a gentle rub. “Mummy, I’m hungry!”
Can you rub your tummy too?
Mummy peeked through the door. “I’m making your breakfast. While you wait, go and see what our friends are eating.”
Zajo hopped outside. The farmyard was waking up. He could hear a moo, a neigh, and a very cheerful woof. Everyone was having breakfast!
First, he found Cow in the meadow. She was pulling up green grass and swishing her tail.
“Moo! Good morning, Zajo!”
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m eating grass. Yum, yum, yum!”
Zajo tasted a little blade of grass. “I like grass too!” A green bit stuck to his nose. He licked it off, and Cow gave another soft moo.
Can you moo like Cow?
By the fence stood a big horse and a little foal. The big horse pulled some hay from a pile. The little foal had a piece of apple.
“Neigh!” said the foal.
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m eating an apple. Yum, yum, yum!”
“Then I’ll have some hay, just like Daddy,” added the foal.
He offered Zajo a tiny slice of apple. Crunch! It was sweet and juicy. Zajo chewed it slowly, said thank you, and hopped into the yard.
Beside the kennel, Dog was wagging his tail.
“Woof, woof! Hello, Zajo!”
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m eating crunchy kibble. Yum, yum, yum!”
Crunch, crunch! A few little pellets rolled out of his bowl. Dog looked for them. Sniff, sniff. They were right beneath his paw!
Then Dog proudly picked up his favorite bone. Zajo giggled, and Dog wagged his tail even faster.
On the doorstep sat Cat, with her tail curled around her paws.
“Meow!”
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m eating cat food. Yum, yum, yum!”
Cat took another mouthful of her soft, meaty breakfast. Then she lapped some water. Lap, lap, lap. A tiny drop clung to her whisker. She wiped it away with her paw and purred.
“Prrrr.”
Something tickled Zajo’s foot. It was a feather! Hen was scratching the ground nearby.
“Cluck, cluck!”
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m eating corn. Yum, yum, yum!”
Peck, peck, peck! Hen picked up the little yellow pieces. One was hiding beneath a leaf. Zajo lifted the leaf, and Hen quickly pecked it up.
Can you say “peck, peck, peck”?
Beyond the yard was a little pond. Duck floated past, leaving soft ripples behind her.
“Quack, quack!”
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m eating water plants. Yum, yum, yum!”
Duck nibbled the tiny green plants floating on the water. Then she dipped her head down. Her tail tipped up!
Zajo laughed. A moment later, Duck popped up with a little green leaf on her beak.
Zajo left the pond and followed a path beside the trees. Here, the grass was long and the bushes rustled. More little friends were having breakfast.
Under a hedge, he spotted Hedgehog. Snuffle, snuffle! Her nose was close to the ground.
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m eating a worm. Yum, yum, yum!”
The worm wriggled. Hedgehog gobbled it up.
“A wiggly breakfast!” said Zajo.
Hedgehog licked her lips. Her tummy was full now. She shuffled into her nest of dry leaves for a rest.
Can you wiggle one finger like a little worm?
A little farther along, Squirrel sat on a low branch. Her fluffy tail curled behind her.
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m eating a nut. Yum, yum, yum!”
Crack! Squirrel opened the shell. Inside was the part she could eat. She held it in her paws and took a little bite.
Nibble, nibble.
Zajo looked down at his own paws. They were empty. His tummy gave another quiet rumble.
Then he heard, “Squeak, squeak!”
Mouse peeped out from beneath a tree root. She held a sunflower seed between her tiny paws.
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m eating a sunflower seed. Yum, yum, yum!”
Mouse nibbled open the shell to reach the seed inside. Zajo crouched down beside her.
“Little paws. Little bites!” he said.
Mouse twitched her whiskers and carried on nibbling.
Beside the path grew a bright pink flower. Butterfly fluttered down and landed on it.
Little Bunny asked, “What are you eating?”
“I’m sipping nectar. Yum, yum, yum!”
“What’s nectar?” asked Zajo.
“Sweet liquid inside a flower.”
Butterfly uncurled her long, thin tongue. It worked like a tiny straw. Sip, sip!
Zajo leaned closer to look. Then Butterfly lifted her wings and floated gently away.
Can you flutter your hands like butterfly wings?
Just then, a bell rang outside Zajo’s house.
Ding-a-ling! Breakfast was ready!
Zajo waved goodbye and hopped home. Past the pond, through the yard, and straight to Mummy.
She set down his bowl. Inside were sweet-smelling hay, green leaves, and a little piece of carrot.
“Did you see our friends?” she asked.
Zajo nodded. “Duck ate water plants. Hedgehog ate a wiggly worm. And Butterfly had a drink from a flower!”
“They each found something they liked,” said Mummy. “And what are you eating, Zajo?”
“I’m eating a carrot. Yum, yum, yum!”
Can you make a crunchy carrot sound? Crunch, crunch, crunch!
The grass had been good. The apple had been sweet. But his own breakfast, made by Mummy, was his favourite of all.
Zajo crunched his carrot and nibbled his leaves and hay. Then he drank some water and gently patted his tummy.
No more rumbles.
After breakfast, he snuggled close to Mummy. His ears relaxed. His eyes grew heavy. Mummy tucked a soft blanket around him.
“Have a little rest, my bunny,” she whispered.
With a full tummy and Mummy beside him, Zajo closed his eyes.
Outside, the apple leaves rustled softly.
And inside, the little bunny slept.
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