Fran Manushkin - Pedro and the Shark

Pedro told his dad, Im doing something fishy today.

You are? asked his dad.

Yes! Pedro smiled. Im going to the .

His dad laughed. That is fishy!

Ive saved some money, said Pedro. Im bringing back a .

Great! said his dad. I cant wait to see it.

At the aquarium, Miss Winkle told the class, Be sure to stay together.

Thats easy, said Pedro. We can pretend we are . They always stick together.

Its cool in here, said Katie. And dark.

Yes, added JoJo. Its a little spooky.

Here comes something crabby! said Pedro.

Is it my baby brother? joked Barry.

Very funny! said Miss Winkle. Its a hermit crab.

I love the starfish, said Katie. They look dreamy.

But the jellyfish looks lonely, said JoJo. Maybe hes looking for a peanut butter fish.

Id love to take a ride on the seahorse, said Pedro. But I would need to be smaller.

Yes, said Katie. And dont forget your !

Roddy ran ahead. YAY! he yelled. Here come the sharks! Duck!

Yikes! said Pedro. Those teeth look sharp. I dont want to ride on him .

You know, said Pedro, all this water is making me thirsty.

He walked away to find a water fountain.

When Pedro finished drinking, he looked for his class. They were gone.

Pedro was alone with the shark!

See you later! Pedro yelled. I have to find my class.

Here they are! He smiled. I see JoJo!

No! It wasnt her.

I bet my class is around this corner, said Pedro.

The room was dark and filled with whales.

Yay! yelled Pedro. Heres my class.

No! It wasnt !

Pedro ran this way and that way, but he kept coming back to the shark.

Pedro looked at the shark, who was swimming in circles.

Ha! Pedro smiled. Thats why I cant find my class! Ive been going in circles. Thanks for the clue.

Pedro tried a new direction.

He passed a sea turtle. She moved slowly, looking calm and wise.

Ill try that, said Pedro.

Pedro took a deep breath.

He walked slowly. Ill turn left this time, then right.

! Pedro found his class.

Here you are! said Miss Winkle. We were going to start searching.

I found you first, Pedro said proudly.

When he got home, Pedro said, Dad, come see my souvenirs.

His dad smiled, Why did you choose a shark and a sea turtle?

Its a long story, said Pedro.

Good, said his dad. You can tell me while we walk Peppy.

Pedros story was so long, they walked around the block twice.

Sometimes, said Pedro, its fun to go in circles.

And it was!

Fran Manushkin is the author of many popular picture books, including Happy in Our Skin; Baby, Come Out!; Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story; The Tushy Book; Big Girl Panties; and Big Boy Underpants. Fran writes on her beloved Mac computer in New York City, without the help of her two naughty cats, Chaim and Goldy.