1) During story time, a small mouse named Samantha emerged from a little house on the classroom rug and asked to listen to stories with the class. 2) Samantha grew larger as the teacher read because she was so happy listening to the story. 3) The teacher realized Samantha now needed a bigger house, so the class decided she could live by the playground and continue coming to class each day to listen to stories.

1. SamanthaThe Story Mouse

2. One day at school teacher and the children in her classroom were sitting on the rug for
story time. The children’s name were Mary, Peter and Max.
Suddenly, one of the boys said, ‘’Look, there is a little house by the corner of the rug’’.
‘’You’re absolutely right’’, answered the teacher. ‘’I saw it, too. Will you bring it over to me
please?’’ The child took the small house to his teacher. She showed the house for all the
children to see. Suddenly, there was a little squeak and the door to the house opened.

3. Out hopped a small and surprised mouse. ‘’Hello, she squeaked’’. ‘’I’m Samantha, the
Story Mouse. And who are you?’’ The children and the teacher introduce themselves to
Samantha. ‘’Why are you called a Story Mouse?’’ asked a girl. ‘’Because my favorite thing
of all is to listen to stories. May I stay here with you?’’ ‘’Yes, yes, please!’’ shouted all the
children. ‘’I do have one special request, though’’, said Samantha. ‘’When I listen to
stories, I like everyone to be very quiet so I can hear every word. Is that all right with
you?’’ ‘’Oh, yes, we’re very quiet when we listen to stories’’, the children replied. ‘’Please,
stay with us’’. ‘’Oh, thank you so much’’, said Samantha. ‘’I know I’m going to be so
happy here. I’ll just sit down here by the teacher and we’ll all listen to today’s story
together.

4. The teacher started reading, the children were listening attentively and didn’t notice that
with every word the teacher read, something happened to Samantha. Every word the
teacher read made Samantha grow bigger and bigger and bigger! Nobody noticed what
was happening, until the teacher looked up and saw that Samantha was the same size as
the children! ‘’What happened Samantha, why are you so big?’’ she asked. ‘’I think that
I’m so glad to be listening to this story, that the words made me grow big with
happiness!’’ she replied.

5. ‘’Well, said the teacher, I think you’ll need a bigger house now’’. ‘’Yes! Yes!, she can live
by the playground and come to class with us every day!’’ replied the children.
So Samantha the Story Mouse found a new home and many friends. Every day she came
and quietly listened to the stories with the boys and girls.