Once there was a backbone named It. It was always telling jokes to the other sea creatures. One day, It met a seahorse and an eel. They asked, "It, what's so funny today?" It replied, "Why did the fish cross the ocean? To get away from the fin!" The seahorse and eel couldn't stop laughing. Then, It said, "Do you know what's the difference between a ray and a fish?" They shook their heads. It chuckled, "A ray has gills, but it's not a fish, it's a ray-diant!" The three friends laughed together until their sides hurt. From then on, It was known as the jokiest backbone in the sea!

Reflections

1. What is the backbone named?
2. Who does the backbone tell jokes to?
3. What is the joke about the fish crossing the ocean?
4. How do the seahorse and eel react to the jokes?
5. What is the difference between a ray and a fish according to the story?