Once upon a time, there was a red tomato who loved nothing more than cooking up yummy pasta dishes. One day, the tomato came across a curly noodle who was feeling down because it was short and thin. The tomato told the noodle not to worry, that it was unique and special just the way it was.

Together, they went on an adventure to find the perfect ingredients for their pasta dish. They picked some green basil from a wide field and found a long, red chili pepper. With all their ingredients in hand, they headed back to the tomato's kitchen to start cooking.

The tomato carefully placed the short, curly noodle into a pot of boiling water, and the noodle started to expand. To everyone's surprise, the noodle grew longer and wider! The green basil and red chili pepper added the perfect touch of flavor to the dish.

The end result was a delicious and colorful pasta dish that everyone loved. From that day on, the short, curly noodle was proud of its unique shape and the tomato and noodle became the best of friends.

The moral of the story is that no matter what you look like, you can still be delicious and have fun with your friends!

Reflections

1. What did the red tomato tell the curly noodle that made it feel better?
2. What happened to the curly noodle when it was put into boiling water?
3. Why do you think the tomato and noodle became friends?
4. What is the moral of the story?
5. Can you think of any other ingredients that the tomato and noodle could have used in their pasta dish?