Once upon a time in a forest so green,
There lived a juicy apple that gleamed.
It hung on a branch, so plump and red,
But a hunter approached with a gruff head.

"I'll eat that apple," the hunter said,
And took a leap to get ahead.
But the apple knew it had to stay,
So it rolled away to save the day.

The hunter chased with a fierce roar,
But the apple rolled farther than before.
It escaped to a bush and hid away,
While the hunter searched in dismay.

The apple was safe, but a bit bruised,
It had escaped, but was a bit confused.
It learned that even the smallest fruit,
Could be brave and quick, and astute.

So now it hangs with a new-found pride,
And it tells other fruits to never hide.
For when life gets tough, just leap away,
And you'll find a better place to stay.

Reflections

Here are some questions that children can think about after reading "The Juicy Apple's Escape:"

1. How did the apple manage to escape from the hunter?
2. What qualities did the apple demonstrate that made it brave and quick-thinking?
3. Why do you think the apple encouraged other fruits to be brave and not hide?
4. Do you think the hunter learned anything from this experience? Why or why not?
5. Can you think of a time when you had to be brave and quick-thinking like the apple?