Amancay - The Birthday Present

BILINGÜE ONLINE

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BILINGÜE ONLINE

El regalo de cumpleaños The birthday present Vanesa Pizzuto Dirección: Stella M. Romero Diseño e ilustración: Karina Varela Libro de edición argentina IMPRESO EN LA ARGENTINA - Printed in Argentina Primera edición MMXVI – 14M Es propiedad. © 2016 Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana.

Queda hecho el depósito que marca la ley 11.723.

ISBN 978-987-701-574-4 Pizzuto, Vanesa El regalo de cumpleaños : Birthday present / Vanesa Pizzuto / Dirigido por Stella M. Romero / Ilustrado por Karina Varela. – 1ª ed. – Florida : Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana, 2016.

24 p. ; il. ; 21 x 14 cm. - (Serie Amancay bilingüe / Romero, Stella M.) + Libro digital en inglés ISBN 978-987-701-574-4 1. Relatos. I. Romero, Stella M., dir. II. Varela, Karina, ilus. III. Título.

CDD 863.9282

Se terminó de imprimir el 08 de noviembre de 2016 en talleres propios (Gral. José de San Martín 4555, B1604CDG Florida Oeste, Buenos Aires).

Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial de esta publicación (texto, imágenes y diseño), su manipulación informática y transmisión ya sea electrónica, mecánica, por fotocopia u otros medios, sin permiso previo del editor.

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EL REGALO DE CUMPLEAÑOS “Be strong and courageous!

Do not be afraid or discouraged.“ (Joshua 1:9) Text: Vanesa Pizzuto Illustration: Karina Varela

he whole family was getting ready to go to sleep. Nahuel brushed his teeth quickly and ran to bed to wait for bear hugs from his mom and dad.

While his dad went to Amancay’s bedroom to hug her and tuck her in, Nahuel whispered an important message to his mom, that she should not forget the following day.

“Tomorrow is my birthday!”

“Yes, I know!” his mother replied, smiling. For several weeks, Nahuel had been reminding everybody that his birthday was coming up. With dad’s help, he had marked the calendar to count the days left until his birthday: “15 days

left today…”, “7 days left”, “only 3 days left today…”.

Finally, there was only one night left, just eight or ten hours until his birthday!

“You are growing so fast, Nahuel! Tomorrow you will be 8 years old!” said mom, while tenderly stroking his curls and giving him a goodnight kiss.

Nahuel smiled, his eyes were twinkling with happiness.

The excitement wouldn’t let him sleep. Mom and dad had let him choose his own present, and he couldn’t wait until dawn. He tossed and turned many, many times in his bed, but finally fell asleep.

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The following morning, mom, dad and Amancay tiptoed into Nahuel’s room to surprise him. Dad motioned as if he were a choir conductor, and the three started to sing: “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, Nahueeeel, happy birthday to you!” Then they all climbed onto his bed and smothered him with hugs and kisses.

“Are you ready for the adventure?” dad asked.

“Yes!” Nahuel replied, filled with excitement as he remembered the present he had asked for.

“OK, let’s have breakfast, and then we can get ready to go out, shall we?” mom suggested.

The children helped to set the table quickly, and dad took a delicious red-fruit tart out of its hiding place. It couldn’t be better, with rosehip, raspberry and cherry jam filling! Dad said a prayer to thank God for another year in Nahuel’s life, and then they all drank hot chocolate and ate several slices of the delicious tart. After they finished breakfast, Nahuel helped Amancay to brush her teeth and close the toothpaste tube properly, so it could be used that night. Meanwhile, mom washed the dishes, and dad dried them and put them away. When they were all ready to leave, they got in the car to enjoy Nahuel’s special day.

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The family planned to visit Mascardi Lake, within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, on that day. It was a radiant summer day. There was not a single cloud in the sky, nor was the wind blowing. The lake, a perfect water mirror, reflected the mountains, the trees and the beautiful blue sky.

Nahuel’s present was waiting there, by the lake shore, on the beach with pebbles of different colours.

When they arrived at the beach, Nahuel ran and stopped

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“Can we get nascetur an orange one?”laoreet.

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smiling.

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“Today I am turning 8 years old and this is my birthday present. I picked it myself!” Nahuel said to Mr Carlos.

“Happy birthday, mate!” he replied. “Come this way to get your life vests, which are orange too.”

There were so many life vests on the shelves, hanging on the walls and even a mannequin dressed with one, that you could say nobody would ever drown there.

Nahuel had never seen so many vests, in difference sizes, types and colours. After a few minutes, Mr Carlos helped them find the right sizes. He also gave them some safety advice, and explained how to hold the paddles.

While Mr Carlos was speaking gently, showing them the correct way to use them, Nahuel was picturing himself in the kayak, avoiding rocks and swinging his paddle back and forth. But when he snapped back to reality, and resumed listening to the safety advice, he felt a little pain in his tummy... What could it be?

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Seemingly, the little pain went away and they were all ready with their vests on. The whole family gathered at the beach to start the adventure. While mom was taking pictures, and Amancay was picking up stones and filling her trousers’ pockets with them, dad and Nahuel practised paddling in the air.

“Very good!” The owner congratulated them when they finished practising. “Just remember to sit up straight, so you don’t lose balance and fall into the water.”

That was Mr Carlos’ last piece of advice. After thanking

him for sharing his experience, Nahuel and his dad lifted the kayak and took it to the shore. Then, they pushed it into the lake carefully, so the pebbles and rocks on the bottom of the lake would not scrape its paint. But the water was really cold, and when the time came to get in the kayak, Nahuel got scared. Suddenly, the little pain in his tummy came back.

“Hum… I am not sure I want to go,” Nahuel hesitated.

“But why?” his dad asked.

Nahuel didn’t answer. He simply put his head down, while a pair of warm tears escaped his eyes.

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His dad looked at him tenderly.

“It is normal to be afraid when we try new things,” his dad said, leaning close and drying Nahuel’s tears with his hand.

“Do you remember your first day of school? You were a bit nervous, but now you like it a lot. And the first time you went camping, you worried about sleeping in a tent, without mom and dad, but you made it,” he added.

Nahuel was listening to his dad, but still didn’t dare to remain in the kayak.

“I have an idea. Shall we sing the song you learnt at church?” his dad suggested.

“Which one?” Nahuel asked.

His dad started to sing: “Whenever I am afraid, I put my trust in you, put my trust in you, put my trust in you...”

Nahuel sang the second verse with more enthusiasm: “Whenever I am afraid, I put my trust in you, put my trust in you, Lord Jesus.” Seeing that he had gained more confidence, his dad asked: “Shall we sing it again while we go in the kayak?”

Nahuel nodded and sat up straight as Mr. Carlos had suggested.

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“It’s OK, Nahuel. Being brave isn’t the same as not being afraid,” his dad explained. “Being brave is facing your fears.

Jesus and I will take care of you. Shall we sing as we paddle?

“No. Let’s whistle instead!” Nahuel replied. He had recently learnt how to whistle and took every opportunity to practise.

Dad pushed the kayak further away from the shore and they both started to paddle while whistling the tune.

Paddling and whistling, Nahuel forgot that he was afraid.

He was having too much fun to be worried. He kept looking at the lake’s emerald water. He felt the sunshine on his face and the droplets of fresh water splashing from the paddles.

He gazed at the birds crossing the sky; there were buffnecked ibises and chucaos too. He felt the breeze blow and rumple his curls. Everything around him was beautiful.

After kayaking for a good while, they returned to the beach. While they were drying their clothes and enjoying the sunshine, mom and Amancay went for a walk to take pictures of the landscape and the flowers.

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After coming back from the walk, Amancay and her mom showed dad and Nauhel the pictures they had taken. They had seen purple and white alpine lupines, red aloe flowers, and yellow and white daises. With mom’s help, Amancay had taken pictures of all of them.

“We saw butterflies!” Amancay said happily, pointing at the picture of an orange butterfly with black spots on a daisy, on the camera’s screen.

“These are beautiful pictures, Amy,” his dad congratulated her.

“And here are the pictures of Nahuel in the kayak, and they are beautiful too,” mom said.

“Amy, would you like to go in the kayak?” Nahuel asked after they finished looking at the pictures.

Amancay shook her head no.

“At first I was afraid. But then, I started whistling and it went away. You are going to like it, Amy!” Nahuel insisted kindly, hugging his little sister.

“If you want to, we can go for a short loop, really close to the shore,” mom suggested.

“Ok, only a short loop,” Amancay replied.

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Mr Carlos gave them a smaller life vest for Amancay, and helped them fasten it properly. He also reminded them of some pieces of advice. When he finished, he recommended that only mom should paddle, as the paddles were too big and heavy for Amancay.

“Let your mom do all the work!” he told Amancay, laughing.

When they were ready, mom helped Amancay to sit at the front of the kayak, and she sat behind. Then, she started paddling slowly, keeping close to the shore.

Nahuel followed them on the beach, cheering for her sister as for a football team.

“Go Amy, go Amy, go Amy!” Nahuel shouted, clapping and jumping. Dad also cheered them while taking pictures.

“Did you like it?” Nahuel asked while Amancay and his mom were getting out of the kayak.

“Yes, thank you for sharing your birthday present with me,” Amancay said with a broad smile.

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“Nahuel, you were really brave today, and I am proud of you,” his dad said as Amancay and Mom returned the vests to Mr Carlos.

“Really, dad?” Nahuel asked, smiling shyly.

“Yes! I want you to remember that we all get scared, even as grown-ups. But doing what you have to do, even if you are afraid, is what makes us brave,” his dad replied, messing up Nahuel’s hair affectionately.

“Thanks dad!” Nahuel replied, his eyes beaming with joy.

“Do you want to know a secret?” his dad asked and Nahuel nodded.

“Courage is contagious. Your attitude encouraged Amy to try it too. Good job!”

When mom and Amancay returned, the four of them sat

down to enjoy a delicious birthday picnic. Mom had hidden a birthday cake with eight candles in the car. They all sang the Happy Birthday song again, and Nahuel blew out the candles. Then they ate cake and had a toast with Nahuel’s favourite drink: lemonade. Before leaving, they asked the kayak’s owner to take a picture of the whole family, so they could remember the exciting adventure they had enjoyed, and how brave Nahuel had been going in a kayak for the first time.

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Which is the best gift you have ever received?

You can draw it here.

Read John 3:16 to find out what is the greatest gift God has given us.

¿Cuál es el mejor regalo que has recibido?

Puedes dibujarlo aquí.

Lee Juan 3:16 para descubrir cuál es el gran regalo que Dios nos dio.

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Nahuel and Amancay live surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape, with lush trees, crystal waters and clear air. Enjoy their adventures and learn how to take better care of our planet.

With this book, you will be able to do the given activities in Spanish/English.

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You can also read the complete Amancay series in English, in its digital format. Download the books at: aceseducacion.com

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