Gerald the Giraffe

Oaktree Lane Chronicles

Gerald Giraffe and the Friendly Sparrow

Written and Illustrated by Helena Alexandra Pearce

On the quiet Oaktree Lane is a

happy community that live in

harmony.

All but one grumpy giraffe

named Gerald.

Gerald lives all on his own,

in a house that is very

TALL.

Gerald doesn’t like company,

in fact, he doesn’t like much at all.

Gerald looks out the window and sees a tiny sparrow in a bare tree.

He pokes his head out of the window, and the tiny sparrow says:

“Hello, my name is Sky. I am looking for some berries to eat.”

“ShOo!” says Gerald. and Sky flutters away.

Gerald goes to the supermarket and sees Tommy Tortoise struggling to reach the top shelf.

Tommy asks:

“Hello, can you help me reach the cereal?�

Gerald scoffs and walks past.

Penny Penguin is at the door. She says:

“I’ve run out of sugar to make my cakes, could I please borrow some?”

Gerald has lots of sugar, but he is selfish, and doesn’t want to share.

Gerald looks at his MAY

calendar, it is his birthday tomorrow.

He decides to throw a party and send everybody invitations.

It is the next day.

Gerald is sat on his own.

No one has turned up to the party.

He looks out the window and sees Sky Sparrow. He says to Sky:

“No one came to my party, everyone is so mean.”

Sky replies:

“You have been unkind Gerald. You need to be nice to others, and they will be nice to you.”

“I am nice.”

Mumbles Gerald.

Sky explains,

“You didn’t help me find food, you refused to help Tommy reach groceries in the supermarket. and you did not lend Penny sugar.”

“Ok,” says Gerald. “I shall say sorry to them and then they will come to my party.”

Sky replies, “Gerald you should apologise to them from the kindness of your heart. Even if it means you receive nothing in return.”

“I think I understand. I think I need to change the way I treat others.”

Said Gerald.

The next day, Gerald posts something through the letterboxes of Oaktree Lane.

This time, instead of posting invitations to his party.

He posts a letter to Tommy, Sky and Penny.

The very next day, Gerald gets a letter from Penny.

After he reads the letter, he smiles for

the first time in a very long time.

Be helpful.

Be kind.