Eddie the Elephant Prepares for Class - A Children's Story

Eddie the Elephant Prepares for Class

By Bill Conley - America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral of the Story:

Courage begins the moment we take a step forward, even when we are afraid. Confidence grows when we believe in ourselves and remember that learning is a journey, not a race. Eddie the Elephant learns that school is not something to fear but a place where curiosity blossoms, friendships form, and hearts grow stronger. Every challenge becomes easier when faced with kindness, effort, and faith in our own abilities.

In the peaceful jungle of Bright Leaf Valley, where birds sang their morning songs and the air smelled of dew and mango blossoms, a young elephant named Eddie stood nervously beside a giant tree. His big gray ears drooped, and his trunk twisted in circles as he sighed.

Tomorrow is the first day of school.

He had never been to school before, and his mind swirled with questions.
What if I don’t know the answers?
What if the other animals laugh at me?
What if my teacher doesn’t like me?

Eddie’s mother, a wise and gentle elephant, noticed his worried face and walked over. “What’s wrong, my dear?” she asked kindly.

Eddie sighed. “I’m scared to go to school. What if I can’t do it?”

Mama Elephant smiled softly. “Everyone feels nervous before something new, Eddie. But do you know what helps?”

Eddie shook his head.

“Preparation,” she said. “When we prepare, we find courage in what we already know. Let’s get you ready.”

That evening, Mama helped Eddie pack his leaf backpack. They filled it with pencils made from smooth sticks, banana leaf paper, and a shiny red apple for the teacher. She even tied a blue ribbon around his trunk and whispered, “A touch of confidence to wear proudly.”

Before bed, Eddie practiced saying, “Good morning, my name is Eddie,” over and over until he could say it without his voice shaking.

The next morning, the golden sun peeked through the trees as Eddie set off for school. His backpack bounced on his back, and butterflies fluttered in his stomach. As he reached the edge of the jungle clearing, he saw other animals heading in the same direction.

There was Tina the Tiger Cub carrying her tiny books in a vine satchel, Milo the Monkey swinging above the path with a banana in hand, and Lila the Parrot flying overhead, singing, “School is fun, school is cool, we learn and laugh in jungle school!”

Eddie smiled nervously but stayed quiet as they walked into the schoolyard.

Their classroom was an open glade filled with soft grass and surrounded by trees. A wooden board made from an old tree trunk stood at the front, and vines formed swings for seats. At the front stood Mrs. Giraffe, tall and graceful, wearing round glasses and a kind smile.

“Good morning, students,” she said warmly. “Welcome to Bright Leaf Jungle School. I’m so glad you’re here!”

The class responded cheerfully, all except Eddie, who quietly shuffled to a seat in the back. He wanted to disappear among the trees.

Mrs. Giraffe began the lesson with numbers. “Let’s start with something simple,” she said, drawing marks on the board. “One, two, three…”

Eddie watched carefully, trying to copy the marks onto his paper. But his trunk was shaky, and the numbers came out crooked.

When Milo peeked over and giggled, Eddie’s cheeks turned pink. He quickly lowered his head, wishing he could hide behind his ears.

At lunch, he sat alone under a shady tree. His apple gleamed beside him, untouched.

Suddenly, a voice spoke. “Hey, can I sit here?”

It was Tina the Tiger Cub. She had a sandwich made of mango slices and smiled kindly. “You draw really well,” she said. “Your elephant looked awesome on your notebook!”

Eddie blinked. “You saw that?”

“Of course,” she said. “You’re really good at art!”

Eddie smiled shyly. “Thanks… I guess I like to draw. It helps me think.”

Soon, Milo the Monkey joined them, hanging upside down from a branch. “Sorry I laughed earlier,” he said. “I didn’t mean to. I just thought your numbers looked like funny bananas.”

Eddie laughed too. “That’s okay. They kind of did.”

By the end of lunch, the three of them were talking and laughing like old friends.

When they returned to class, Mrs. Giraffe announced, “Now we’re going to have an art project. Draw something that makes you happy.”

Eddie perked up. He grabbed his stick pencil and began to draw. His trunk moved confidently now, sketching mountains, rivers, and animals playing together in harmony. When he finished, he added the sun shining down and wrote at the bottom, “The first day of courage.”

When Mrs. Giraffe walked by, she stopped to admire his picture. “Eddie,” she said gently, “this is beautiful. You have a gift. Would you like to share it with the class?”

Eddie hesitated. The room went quiet. All eyes were on him.

But then he remembered his mother’s words: When we prepare, we find courage in what we already know.

He took a deep breath and stepped to the front. “This is my drawing,” he said. “It’s about being scared to start something new… but finding courage and friends along the way.”

The class clapped, and even Lila the Parrot cheered, “Bravo, Eddie! That’s the spirit!”

Eddie’s heart soared. For the first time, he wasn’t scared anymore. He had faced his fear, made new friends, and found something he loved about school.

When the bell rang, Mrs. Giraffe gave him a gold star. “You learned something very important today, Eddie,” she said. “Confidence grows when you believe in yourself.”

That night, Eddie told his mother all about his day, about Tina and Milo, about his drawing, and about how proud he felt.

Mama smiled, her eyes warm with love. “You see, my brave boy, courage isn’t about never being afraid. It’s about walking forward even when you are.”

Eddie nodded. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

And as the moon rose over Bright Leaf Valley, Eddie drifted to sleep with his backpack beside him, and a smile on his face, ready for the adventures that learning and friendship would bring.

Moral of the Story Poem:

When something new makes fear appear,
Remember, courage lives right here.
With faith inside, your heart will know.
Each step you take will help you grow.
Believe in you, and you will see,
How bright and brave your heart can be.
For every start, both big and small,
Brings strength and courage to us all.

Let’s Talk About It Together:

1.     What helped Eddie feel more confident about going to school?

2.     How did kindness from others make a difference in his day?

3.     What can you do to help someone who feels nervous about something new?