Penny the Penguin and the Promise of a New Year
By Bill Conley - America’s Favorite
Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
New Year’s Day is a reminder that
every sunrise brings a chance to begin again. It is a time to reflect on what
we have learned, forgive what has passed, and fill our hearts with hope for the
days ahead. The greatest gift of a new year is not in changing the world all at
once, but in choosing to make each day a little brighter with kindness and
love. When we start the year with gratitude, we open the door to joy. Penny the
Penguin learns that no matter how cold the world may seem, faith, friendship,
and hope can warm any heart.
In the frozen wonderland of Frosty
Bay, the sun had just begun to peek over the glittering icebergs, painting the
snow with gold and pink. The air was crisp, the sea sparkled like glass, and
the penguins were already gathering by the shore to celebrate the start of a
brand-new year.
Penny the Penguin stood at the edge
of the ice, staring at her reflection in the water. Her black and white
feathers gleamed in the morning light, but her eyes were full of thought.
“Another year already,” she
whispered softly. “I wonder what this one will bring.”
Her best friend, Wally the Walrus,
waddled up beside her, his whiskers twitching in the cold breeze. “Good
morning, Penny! Happy New Year!” he boomed with cheer.
Penny smiled. “Happy New Year,
Wally. Do you ever wonder what makes today so special? ”
Wally chuckled. “Of course! It’s the
first day of a whole new year. A clean page, a fresh start, and a perfect
excuse to eat seaweed pancakes!”
Penny giggled. “You and your
pancakes.”
Wally winked. “Hey, it’s tradition.
But it’s also more than that. My grandmother used to say New Year’s Day is like
the first footprint you leave in fresh snow. Wherever you step next will follow
that path.”
Penny thought about that as they
walked to the gathering spot, where dozens of penguins had formed a big circle
in the snow. The elder penguin, Old Captain Finn, stood in the center, his
feathers streaked with silver. He raised his flippers high and called out,
“Happy New Year, my friends! May this day remind us of what matters most: family, friendship, and the promise of new beginnings!”
All the penguins cheered. The sound
echoed off the icy cliffs and out across the sea.
Captain Finn continued, “Each of us
has the power to make this year better than the last. Think of one promise you
want to make to yourself, not because you must, but because it will help your
heart grow.”
Penny felt a flutter inside. What
promise should she make?
Her friend Tilly the Tern spoke
first. “I promise to be brave enough to fly beyond the cliffs this year! ”
Then, Benny the Puffin piped up. “I
promise to share more of my fish with others.”
Even little Pebbles, the youngest
penguin chick, chirped, “I promise to listen to my mama before sliding off the
ice again.”
Everyone laughed warmly.
When it was Penny’s turn, she
hesitated. She looked around at her friends, so happy, hopeful, and full of
joy. “I promise,” she began slowly, “to find the good in every day, even the
hard ones. Sometimes I forget how blessed we are just to wake up and see the
sunrise.”
The crowd nodded and clapped their
flippers. Wally smiled proudly. “That’s a wonderful promise, Penny.”
After the gathering, the penguins
began their traditional New Year’s swim. They dove into the icy water with
happy splashes, racing, twirling, and playing. Penny dove in, too, the cold
water rushing over her feathers. She swam deep, watching the light sparkle
above her.
Down below, the ocean was calm and
quiet. Tiny bubbles drifted like stars. Penny whispered to herself, “Every
year, everything changes, and yet the world is still beautiful. Maybe that’s what
the New Year really means: hope that beauty will always return.”
When she surfaced again, Wally was
waiting on the ice, holding something shiny in his flipper. “Look what I found! ” he said, handing her a small smooth shell.
Penny gasped. “It’s beautiful! It
looks like the sunrise.”
“Keep it,” Wally said. “Every time
you see it, remember what you promised today.”
Penny held the shell close. “Thank
you, Wally. I will.”
As the day went on, the celebration
filled the air. The penguins danced, the seals clapped their flippers, and the
puffins flew overhead, circling the bay. Music filled the air as they drummed
on hollow ice and sang songs about courage, kindness, and dreams.
When evening came, the sky turned a
deep purple, and the stars began to appear. The animals gathered around a
glowing bonfire made of driftwood. The firelight danced on their faces, warm
against the cold night.
Captain Finn stood once more. “My
friends,” he said softly, “as this first day of the year comes to a close,
remember what makes it special. It is not just a date on the calendar. It is a
reminder that life is full of second chances, that forgiveness is stronger than
fear, and that love will always lead us home.”
Penny watched the flames flicker and
thought about his words. The New Year wasn’t just a celebration; it was a
promise to live better, to love more deeply, and to never lose faith in what
tomorrow could bring.
That night, as the fire dimmed and
the stars filled the sky, Penny stood by the shore again. The water was calm
and still, reflecting the moonlight like glass. She whispered a prayer, “Thank
you, God, for this new year, for my friends, for my home, and for the hope that
fills my heart.”
A gentle breeze swept across the
bay, and she felt a warmth inside that had nothing to do with the fire.
In the distance, a new wave rolled
toward the shore. Penny watched it rise, curl, and crash softly at her feet.
She smiled and whispered, “A new wave for a new year.”
The world was quiet and peaceful
again. And deep inside, Penny knew she would carry this feeling, this light of
hope, all through the year ahead.
Moral
of the Story Poem:
Each year begins with skies so
clear,
A chance to grow, to love, to cheer.
Forgive the past, let worries fade,
Embrace the change that God has made.
Hope shines bright when hearts are true.
With every dawn, life starts anew.
Be kind, be thankful, let love stay near,
And fill your soul with joy this year.
Discussion
Questions:
1.
What promise did Penny make on New
Year’s Day, and why was it important to her?
2.
How did the animals in Frosty Bay
celebrate and show gratitude for the new year?
3.
What can you do each day to make
your own year brighter and filled with kindness?
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