Benny the Bunny Loves Books
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
Books open worlds that screens can’t
show. Stories help our hearts grow wise and kind. Reading with others brings
laughter, learning, and love. Pictures in books spark our imagination and
dreams. Every page holds a new adventure waiting to be found. Sharing books
with family makes memories that last forever. Books teach us to see life
through brighter eyes. A book in your hands is worth more than a screen in your
lap.
Deep in the meadow, where
wildflowers danced in the wind, lived a cheerful little bunny named Benny.
Benny loved to hop, explore, and nibble on clover leaves, but most of all, he
loved to learn.
Every morning, Benny hopped out of
his burrow, stretched his long ears, and asked the same question, “What
exciting thing will I learn today?”
But lately, something had changed.
One sunny afternoon, Benny found his
best friend, Piper the Puppy, sitting under a tree staring at a glowing
tablet. “What are you doing, Piper?” Benny asked curiously.
“Watching videos,” Piper said
without looking up. “It’s fun! I can watch dogs chasing balls, cats doing silly
dances, and people cooking all kinds of food!”
Benny tilted his head. “That sounds
interesting… but doesn’t your brain get tired?”
Piper giggled. “No way! The videos
just keep coming!”
Benny shrugged and hopped away.
Later that day, he visited Grandpa Rabbit, who sat in his rocking chair
reading an old, colorful storybook.
“Come sit, Benny,” said Grandpa, his
whiskers twitching with delight. “I was just about to start a story about The
Tortoise and the Hare.”
Benny climbed into Grandpa’s lap and
looked at the pictures. The tortoise looked slow but determined, and the hare
was fast but proud. Benny’s eyes widened.
As Grandpa read, his voice rose and
fell with the rhythm of the tale. Benny could almost hear the hare’s quick
footsteps and the tortoise’s steady breathing.
When the story ended, Benny’s heart
felt full. “That was amazing, Grandpa! It was like the story was alive!”
Grandpa smiled. “That’s the magic of
books, my boy. They bring pictures and words together to make something that
lives in your imagination. You can’t get that from a screen.”
The next day, Benny decided to visit
his friends. He found Chloe the Chipmunk sitting on her phone. “Look,
Benny!” she squeaked. “I’m watching fireworks!”
“But it’s daytime,” said Benny.
“Wouldn’t you rather make fireworks with your imagination?”
Chloe blinked. “How?”
“Come on!” said Benny, holding out
his paw. He led her to the old oak stump where Grandpa kept a box of
storybooks. Together they pulled out a book called The Sky Full of Stars.
As Benny read the words and Chloe
looked at the pictures, the two friends imagined themselves flying through the
night sky, lighting up the world with sparkling fireworks.
When the story ended, Chloe giggled.
“That was even better than the video! I could see the fireworks in my
mind!”
“That’s the power of books,” Benny
said proudly.
That evening, Benny gathered his
friends, Piper the Puppy, Chloe the Chipmunk, and even Riley the Raccoon,
who was always glued to his mom’s phone.
“Everyone meet at the meadow
tonight,” Benny said. “I have a surprise!”
When the moon rose and the stars
twinkled, Benny stood on a rock with a book in his paws. “Tonight,” he
announced, “we’re going on an adventure, right here in this story!”
He opened a book called The Great
Adventure of the Forest Friends.
As he read aloud, the friends leaned
in close. The pictures showed animals exploring mountains, swimming across
rivers, and helping each other through every challenge. Benny’s voice made the
story come alive: the rushing water, the crackling campfire, and the laughter of
friends.
When the story ended, the meadow was
silent except for the chirping of crickets. Piper wagged his tail. “That was
the best story I’ve ever heard.”
Chloe nodded. “I felt like we were really
there!”
Riley grinned. “I didn’t even think
about my phone once!”
Benny smiled proudly. “See? Books
don’t just tell stories; they take us places!”
The next morning, all the animals
gathered at the meadow library, a cozy nook made of hollow logs and stacked
books. Miss Owl, the librarian, looked delighted. “Goodness gracious!
I’ve never seen so many little readers at once!”
“We want to borrow books!” they all
said together.
Miss Owl adjusted her glasses.
“Wonderful! Remember, my friends, a book is a treasure chest; every page is a
gem waiting to be discovered.”
From that day on, the meadow was
filled with readers. The animals met each afternoon under the big oak tree for
“Storytime Adventures.” They took turns reading, laughing, and imagining
together.
Benny’s favorite part was when his
mom or dad joined them. They’d cuddle close, and his dad would say, “Benny,
reading with you is my favorite part of the day.”
Benny would smile and whisper, “Mine
too.”
As the weeks went by, the meadow
changed. Fewer animals stared at screens. Instead, they talked about stories,
dragons, explorers, kings, and heroes. Even Piper the Puppy said, “I still love
my videos, but stories make me feel something special inside.”
And Benny, the bunny who loved to
learn, realized something important:
Screens could show pictures. But
books? Books could show life.
Poem:
The Magic of Books
Books can take you far away.
To mountains, seas, or skies of gray.
They make you dream, they make you see,
The world is as big as it can be.
A tablet fades, the lights will dim,
But stories live and glow within.
So read each day, let dreams take flight,
A book will fill your heart with light.
Questions
for Reflection:
1.
Why did Benny the Bunny enjoy books
more than screens?
2.
What did Benny’s friends learn when
they listened to stories together?
3.
Who do you love reading with, and
how does it make you feel inside?
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