By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
Whining doesn’t win hearts; kindness
does. Pouting pushes people away, but patience brings them close. When we cry
or yell for our way, we lose our calm and our joy. A calm voice and kind words
open more doors than tears ever will. We can’t always get what we want, but we
can always choose how we act. Self-control shows strength, not weakness. Good
manners and gratitude make others want to help us. Peace begins when we learn
to speak with love, not frustration.
Deep in the bamboo forest lived a
fluffy little panda named Penny. Penny was sweet, funny, and clever, but when
things didn’t go her way, she had a habit of pouting.
If she couldn’t have the last honey
bun, she’d cross her arms.
If her friend got the swing first, she’d stomp her foot.
And if Mama said “no,” Penny’s lip would tremble, and soon her big panda tears
would fall.
“Oh, Penny,” Mama would sigh.
“Crying and pouting won’t make things better.”
But Penny didn’t believe that. She
thought if she pouted long enough, someone would give in.
One sunny morning, Penny and her
best friend, Toby the Tige,r were building a bamboo fort. Toby wanted the roof to
be made of palm leaves, but Penny wanted to use giant fern fronds instead.
“I don’t want palm leaves!” Penny
huffed, crossing her arms.
“But they’re stronger,” Toby said calmly.
“I don’t care!” Penny shouted, stomping her paw. “We’re using fern fronds, or
I’m not playing!”
Then she plopped down and turned her
back to him.
Toby frowned. “That’s not very nice,
Penny. You’re not listening.”
But Penny stayed quiet, her chin
tucked into her chest.
After a while, Toby sighed. “I guess
I’ll build the fort by myself.”
And he did.
When he was done, the fort looked
amazing, but Penny hadn’t helped, so she wasn’t invited inside.
She sat alone on a log, her arms
crossed tighter than ever. Tears rolled down her furry cheeks.
Mama Panda, who had been watching
nearby, came over and sat beside her. “Oh, sweetheart,” she said softly,
“what’s wrong?”
Penny sniffled. “Toby built the fort
without me!”
Mama nodded. “Hmm. And why do you think that happened?”
Penny frowned. “Because he didn’t use my idea.”
Mama smiled kindly. “Or maybe because you stopped working with him?”
Penny blinked. “But I was mad!”
“I know, dear,” Mama said. “We all get mad sometimes. But when we let our anger
take over, we miss out on fun—and friendship.”
Penny looked down. “So what should I
do when I get mad?”
Mama reached out and took her paw.
“Take a deep breath first. Then use your words, not your tears. You can say, ‘I
feel upset,’ or ‘Can we talk about it?’ instead of pouting or yelling. When you
stay calm, people want to listen.”
Penny tilted her head. “Really?”
“Really,” Mama said. “A calm voice shows you’re growing up. And grown-up pandas
don’t whine, they communicate.”
The next day, Penny got another
chance to practice.
At breakfast, Papa served bamboo
cakes with honey, but Penny wanted fruit salad.
“I don’t want bamboo cakes!” she started to whine. Then she stopped herself,
remembering Mama’s words.
She took a deep breath. “Papa, may I
please have fruit salad instead?”
Papa smiled. “Of course, Penny!
Thank you for asking so nicely.”
Penny grinned. It worked!
Later that morning, at the
playground, Toby asked if she wanted to play tag instead of building a fort
again.
Penny felt that old frustration
bubble up. “But I wanted to build, ” she began, then paused. She took a big
breath and said, “Okay, maybe we can play tag first, and then build afterward?”
Toby smiled. “That’s a great idea!”
They spent the whole afternoon
laughing, running, and finally building the biggest bamboo fort in the forest, together.
When Mama came to pick her up, Penny
ran to her with a proud smile. “Mama, I didn’t pout today!”
Mama laughed and hugged her tight.
“I can tell, sweetheart. You’re learning to stay calm and use your words. I’m
so proud of you.”
Penny’s heart swelled with
happiness. It felt so much better than pouting ever had.
That night, as she curled into bed,
Mama whispered, “You see, Penny? When you stay calm and kind, good things come
your way.”
Penny yawned sleepily. “You’re
right, Mama. Whining never worked anyway.”
And from that day on, when things
didn’t go her way, Penny didn’t stomp, pout, or cry. She took a deep breath,
used her kind voice, and spoke with love.
And life got a whole lot happier in
the bamboo forest.
Poem:
When things don’t go the way you
planned,
Take a breath, don’t make a stand.
No stomping feet or grumpy cries,
Use calm words, be kind and wise.
A gentle voice, a patient heart,
Can turn a problem into a fresh new start.
You’ll find that peace and joy will stay,
When kindness guides your words each day.
💬 Thoughtful Questions for Kids and Parents:
1.
What did Penny do at first when she
didn’t get her way?
2.
What did Mama teach her to do
instead of whining or pouting?
3.
How did Penny feel after she started
asking kindly instead of getting mad?
4.
What can you do next time you feel
upset or frustrated?
5.
Why is being calm and using kind
words better than crying or yelling?
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