Reading Break_Starting Out

FICTION Michael O’Neill

STORY 1

Lazybones

Jack and Suzanne are grandparents who have a big lazy dog named Lazybones.

One day, Jack and Suzanne’s daughter, Nancy, and their grandson, Lukas, come to visit. Lukas is a curious and energetic little boy who gets himself into trouble, but Lazybones jumps into action and becomes a hero.

STORY 2

Encounters with the Greens

A new family, the Greens, moves into the housing development next door to the Major family. But the Greens are not like the Majors, or any other family.

They are different. In time, the two families find a way to be good neighbours.

STORY 3

Hello from Camp Crazy Loon

Stephanie writes a letter to her parents while she is away at Camp Crazy Loon.

She says she is enjoying all the activities there: hiking, canoeing, horseback riding and camping. But is she really enjoying herself? Do the activities actually happen the way she tells her parents?

Lazybones STORY 2 Encounters with the Greens STORY 3 Hello from Camp Crazy Loon STORY 1

LAZYBONES Jack and Suzanne have a big dog. He has huge paws and long ears.

Jack and Suzanne call their dog Lazybones. He is one lazy dog! When Lazybones was a cute little puppy, his name was Max, and Jack and Suzanne took him to the park a lot. But the poor dog does not get much exercise any more. He just lies around, and sleeps and eats, so Lazybones just gets bigger and bigger.

2

Lazybones

Every day, Lazybones wanders around the backyard until he finds a good spot for a rest.

Now that it is summer, he likes to go and sleep on the deck in the shade.

Jack and Suzanne are grandparents. One day their daughter Nancy comes for lunch. Of course, she brings along three-year-old Lukas, the young grandson that everyone loves. Jack and Suzanne are very excited about the visit!

Glossary huge: very big lazy: slow and inactive wander: to explore with no real destination shade: not in the sun

Lazybones

3

Lukas is a curious and energetic little boy. He loves to explore. He snoops in every cupboard in the kitchen.

After he has emptied each one, Lukas comes back to see his mother Nancy.

Nancy, Jack and Suzanne are talking and looking at photographs. The phone rings. The television is on. The soup on the stove needs stirring. All the adults are busy doing something.

4

Lazybones

A door in the kitchen opens out onto the deck and the swimming pool. Uh-oh! The door is open a little bit.

Lukas goes out and walks around the table and chairs on the deck. Lazybones opens one eye to look at Lukas, then he goes back to sleep.

Lukas heads for the pool.

He is moving fast. He slips at the edge and falls into the water.

The man next door, Mr. Johnson, sees everything. He lives alone and spends his days snooping on the neighbours.

He runs over quickly, screaming and yelling, “Help! Help! Jack, Suzanne, come quickly! Your grandson fell in the pool!�

Glossary snoop: to investigate stir: to mix a liquid neighbour: the person who lives next door

Lazybones

5

Jack, Suzanne and Nancy run out to the deck. Lukas is all wet. He is on top of the pool ladder. Lazybones is holding him by his shirt. Nancy pulls Lukas out of the pool. He is crying and coughing, but he is fine.

Glossary cough: to force air out of your lungs with a short, loud sound out of breath: have a difficult time breathing to be rescued: to be saved from danger pal: friend wag: a quick tail movement from side to side

6

Lazybones

Mr. Johnson, out of breath, tells everyone the whole story of what he saw and finishes with “your dog is a hero.�

Lukas is all right. Everyone goes back inside the house. Nobody else will need to be rescued today.

Nancy dries Lukas off, and everyone sits down to eat.

Mr. Johnson is there too.

After their meal, Jack says, “I think Lazybones should have a better life. He is not lazy; he is our hero! Let’s use his real name—Max. That’s a much better name for him. Right, Max, old pal?” Max wags his tail when he hears his name.

“And I will take him for walks twice a day. I’ll take him to the park to play. It will be good for Max and for me too!”

Jack, Suzanne, Nancy, Mr. Johnson and Lukas are all happy that Max saved the day.

1 Why do Jack and Suzanne call their dog Lazybones?

2 What is Lazybones’ real name?

3 Describe Lukas.

4 What happens to Lukas?

5 Why is Lazybones a hero?

Lazybones

7

Irregular verbs Verb

Present

Past

be

am, is, are

was, were

know know, knows

knew

begin begin, begins

began

leave leave, leaves

left

bring bring, brings

brought

buy

buy, buys

come come, comes

Verb

lie

Present

lie, lies

Past

lay

make make, makes

made

came

ride

ride, rides

rode

bought

do

do, does

did

run

run, runs

ran

eat

eat, eats

ate

see

see, sees

saw

fall

fall, falls

fell

sit

sit, sits

sat

find

find, finds

found

get

get, gets

got

take

take, takes

took

go

go, goes

went

tell

tell, tells

told

have

have, has

had

sleep sleep, sleeps

think think, thinks

slept

thought

FICTION Michael O’Neill

STORY 1

Lazybones

Jack and Suzanne are grandparents who have a big lazy dog named Lazybones.

One day, Jack and Suzanne’s daughter, Nancy, and their grandson, Lukas, come to visit. Lukas is a curious and energetic little boy who gets himself into trouble, but Lazybones jumps into action and becomes a hero.

STORY 2

Encounters with the Greens

A new family, the Greens, moves into the housing development next door to the Major family. But the Greens are not like the Majors, or any other family.

They are different. In time, the two families find a way to be good neighbours.

STORY 3

Hello from Camp Crazy Loon

Stephanie writes a letter to her parents while she is away at Camp Crazy Loon.

She says she is enjoying all the activities there: hiking, canoeing, horseback riding and camping. But is she really enjoying herself? Do the activities actually happen the way she tells her parents?

Lazybones STORY 2 Encounters with the Greens STORY 3 Hello from Camp Crazy Loon STORY 1