The Riddle of the Robin

Table of Contents

• A Fine Feathered Friend
• Gifts for the Robin
• Splish, Splash
• Oh, No! Where’d It Go?
• Following Willa
• Which Way’s Which?
• Willa Finds Out
• All’s Well That Ends Well
• For Parents

A Fine Feathered Friend

Willa dances a happy jiggle as she waits for her friends, the WellieWishers. She has a wonderful surprise to show them. When they all arrive, she urges them to put on their wellingtons and join them. Carrot, their pet bunny, hops alongside the girls as they scramble to put their boots on.

Willa leads the way down to the maple tree, where she points to a cozily nestled little bright yellow flower in the roots. Willa explains it’s a crocus, which indicates spring is here. Emerson giddily exclaims that she loves spring; it’s her favorite season. She starts bouncing up and down with energy. Kendall agrees that she loves springtime, especially March. That gives her an idea, and she pretends to play a flute and begins marching in place. All the girls fall into line and march after Kendall.

Suddenly, Willa hears a cherry little whistle fill the air. Too-wheet. She shushes her friends, and listens closely. Willa pulls her friend over to the sounds. And there in the branch of the maple tree, she sees a stout bird with gray wings and a bright red chest. It’s a robin! Willa shares that this must be the first robin of spring. The girls all too-wheet with the robin.

The girls admire how shiny the robin’s red chest feathers are. Willa calmly tells the robin she’d like the robin to stay. Willa understands animals, and the robin seems to understand Willa back. The robin puffs out its chest and sings.

Then Emerson rises up on her toes and announces she’s came up with a new song. To the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” she sings:

The bird, as if delighted, chirps along.