Sid the Seal and the Big Show
Sid can balance a ball on his nose better than anyone — until everyone is watching.
Sid the seal had a secret talent. He could balance a ball on his nose, flip it in the air and catch it again — spin, spin, catch!
He practiced every day on his favorite ice rock, all by himself.
One day, the puffins announced a Talent Show on the Big Iceberg. "Sid, you should enter!" said his friend Penny Puffin.
Sid's flippers got clammy. "In front of everyone? What if I drop the ball?"
On the night of the show, the whole colony came to watch. The walruses sang. The polar bear juggled snowballs. Then it was Sid's turn.
He waddled onto the stage. Hundreds of eyes stared at him. His heart went thump-thump-thump.
He tossed the ball... and it bounced off his nose and rolled away. A few puffins giggled.
Sid wanted to dive into the sea and hide. But then he saw Penny in the front row. She took a big, slow breath and pointed at him.
Sid did the same. In through his nose. Out through his mouth. He imagined he was back on his quiet ice rock.
He tossed the ball again. Spin, spin... catch! Flip... catch! Then a double flip — CATCH!
The crowd went wild. Flippers slapped. Puffins squawked. "Sid! Sid! Sid!"
Afterwards, Sid grinned at Penny. "I dropped it the first time." Penny smiled. "Yes — and then you tried again. That's the best trick of all."
⭐ The End ⭐
💬 Talk about it
- What was Sid's secret talent?
Show answer
Balancing a ball on his nose. - What did Sid do to calm down?
Show answer
He took slow, deep breaths and imagined his quiet ice rock. - What did Penny say was the best trick of all?
Show answer
Trying again after making a mistake.
