Pip stepped onto the playground. "New kid! New kid!" called a chorus of rabbits, frogs, and bunnies.
Pip tucked his chin into his tiny backpack and edged backward. His quills caught on a dandelion stem.
Pip tried rolling a ball to the frogs, but his quills poked it flat with a loud pffft.
He tried offering a clover to a bunny, but it tumbled off his prickly back. A ladybug sneezed.
Pip sat alone by the flower border and picked at the dirt. A butterfly landed on his quill.
The butterfly used his quill as a perch. The others glanced over, then went back to playing.
A loud rustle came from the tall grass. A baby bird had fallen from its nest!
The animals gathered around but no one could reach the nest. Pip rolled up tight.
His quills snagged the little bird gently. Pip uncurled and lifted it toward the nest.
The baby bird chirped from the nest. The animals cheered and gathered around Pip.
"Your quills are amazing!" said the bunny. Pip stood a little taller.
His quills caught the sunlight like tiny golden spears. Pip smiled.