[cheerful music] - Hi friends.

My name is Anna.

And I was just about to read a story that has a mystery in it.

Would you like to hear the story, and help me solve the mystery?

Great!

The name of the book I'm going to read today is called, "Happy Little Sun."

Written by Zhilu Zhang, and illustrated by Ming En.

[gentle music] "Every morning a happy little sun jumped out of the sea.

"Little Sun sang a song while rising slowly "behind the mountains.

"That's when all the animals of the mountains woke up.

"One day Little Sun said, 'Hi everyone.

"'What game should we play today?'

[gentle music] "'How about racing?'

said Gray Rabbit.

"'Great!'

said Little Sun.

"Gray Rabbit ran to the west as fast as he could.

"He ran and ran.

"He jumped over a creek, and dashed up a hill.

"Out of breath, he looked up and found Little Sun "smiling at him from just above his head.

"Upset that he lost the race, "Gray Rabbit went back to his rabbit hole.

"The next day Little Sun asked again.

"'Hi everyone, what should we play today?'

"'How about we have a beauty contest?'

said Peacock.

"'Okay' said Little Sun.

"Peacock opened his tail, "and a golden ring shown along the edge "of the bright blue feathers.

"The animals all cheered, 'How pretty!'

"Little Sun smiled confidently "and cast his rays through the water droplets in the air."

What do you think is gonna happen?

Do you know what happens when we mix sunlight and water droplets?

A beautiful rainbow with all seven colors appeared in the sky.

"'That's prettier!'

cheered the animals."

Did you guess correctly?

Embarrassed, Peacock closed his tail.

"'What is the next game?'

"Little Sun said loudly and proudly.

"'How about hide and seek?'

a deep voice whispered.

"'Who are you?'

Little Sun asked.

"'I am shade,' the deep voice answered.

"'Where are you?'

asked Little Sun.

"'I am on the west side of this big banyan tree,' "said the deep voice.

"'I am coming to find you,' Little Sun said.

"Little sun went to the west of the banyan tree, "but didn't find Shade.

"'Where are you?"

Little sun asked impatiently.

"'I am now on the east side of the banyan tree,' "Shade said with a smile.

"Little Sun could not go backward "no matter how impatient he got.

"'Just wait and see,' said Little Sun.

"'I will surely catch you tomorrow.'

"'Okay, see you tomorrow,' said Shade.

"The next morning Little Sun shouted immediately "after he made his way above the mountains, "'Shade!

Are you up?'

"Shade answered, 'Sure, I am up when you are.'"

What do you think Shade means by that?

"'Where are you hiding this time?

Little Sun asked.

"'On the west side of the banyan tree,' Shade answered.

"'You'd better not lie to me!'

said Little Sun.

"'Yes, yes, we all see Shade,' said Gray Rabbit and Peacock.

"'He's on the west side of the banyan tree.'

"'I am coming,' Little Sun said.

"Little Sun went higher and higher.

"He was now above the top of the banyan tree.

"But he didn't see Shade.

"'Peacock, do you see Shade?'

Little Sun asked.

"'Yes, I am resting with Shade,' Peacock answered.

"Little Sun arrived at the west side of the banyan tree "and searched and searched.

"He heard Shade laugh.

"'Now, I am on the east side of the banyan tree.'

"'That's right, we all see him,' "Gray Rabbit and Peacock said loudly and proudly.

"Disappointed, Little Sun stopped his search.

"No matter how hard he tried, "he could not find Shade.

Do you know why?"

So why is it that the Little Sun couldn't find Shade?

Well, have you ever been outside standing in the sunlight and when the sun's over you, do you notice how you cast a shadow?

Right?

So in order to make a shadow, or shade, we need both sunlight and something that's blocking that sunlight.

So in this case, every time Sun tried to find Shade by moving around the banyan tree, every time the Sun moved, that's why Shade kept on moving.

So Sun was never ever going to be able to catch Shade.

Shade was a tricky trickster.

What did you think of that story?

I hope you liked it.

I know I did.

Well until next time friends, bye.