A Picnic at Midnight
It starts with a little idea…
Nell (child)“I want a picnic when it’s actually midnight. With the animals. The owl can stay up. And the hedgehog’s late because his legs are too little.”
Parent“What would they take?”
Nell (child)“Cakes. Obviously. And one extra, for tomorrow.”
Mouse has planned every detail of her midnight picnic. Then Hedgehog is late, the moon disappears, and nothing goes quite to plan.
Back cover, spine and front cover
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Read the whole story as text
The plan
For three weeks, Mouse had planned a picnic at midnight. She had a list: six cups, six cakes, one blanket. And the moon. The moon would make it perfect.
Nearly midnight
Fox carried the basket. Owl carried the blanket. Mouse hurried ahead to the clearing. Two little mice were waiting there. But where was Hedgehog?
A noise by the stream
From the stream came a huff, then a puff. Hedgehog stood behind a fallen branch, holding a box. “I brought the cakes,” he said. “But my legs won’t reach over this.”
A little help
Mouse took the box. Fox pulled the branch aside. Owl watched from above as Hedgehog crossed. “Six cakes?” Mouse asked. “Seven,” said Hedgehog. “One is for tomorrow.”
Nothing was right
By the time they reached the clearing, clouds covered the moon. Mouse looked at her list. They were late. The blanket was crooked. There was no moon. “This isn’t how I planned it,” she said.
A different plan
Fox set down the lantern. Hedgehog passed round the cakes. One little mouse poured the warm berry drink. Owl made room beside her. “Come and sit,” she said. “Your picnic is here.”
Midnight
As Mouse sat down, the clouds opened. The moon looked in. Owl’s little watch said midnight. Mouse put away her list and took a cake. “Next time,” said Hedgehog, “can we picnic nearer my door?”
An illustrated example of the experience we are developing. Talebrix is still in development; this book was not printed by the device.