Pokey and the Big Box Jolly Phonics · Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed

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Pokey and the Big Box

Practice Words

curl darker fur under better burn ever first flower her hurry never stirs swirl turn other others thunder whispers
Page 1
Pokey stands on the right side of the image, facing the viewer with a friendly, slightly uncertain smile and wide round eyes, positioned beside a tree trunk and a blue hydrangea bush. Pokey is a small orange tabby kitten with a compact round body, warm orange fur with darker brown tabby stripes on the head, back, and tail, a lighter cream chest and belly, large expressive white eyes with black pupils, a small pink nose, and visible whisker dots on the cheeks. The scene is set outdoors in a suburban neighborhood at dusk, with warm golden and orange tones washing across the ground suggesting the sun is going down, and a soft pale green sky behind. The left side of the image is open plain background.

My name is Pip. I want a bed. Not a big bed. Just a little spot where a cat can curl up snug and sleep. The sun sinks and the wind is cold. I trot past a tree and blue flowers. Tonight, Pip, get the best spot on all the street!

Page 2
On the left side of the image, a large cardboard box sits on the ground of a suburban street, stuffed full of animals. Calico is lying inside the box with an annoyed, unwelcoming expression — a small chubby calico kitten with predominantly white fur, orange patches on the forehead and left ear, and black patches on the top of the head, with large round black eyes with white highlights. Gray Spot is squeezed in beside Calico looking wide-eyed and startled, paws up against the edge of the box — a small lavender-purple puppy with darker purple-gray spots on the back and head, large wide-set white eyes with black pupils, a small dark nose, and triangular ears with peach-pink inner coloring. Pokey stands just outside the box at the upper left, peering in with a surprised expression at the crowded scene. There are several additional cats crammed into and around the box, including ones perched on the rim and tucked inside. The right ~40% of the image is plain warm beige background.

A box! A big box on the ground. I peek inside. It is full of cats! Cats on cats on cats. Legs and tails stick out. 'What do you want, Pip?' snaps the patch cat, her tail flat. 'This box is full!' yells the puppy. 'No room! No room for Pip!' they all chant. Well. No need to be rude.

Page 3
On the right side of the image, Pokey stands on tiptoes beside a purple trash can, lifting the lid with a surprised expression and one paw raised in shock — discovering Inky already curled up inside, with paws poking out over the rim. Inky is a small black cat with a white chest and belly patch, a white spot on top of the head, white inner ears, and large round yellow eyes with black pupils. In the upper-left background, a row of additional trash cans lines an alley beside a building. The scene is set outdoors in a suburban back alley at dusk, with warm, soft fading light.

Fine. There are other spots. Better spots! I get to a row of trash bins in the lane. They are big and round, like beds with walls. I lift the lid of the first bin. A black cat stirs, then blinks up at me in the dark.

Page 4
On the left side of the image, Inky is sitting inside a round trash can surrounded by bits of garbage, looking up with an angry, snarling expression and bared teeth. Inky is a small black cat with a white chest and belly patch, a white spot on top of the head, white inner ears, and large round yellow eyes with black pupils. Pokey is leaning over the rim of the trash can from the right, peering in with a hopeful, wide-eyed expression, front paws gripping the edge. Scattered food scraps and trash bits surround them. The scene is set against a plain pale green background, with the right ~40% of the image left empty.

'This is my bin!' snarls Inky, teeth sharp. 'But look,' I say. 'There is room for two if you turn your tail a bit.' 'No room for Pip!' Inky growls, and shuts the lid. Clang! That is two spots lost. And the sky gets darker and darker.

Page 5
On the right side of the image, Pokey sits among low leafy plants, looking straight up at the dark rainy sky with a distressed, open-mouthed expression, raindrops splashing on the top of his head. Pokey's orange fur is getting visibly soaked and matted from the rain. The scene is set outdoors at dusk transitioning to nighttime with a dark teal sky filled with streaking rain, and wavy cloud patterns overhead.

Then it starts to rain. Not a little drip. Not a soft mist. Big, fat, chilly drops go splat on me. I sit in the wet plants with my mouth open, and my fur gets soaked. No box. No bin. No bed. And now no dry fur. Can this night get any darker?

Page 6
On the left side of the image, Pokey is partway up a wall near the roof of a house, gripping the ledge with his claws and a determined but slightly anxious expression, straining to pull himself up as rain falls around him. Pokey's orange fur is soaked and matted from the rain. The tiled roof of the house extends from the upper left, and dark rain clouds loom overhead with rain streaking down across the scene. The right side of the image is open with a plain light background and faint greenery.

Yes. Yes it can. But wait! Up by that roof, there is a hole. A Pip-sized hole! If I can just get up there. I dig my nails into the wall and go up. The rain makes the wall slick. My feet slip. My legs shake, but I never stop. Up there, a spot is calling: come on, Pip. There is room for Pip.

Page 7
On the right side of the image, Pokey is curled up on a high ledge or balcony floor under a roof opening, looking slightly damp and contemplative, gazing out through a triangular opening toward a rainy suburban street scene below. Pokey's orange fur is still damp from the rain. The left side is plain dark background. The mood is sheltered but cold — Pokey appears relieved to be out of the storm but with a thoughtful, slightly worried expression, as if wondering about the other cats still outside in the rain.

I did it! I pull up onto the ledge and flop down, panting. It is not snug. It is not soft. But it is dry, and right now dry is the best thing ever. Down below, the rain hits the street. I curl up tight and try to sleep. But one thing keeps poking at me. What about the others? The patch cat and puppy in that thin box. Inky in that bin. Are they safe out there?

Page 8
A large cloud-shaped panel fills the left half of the image against a plain pale-green background. Inside the cloud-shaped scene, all four animals appear together in a thunderstorm. On the right side of the cloud, Pokey — an orange tabby cat with a cream chest — stands on a stone ledge beside a small roofed structure, fur damp with raindrops flying off him, yelling with a wide-open mouth and alarmed wide eyes. A bright yellow lightning bolt zigzags across the dark stormy sky above. On the left side of the cloud, three animals huddle in front of a blue metal fence in the pouring rain. Inky stands on the far left with a startled, scared expression and both paws raised — a small black cat with a white chest patch, white head spot, and round yellow eyes. Gray Spot sits nearby looking frightened with one paw raised to its mouth — a small lavender-purple puppy with darker purple-gray spots and large white eyes. Calico crouches low to the ground with a worried open-mouthed expression — a small chubby calico kitten with white, orange, and black patches. Rain streaks down across the whole cloud scene.

Flash! Bang! Crack! Lightning splits the sky and thunder shakes the roof under my belly. I think of them out there, by the fence, wet and scared. The patch cat. Puppy. Inky with no place to hide. 'Get out of there!' I yell into the storm, even if they are so far away. 'Get to a safe spot!'

Page 9
In the lower-right portion of the image, Calico, Gray Spot, and Inky stand on a winding rain-soaked path, all facing toward a large fire blazing in the lower left, with alarmed expressions. Calico is closest to the fire — a small chubby calico kitten with white, orange, and black patches, mouth open in shock as she stares at the flames. Gray Spot is in the middle of the group — a small lavender-purple cat with darker purple-gray spots, pointed feline ears, and a curled cat tail, one paw raised to its mouth in worry. Inky is at the rear, highest up the path closest to a house and gate in the upper-right corner — a small black cat with light markings above its wide eyes, mouth open in alarm. Rain streaks fall across the scene under a deep blue stormy sky, with droplets splashing around the animals. Pokey, an orange cat, stands at the open gate at the top of the path in front of a blue-roofed house decorated with a gold star, smiling cheerfully with one paw raised in welcome. The fire engulfs a wooden crate and a tipped-over gray trash can in billowing orange and red flames with thick gray smoke.

The lightning starts a blaze! In the smoke and rain, I see the box burn and the bin on its side. The patch cat, puppy, and Inky run up the path to me, all wet. 'Up here! Quick!' I call from the roof. They rush to me, scared and shaky. The box they kept? No more. Inky's bin? No more. Each spot that had no room for Pip? No more.

Page 10
On the right side of the image, four animals are climbing up a railing or ledge in the pouring rain. Gray Spot is lowest on the railing, gripping it with a worried expression and looking upward — a small lavender-purple puppy with darker purple-gray spots, soaking wet. Calico clings just above, also soaking wet with wide anxious eyes — a small chubby calico kitten with white, orange, and black patches. Inky is climbing between them — a small black cat with a white chest patch and white head spot, yellow eyes wide and anxious, fur drenched. At the top, Pokey leans down from the ledge, reaching a paw down to help them climb, with a determined, kind expression. Rain streaks fall across a dark, overcast outdoor scene. The left side of the image is open dark background.

'Pip?' whispers puppy, gripping the rail in the rain. 'Can we come up?' I look at them. Three wet, sad faces. They all said it: no room for Pip. Part of me wants to say it back. No room. No room for them. But I think how cold and scared I was down there in the rain. So I reach my foot down. 'Come on up. Hurry, before the next flash.'

Page 11
On the left side of the image, four animals are huddled together under the peaked apex of a rooftop during a rainstorm. Pokey sits in the center with wide, relieved eyes, taking up most of the space — a small orange tabby kitten with damp fur. Calico is squeezed to Pokey's left with a slightly sheepish, apologetic expression — a small chubby calico kitten with white, orange, and black patches. Gray Spot is pressed against the far left edge, looking relieved to be safe — a small lavender-purple puppy with darker purple-gray spots and large white eyes. Inky is tucked in on the right side of the group, peering out with a grateful look — a small black cat with a white chest and belly patch, a white spot on top of the head, and large round yellow eyes. All four are squashed tightly together under the small triangular shelter of the roof peak, their fur still damp but beginning to dry. Rain falls heavily around them against a gray, stormy sky, with floodwaters visible below the roofline. The right side of the image is plain background.

Now four of us are squashed under one little roof. The patch cat's elbow jabs my chin. Puppy's tail is up my nose. Inky sits on all of us. Rain swirls below, but we are safe and dry. Well. Safe and damp. 'Pip?' whispers the patch cat. 'I am sorry we said there was no room for Pip.' 'It is all right,' I say. 'We had a hard night.'

Page 12
On the right side of the image, four animals are huddled together under the peaked overhang of a rooftop, sheltering from light rain. Inky is lying in front, eyes closed contentedly — a small black cat with a white chest and belly patch, a white spot on top of the head, and large round yellow eyes (now closed). Behind Inky, Calico is curled up sleeping peacefully — a small chubby calico kitten with white, orange, and black patches. Gray Spot is nestled beside them, also relaxed and content — a small lavender-purple puppy with darker purple-gray spots, resting with eyes half-closed. Pokey is curled up at the back of the group with a warm, gentle smile, looking content and thoughtful — a small orange tabby kitten with cream chest and belly. All four are pressed together sharing warmth, their fur mostly dry now. Rain drips down from the teal-green roof tiles around them, but the animals are dry and cozy in their sheltered spot. The left side of the image is open sky with the first hints of clearing weather.

We are squished. We are squashed. We are packed so tight that if I twist a bit, I bump a nose. It is the lumpiest, tightest bed on all the street, but it is snug. We curl up tight. And here is the thing. There is room for all of us.

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