Who Wants a Hug? Jolly Phonics · Step 3, Unit 7: /oa/ mixed

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Who Wants a Hug?

Practice Words

road low wow howdy slow brown fellow flower glows growls howls moan moans now own scowls show yellow home jokes know
Page 1
On the right side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot looking sad and hopeful, facing a group of three potted trees who are clustered together with smug, dismissive expressions. The scene is set outdoors on reddish-brown ground with a colorful flowering hedge running across the background under a white sky. Spike's posture is slightly hunched and uncertain, while the trees lean together as a clique, clearly rejecting him.

No one wants to be pals with Spike. Not one plant. Not ever. But today, Spike feels lucky. He can feel it in his spines. 'Howdy!' Spike calls to three trees. 'I am Spike! Who wants a hug?' The three look at Spike. Then they yell, 'Ha, ha, ha! A hug? From that pointy fellow? No! Go home!'

Page 2
In the lower half of the image, Spike is shown in three sequential poses hopping cheerfully from left to right in his small terracotta pot, conveying movement across the scene. In each pose Spike has a happy, optimistic smile — unbothered and determined to keep going. Dashed bouncing lines between each position emphasize the hopping motion. The top half is plain white background, and the overall setting is a simple, minimal outdoor ground plane with soft shadows beneath the pot.

Spike will not cry. Spike will not moan. Spike will not go home and sob. Nope! 'That is fine,' says Spike with a grin. 'They can not see what a fine pal I am.' And he hops down the road, pot clinking, humming his own little song, 'Some Day a Pal Will Show Up.'

Page 3
On the right side of the image, Spike is shown in a sequence of poses hopping across the scene in his terracotta pot, with dashed lines indicating his bouncing path. In the center-right, Spike stands in his pot looking up hopefully with a friendly smile at a grumpy orange tree, which has narrowed, annoyed-looking eyes peering out from its foliage. The outdoor scene features a warm peachy-orange ground with a colorful flower hedge running along the background.

Spike spots a tree with no pals at all. 'Wow!' he says. 'This tree needs a pal to chat with. I chat well. And I like sweet food.' The tree scowls down at him. 'No.' 'No to the chat, or no to the food?' 'No to it all. Go!'

Page 4
On the left side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot on reddish-brown ground, facing a banana tree (also in a pot) that has a worried, fearful yellow face peeking out from its leaves. Spike has a slightly confused or uncertain expression, appearing to approach the banana tree. The scene is set outdoors in a garden with a colorful flower hedge running along the background under a plain white sky. Two additional small potted plant characters are visible — a flower to the right of the banana tree turning away, and another flower on the far left also moving away, both with small fearful facial features, fleeing the scene.

Then Spike spots a tree with a big green top and a shy yellow face. 'Howdy! I am Spike! Want to be...' The tree looks at his spines and screams, 'Pointy! Pointy, pointy, pointy!' It shakes and shakes, and two little plants run off in fright. 'I am not that pointy,' says Spike. He looks down at his spines. He is very, very pointy. 'Well. A bit pointy, yes.'

Page 5
On the right side of the image, Spike is shown multiple times in a sequence — standing in his terracotta pot beside a tall mango tree and a smaller guava bush, both in pots with annoyed, sighing facial expressions. Spike appears with a hopeful but slightly sad expression as he approaches each tree. The scene is set outdoors in a sunny garden yard with a row of colorful flowering bushes in the background and warm reddish-brown ground. A dashed trail on the ground shows Spike's path moving from tree to tree, with one instance of Spike walking away toward the far right looking dejected.

Spike tries a tree. It sighs. He tries a low plant. That one moans, long and loud. 'We know who that is,' the two say. 'Spike! The pointy one who wants hugs. Keep the spines far from us!' Spike goes off, slow and sad. His song stops.

Page 6
On the left side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot looking up at Pawpaw tree with a hopeful, slightly shy expression. Pawpaw tree, also in a terracotta pot, towers over Spike and looks down at him with a calm, knowing expression. Pawpaw tree has a straight slender brown trunk, a round green leafy canopy forming its head with large round white eyes, small dark eyebrows, and a subtle smile, with several large lobed green fronds extending outward from the top like hair. They are outdoors in a garden setting with a colorful flower bed visible behind them, and the right side of the image is plain white background.

One plant is left. A big tree at the far end. Spike goes to it, slow. There is no bounce in him now. He stands and looks up. 'Let me see,' says the big tree, looking down. 'Spike, right? The one who looks for a pal all day.' Spike nods. 'Well,' says the tree. 'I am brave. Spines do not give me a fright.'

Page 7
Pawpaw tree stands on the right side of the image with a warm, welcoming smile and gentle eyes, looking slightly downward as if inviting someone closer. The tree's large leafy fronds spread outward like open arms against a plain white background. The scene is set outdoors in bright daylight with a calm, welcoming atmosphere.

The big tree waves his green top wide, like two arms. 'The other plants never gave a pointy chap a chance,' says the tree. 'That is not right. Come sit with me, Spike.' Spike blinks. 'Is that true?' 'It is true.' Spike glows. For the first time all day, his song feels true.

Page 8
On the left side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot next to Pawpaw tree (also in a pot), both with surprised, wide-eyed expressions. Spike is shaking, mouth open in shock with his small arms raised, and Pawpaw tree looks upset and is trembling, with a worried frown, drooping green fronds, and a single sweat drop on her leafy crown. Motion lines surround both characters, suggesting an agitated reaction. The right side of the image is plain white background.

They chat and chat. Spike tells jokes. The tree tells tales. Wind tales, rain tales. It is so much fun. Then Spike leans in, and... Pop! One spine jabs a big green leaf. 'Ouch!' howls the tree. 'That was my leaf!'

Page 9
On the right side of the image, Pawpaw tree stands with an angry, furrowed expression, frowning and looking upset, leaning away as if pulling back from someone. Its large leaf fronds are trembling with agitation, indicated by small motion lines above them. The left side of the image is plain white background, leaving ample space for text overlay.

The tree pulls back, big leaves shaking. 'See!' he growls. 'All the plants said so! Go, Spike! Go find a pal that spines can not hurt.' 'I did not mean to jab...' 'Go!' Spike can not finish. He hops off, very little and very low.

Page 10
On the left side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot in an empty garden, looking outward with a bright, determined smile — as if he has just decided to find somewhere new. The garden around him is bare and quiet, emphasizing that he is alone with no other spikey plants in sight. The background is plain white, suggesting open space and possibility ahead.

Spike sits in the empty yard. No trees. No plants. No one. They may be right. A pointy plant may never get a pal. Then Spike stops. He looks at his spines, then at the road. 'Wait,' says Spike. 'All day I look for a pal who is not pointy. What if I need a pal who is pointy too?'

Page 11
On the right side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot on sandy, dry terrain just beyond a road, looking curiously at Thorn bush with a happy, excited expression. A dashed line traces Spike's path from the road across to his current position. Thorn bush sits beside Spike as a round, ball-shaped tangle of dark brown thorny vines with small spikes protruding in all directions, with two large white mismatched eyes and a small open dark mouth, looking back at Spike. The scene is set outdoors in a sandy, arid landscape with a paved road and sidewalk visible in the upper-left corner, along with a hint of greenery near the roadside.

Spike goes down the road, out to the dry sand dunes. And there, like a scruffy brown nest, sits a thorn plant. 'Wow,' says Spike. 'What a pointy plant!' 'Wow,' says the thorn plant. 'What a pointy plant!' They grin. 'I am Spike. Want a hug?' 'I am Thorn. Yes, yes, yes!'

Page 12
On the left side of the image, Spike and Thorn bush walk together across sandy dunes at sunset, both with wide joyful smiles as if singing together. Spike stands upright in the center-left without his pot, smiling broadly, with a small flower blooming from the top of his head and a dotted trail of footprints behind him leading back to a clay pot left by the road in the far background. Thorn bush — a round, dark brown ball of thorny vines with mismatched white eyes and a small open mouth — bounces along beside Spike on the right. Dark mountains and a glowing sun sit on the horizon. The right side of the image is plain sandy background with warm golden sky.

They hug. And no one yelps! Spike hops out from his pot by the road, and off they go over the dunes, singing songs, telling tales, bumping spines without one yelp. And then, as the sun gets low, a flower blooms, right on top of Spike. Spike can not see it. He sings his song with Thorn, glad as can be.

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