Notes from the Story Room: Mole's New Hole

This week's Flannel Friday post was written to go along with this summer's CSLP theme, "Dig Into Reading." The story was inspired by the folktale "The Big Turnip" and Elephant in a Well by Marie Hall Ets.

Mole’s New Hole

Linda Meuse

3/1/13

Notes from the Story Room

Mole popped out the ground. He had just made a new entrance to his underground home. He had a nice new mole-sized hole. Just then Possum came ambling by and saw Mole. “Hello, Mole,” said Possum. “How are you today?” “Fine, thank you,” replied Mole. “I just made a brand new hole for my underground home.” “Oh, may I take a look?” asked Possum. “Certainly,” said Mole, “but be careful. It’s a mole-sized hole not a possum-sized hole.” Possum had never seen Mole’s underground home so he was very curious. He stuck his head in the hole but couldn’t see much. “I’ll just go down a little further,” thought Possum, pushing his front into the hole. “Be careful!” said Mole but it was too late. Possum was stuck. He couldn’t get himself out of the hole. “Help!” yelled Possum. “My feet are up and my head is down. I have nothing to grab on to. Please pull me out!”

Mole tried to pull Possum out. He pulled and pulled but he could not get Possum out. “I’ll get help,” said Mole. Mole found Raccoon who came to help. Raccoon pulled on Mole and Mole pulled on Possum. They pulled and they pulled but Possum did not come out. Rabbit came over to help. Rabbit pulled on Raccoon and Raccoon pulled on Mole and Mole pulled on Possum. They pulled and they pulled but Possum stayed stuck. Squirrel saw what was happening and offered to help. Squirrel pulled on Rabbit and Rabbit pulled on Raccoon and Raccoon pulled on Mole and Mole pulled on Possum. They pulled and pulled but Possum did not move an inch. Skunk came to help. Skunk pulled on Squirrel and Squirrel pulled on Rabbit and Rabbit pulled on Raccoon and Raccoon pulled on Mole and Mole pulled on Possum but Possum was still stuck in the hole. “What are we going to do?” asked Mole. “We can’t pull Possum out.” “I think we are going to have to dig Possum out,” said Raccoon. “But that will ruin my hole and my home below!” wailed Mole. “Let me help too,” said a teeny, tiny voice. It was Mouse who was so small she could barely be seen above the grass. “I would like to help pull Possum out of Mole’s hole,” said Mouse. “We already tried. One little mouse won’t make a difference,” said Raccoon. Mole really didn’t want his nice new hole ruined so he said, “Let’s give it one more try.” Mouse pulled on Skunk and Skunk pulled on Squirrel and Squirrel pulled on Rabbit and Rabbit pulled on Raccoon and Raccoon pulled on Mole and Mole pulled on Possum. They pulled and pulled and Possum finally came up out of the hole. “Thank you,” said Possum. “I am really happy to be out of that hole.” “Not nearly as happy as I am,” replied Mole looking at his nice new mole-sized hole.

Note: This story was written to be told with flannel/magnet board figures. When making the figures make sure that Possum's back half is bigger than the front so that he gets "stuck" in the hole.

The cast of characters ready to be laminated:

Squirrel, Rabbit, Mouse