Once a little boy went to school.

He was quite a little boy

And it was quite a big school.

But when the little boy

Found that he could go to his room

By walking right in from the door outside,

He was happy

And the school did not seem so big

One morning

When the little boy had been in school a while

The teacher said:

“Today we are going to make a picture.”

“Good!” thought the little boy.

He liked to make pictures,

Lions and tigers,

Chickens and cows,

Trains and boats –

And he took out his box of crayons

And began to draw.

But the teachers said, “Wait!”

It is not time to begin.”

And she waited until everyone looked ready.

“Now,” said the teacher,

“We are going to make flowers,

“Good!” thought the little boy.

He liked to make flowers,

And he began to make beautiful ones

With his pink and orange and blue crayons.

But the teacher said, “Wait!”

And I will show you how.”

And it was red: with a green stem.

“Now you may begin.”

The little boy looked at the teacher’s flower.

Then he looked at his own flower.

He liked his flower better than the teacher’s.

But he did not say this.

He just turned his paper over.

And made a flower like the teacher’s.

It was red, with a green stem.