Priya and the Lost Library Book

1. NarratorOn Monday morning, Priya remembered something terrible. Her library book was due back that day.
2. PriyaWhere is my book? It was on my desk yesterday.
3. NarratorShe looked under her bed. She looked in her school bag. She looked behind the sofa. Nothing.
4. LeoWhy are you shouting?
5. PriyaI cannot find my library book, Leo. It is a blue book with a picture of a whale.
6. LeoIs it the one with the big fish on the front?
7. PriyaA whale is not a fish. But yes, that is the one. Have you seen it?
8. LeoHmm. Maybe.
9. NarratorLeo looked at the floor. His cheeks went pink.
10. PriyaLeo. Tell me.
11. LeoI took it to bed last night. I wanted to look at the pictures. Then I could not find it this morning either.
12. PriyaYou borrowed my book without asking!
13. LeoI am sorry. I was going to put it back.
14. NarratorPriya took a deep breath. She was cross, but she saw that Leo was truly sorry.
15. PriyaLet us look together. Where did you sleep with it?
16. LeoIn my bed. And then I put it in my toy box.
17. NarratorThey opened the toy box. At the bottom, under a teddy bear and two cars, was the blue book. The cover was a little bent.
18. PriyaFound it! But look, the corner is bent.
19. LeoI can fix it. We can put it under the heavy dictionary.
20. NarratorThey put the book under three big books for ten minutes. The corner came almost straight.
21. NarratorAfter school, Priya went to the library. She gave the book to the librarian.
22. LibrarianThis is perfect timing. Did you enjoy it?
23. PriyaI loved it. My brother did, too. May I take out another whale book?
24. LibrarianWe have a book of sea animals, if you like.
25. PriyaYes, please. And I would like a library card for my brother, too.
26. LibrarianOf course. He can sign up once he can write his name.
27. NarratorPriya smiled. Next time, she would keep her books on the shelf, and she would tell Leo to ask first.

Voices: when recorded voices are on this page they play; if not, your own device reads the words aloud in a British voice if it has one. Slow mode plays at 85 per cent speed.