Ryers Readers - Just Narwhal

Episode Date: November 16, 2022

Narwhal didn’t have any special talents, but maybe judging the painting contest will show off her true skills!

Let's do this! Thank you so much for tuning into today's story. Don't forget to tell your grown-up to go check out the Ryer's Reader's Instagram for more fun content. Before we get into the story, do you want to know a fun fact? Did you know that crabs have 10 legs and can walk in all different directions, but mostly run and walk sideways? Pretty cool, huh? Okay, story time. Today, we are reading just Narwhal, a make-believe ideas book.

Narwhal was a whale who thought she had no skills at all. She couldn't cook or knit or sing or even catch a ball. Meanwhile, her mermaid friends were skillful as can be. If they tried out something new, they did it perfectly. Wow, thought Narwal every day. There's nothing they can't do, but I'm just Narwhal, and I wish I had talent too. One morning, Star and Coral cried to Narwal in distress. Our art contest has started, but everything's a mess.

We need a judge, said Coral, and our time is nearly up. Can you judge our paintings and decide who wins this cup? Narwhal thought, I'll get it wrong, and quickly shook her head. She told them, I'm just Narwal. I'll find someone else instead. She asked, clackle the clownfish, to decide which art should win. The prize goes to the funniest, said cackle with a grin. Narwhal thought, that's not enough to win a special prize, but I'm just Narwhal, so I'll check with someone big and wise.

She found a big, blue whale and asked which painting is the best? The biggest, shouted Jumbo. Forget about the rest. Not sure sizes everything, said Narwhal quietly. But since I'm just Narwhal, I'll make sure Shelley agrees. Shelley scuttled around the art, but judged them selfishly. The shellfish said, the winner is the one that features me. Narwhal looked around and thought,

These choices don't seem fair. They can't judge one thing alone. there's much more to compare. Narwhal swam to her friends. I've let you down, she cried. You need a fair and honest judge who sees how hard you've tried. The mermaid said, if that's the case, then you should judge our art. To us, you're not just narwhal, and we love you to take part.

Narwhal gave a nervous smile and said, Okay, I'll try. And she wrote a list of qualities to chudge the paintings by. Narwhal swam around the art and studied each with care. She looked at every brushstroke to make sure that she was fair. At last, she said, each piece of art is special in its way, but one checked every box for me.

Star wins first prize today. Star held up the Shining Cup for everyone to see. Then Coral rushed to Narwhal and she hugged her gratefully. She said, You are the finest judge we could have ever found, your fair and open-minded, the most just narwhal around. From that day on,

Narwhal would judge each contest she could find, and though she couldn't dance or sing, at last she didn't mind. She thought, my skills are hidden. They're not obvious to see, but just like all the paintings, there is so much more to me. The end.

Don't forget to stick around to see if you can answer today's paying attention question. Before you go, do you think you can answer today's paying attention question? What type of painting did cackle the clownfish think should win? If your answer was the funniest painting, you did it! Great job! You sure were paying attention. I hope you enjoyed that story. I wonder what we're going to read next.