Yemi was a little explorer. Yemi had a yellow hat, a small blue bag, and very curious eyes.
One sunny morning, Yemi came to the zoo.
“Hello, zoo!” said Yemi.
The tall giraffe said, “Hello!”
The sleepy lion said, “Rrrr-hello.”
The little penguins went, “Waddle, waddle, splash!”
Yemi loved to look, listen, and help. Yemi walked slowly. Step, step, step.
Then Yemi heard a sound.
Clunk! Whirr! Clunk!
It came from the animal play garden.
There sat Toy, a big red wind-up robot toy. Toy had square feet, a round tummy, and a tiny silver key on its back. Toy was pushing a toy cart across the path.
“No path!” beeped Toy. “My cart is stuck. No one may pass!”
Behind the cart were three small ducklings. They wanted to go back to their pond.
“Peep, peep,” said the ducklings.
Yemi’s friend Prince came running. Prince was a kind little prince in green boots. He wore a gold crown that was a bit too big. It slipped over one eye.
“Oh!” said Prince, lifting his crown. “The ducklings need help.”
Yemi nodded. “We help.”
Toy made a grumpy sound. “Clunk! My wheel is in a hole. Push did not work. Pull did not work. I am stuck, stuck, stuck!”
Yemi looked at the cart. Yemi looked at the hole. Yemi looked at Toy.
“Toy is not bad,” whispered Yemi. “Toy needs help too.”
Prince smiled. “You are a very good explorer, Yemi.”
First, Yemi asked the elephant, “Can you bring a big leaf?”
The elephant lifted a wide, strong leaf with its trunk. “Here you are!”
Next, Prince asked the monkeys, “Can you bring little sticks?”
The monkeys brought sticks. One monkey wore a stick like a moustache. “Ooh-ooh!” he laughed.
Yemi put the sticks into the hole. Prince placed the big leaf over them. It made a soft, flat ramp.
“Now we push together,” said Yemi.
Yemi pushed.
Prince pushed.
The elephant pushed with its trunk.
The monkeys pushed with their tiny hands.
Even the ducklings pushed with their fluffy bottoms.
“Ready?” said Yemi.
“Ready!” said everyone.
“One, two, three!”
Push!
The cart moved a little.
“Again!” said Prince.
Push!
The cart rolled out of the hole.
Clackety-clack! It was free.
Toy’s eyes flashed blue. “Cart free,” said Toy softly. “Thank you.”
But then Toy went very still.
“Oh no,” said Prince. “What happened?”
Toy’s silver key had stopped turning.
“I cannot walk,” beeped Toy. “I cannot take my cart home.”
Yemi opened the blue explorer bag. Inside were a red scarf, a round biscuit, a little map, and one shiny wind-up key.
Yemi held up the key. “Maybe this helps.”
Toy’s eyes grew wide. “A key! A key for me?”
Yemi carefully turned the shiny key.
Click, click, click.
Toy’s arms wiggled.
Toy’s feet tapped.
Toy danced in a circle.
“Whirr! I can walk!” Toy cheered.
Toy was not grumpy now. Toy was happy. Very happy.
“Ducklings first,” said Yemi.
Toy pulled the cart away from the path. The ducklings hurried by.
“Peep! Peep! Thank you!” they said.
They splashed into their pond. Splash, splash, splash!
The zoo animals clapped. The lion clapped slowly. The seals clapped loudly. The penguins clapped with their flippers and nearly fell over.
Toy opened the cart. Inside was a surprise.
It was full of bright explorer badges: a lion badge, a giraffe badge, a penguin badge, and a golden star badge.
“I was taking these to the zoo game,” said Toy. “But I got stuck. Yemi, you may have the golden star.”
Toy gave Yemi the shiny badge.
Prince gave Yemi a little bow. “Explorer Yemi, you are brave, clever, and kind.”
Yemi pinned the star on the yellow hat.
It sparkled in the sun.
“Can Toy come with us?” asked Yemi.
Prince smiled. “Of course.”
So Yemi, Prince, and Toy walked through the zoo.
Step, step, whirr.
Step, step, whirr.
They watched the giraffe munch green leaves. They heard the lion roar a gentle roar. They waved at the penguins.
Toy carried the cart. Prince held his crown. Yemi led the way with the little map.
At the zoo gate, Yemi looked at the golden badge and smiled.
“Today,” said Yemi, “we found a new friend.”
“New friend!” said Toy.
“New friend!” said Prince.
And the whole zoo said, “Hooray for Explorer Yemi!”
Then Yemi went home with the golden star, a happy heart, and a brand-new exploring friend.