子供の誕生日プレゼントに英語の絵本　オリジナル絵本の夢幻工房

The Big Parade全文紹介

The Big Parade
was created especiaiiy for

Taro Kusuniki
at the age of 6

with love from

Mom and Dad

March 30,200８

Taro Kusunoki sat up wide awake in his bed. The sun was just coming up in Aomori. He could tell that it was going to be a gorgeous day. He glanced out his bedroom window. Taro remembered exactly where he was planning to go today with Taizoh, Hanako and Mikan.

Taro had been so excited for the past week. With Taizou,Hanako,Mikan, he had made a game of finding the most cirucus posters all over town. Today was the big parade and that meant the start of all the cirucus acitivities.
Taro had even tried to go to sleep as he could last night to make the morning more quickly.

Taro began to think about all the fantastic fun he would have. Last year, his favorite act was the clown with the invisible dog. Taro wondered if the clown would be there again today. Then Taro thought about the child who would be selected　by the mayor this year to lead the parade. Who would that lucky persppn be?

Just then the phone rang.. "Taro Kusunoki, will you lead the big parade for us this year?" asked the mayor of Aomori. "Oh, yes,yes!" exclaimed Taro. "Will l get to ride in the fire truck?" The mayor chuckled, "You most certainly will, Taro!"

Taizoh,Hanako and Mikan waited with Taro while a huge helicopter landed in his back yard It was there to pick up Taro The helicopter took off minutes later withe Taro in the front seat grinning from ear to ear. After waving goodbye, Taizoh, Hanako and Mikan hurried downtown to see the parade. .

From the helicopter, Taro could see the circus parade beginninig to assemble at the adge of town. The helicopter landed and Taro ran to the mayor. On their way to the shiny, red fire truck at the head of the parade, they walked past all the practicing performers and anxious animala that would be following Taro. Taro was thrilled.

Someone shouted, "Look, TaroKusunoki is leading the parade this year !" At thet very moment, a big drum roll was head. Taro carefully climged aboard the fire truck to the driver who was dressed like a clown. Taro enjoyed the marvelous, marching music played by the band as the fire truck drove down the maiin street of Aomori.

Immediately behind the band was a beautiful bareback rider. Her two magnificent, prancing horses wrer so well trained that the rider could balance on both their backs while standing up. Taro imagined that the fine, fancy feathers on the noble horses' heads were bobbing to the beat of the music. He bobbed his head also.

The fire truck terned a corner. Taro saw three small children mimicking the dancing bear who was dressed in a pink ballerina costume. The big, brown bear was very entertaining as she proudly performed bouncy ballet steps while balancing on a ball.

The cirsus elephants followed next. As he watched the playful pranks of the darling baby elephant, Taro daydreamed about taking him home .When the elephant fanned his big floppy ears, Taro could almost picture him flying throubh the greatest of the sky with the greatest of ease. If the baby strayed too far, the mother elephant would lovingly wrap her truck around his.

A jolly juggler on a unicycle juggling five full bottles fascinated Taizoh, Hanako and Mikan. He pedaled so fast that there were times when it was hard to keep up with him. It was incredible that he never dropped a bottle, no matter how fast he pedaled. Taizoh, Hanako and Mikan knew it took practice to be that good.

Taro was amused by the anitics of the slippery seal. The seal would flip the ball backwards and then, with his hind flippers, smack it right back to the tip of his nose. Everyone loved watching the seal clap after each trick he performed. Taizoh, Hanako and Mikan had fun imitating his funny, barking noises.

The acrobatics troupe was next. Their tumbling and flipping routines had the crowd cheering. Taro was enjoying his place of honor, but was really tickled when the drivere told him he would have a chance to watch the entire parade pass before him as each act entered the big top circus tent.

A majestic lion with all his marvelous mane was in the last wagon. He was so-o-o-o big, and his roar was so-o-o loud that Taro could hear him from the very front of the parade. The mild-mannered monkeys on top of his cage did not seet at all frightened of the ferocious feline.

The fire truck stopped at the entrance of big top circus tent. Taro taiked to the circus stars as they went inside. It made him feel like an important star to be so close to them. Then Taro joined Taizoh, Hanako and Mikan in his special section inside the tent.

When the cirus was over, Taro was escorted outside by the mayor and the ringmaster. Taro did not want this special day to end. As he turned to look one last time, some performers were waving goodbye. Taro waved back and smiled, for he knew he would never forget the day he led THE BIG PARADE !

　　　　　　Taro Kusunoki　
In THE GIG PARADE, there were many different characters. Can you 　unscramble the following names?
olin
reba
ymnkoe
esorh
lesa
nlwoc
glreguj