Chapter 1: The Sneaky Night at the Zoo
Cock-a-doodle-doo! Rooster Roy was not sleepy at all. The stars were twinkling, and the moon was big and round. All the animals at Sunny Zoo were supposed to be sleeping, but Roy had a different idea. He wanted adventure! He wanted fun!
“Psst! Psst!” whispered Roy, tiptoeing across the soft grass. His bright red feathers glowed in the moonlight. He peeked into Panda Polly's window.
“Polly! Wake up! Let's play Silly Socks Hide-and-Seek!” Roy giggled.
Panda Polly rubbed her eyes and yawned. “Oh, Roy, it's night! But Silly Socks Hide-and-Seek is my favorite!” Polly bounced out of bed, her soft paws patting the floor.
Next, Roy tiptoed to the giraffe house. He called softly, “Gerald! Want to play?”
Giraffe Gerald bent his long neck and sniffed. “What game?” he asked, sleepy.
“Silly Socks Hide-and-Seek!” whispered Roy.
Gerald smiled a big giraffe smile. “Count me in!” he said, and he wiggled his long, spotty legs.
Last, Roy stopped at Ellie the Elephant's door. He knocked with his beak. Knock knock knock! Ellie opened the door with her trunk.
“Roy!” she said. “It's nighttime! It's sleeping time!”
“But Ellie,” said Roy, “we're having a Silly Socks Hide-and-Seek game. Will you play with us?”
Ellie thought for a moment. Then she smiled. “Okay! But I get the purple socks!”
Roy did a happy dance. All his friends were coming!
Chapter 2: The Silly Socks Hide-and-Seek
The friends went to Roy's secret hiding spot under the big banana tree. There was a box of socks—red socks, green socks, spotty socks, and one very big purple pair for Ellie.
“Everyone, put on your silly socks!” said Roy. “When you're wearing silly socks, you have to tiptoe, hop, and wiggle. No walking!”
They all put on their socks. Panda Polly had spotty socks. Giraffe Gerald had stripey socks. Roy had rainbow socks. Ellie squeezed her big feet into the purple socks.
“Ready?” said Roy. “Let's start! I will hide, and you all must find me. Remember, only tiptoeing, hopping, and wiggling!”
Roy ran and hid behind a big bush. He giggled. He could see everyone wiggling and giggling too.
Polly tiptoed behind a tree. Gerald hopped, but his legs were so long that his head kept bumping the leaves. “Oops!” said Gerald, and all the leaves fell down, tickling his nose. “Achoo!” he sneezed loudly.
Ellie wiggled left and right, but her purple socks were too big and kept sliding off. “Oh no!” she trumpeted softly, “My socks are running away!”
The friends all giggled. Roy peeked out. “You can't find me!” he sang.
But then, Polly sneezed, “Achoo!” and rolled right into Roy's bush! “Found you, Roy!” she laughed.
Chapter 3: Socks On the Loose!
Now it was Polly's turn to hide. She tiptoed away while Roy, Gerald, and Ellie counted, “One, two, three, four…!”
But suddenly, Ellie's purple socks slid right off and flew up into the air! One sock landed on Gerald's head. The other sock flew and landed on Roy's tail.
“Look at me!” said Gerald, with a purple sock hat. “I am Sock Giraffe!” He did a funny dance with his long neck swinging.
Roy shook his tail. “My tail has a purple sock! I am now Sock Rooster!”
Ellie started to laugh and laugh. Her big, happy giggles made everyone laugh too.
Then Polly popped out from behind a tree, laughing so hard her sock had fallen off too. “We're all silly sock animals now!” she cheered.
The friends danced, hopped, and tiptoed around the big banana tree. Socks were flying everywhere! Rainbow socks, spotty socks, stripey socks, and big purple socks!
After lots of giggles and sock wiggles, everyone was tired. They all lay on the soft grass, looking up at the twinkling stars.
Roy smiled. “Best night ever,” he whispered.
And under the gentle moon, the friends fell asleep, with silly socks and happy hearts.
