Frog Power Read Free Page A

The pet parade would be the perfect Easter surprise for her dad!
    Stacy made a peanut butter and jellysandwich. She drank a glass of milk with it. Nibbling on an apple, Stacy dashed off to Dunkum’s.
    She passed Jason Birchall’s house on the way. Just thinking about Croaker made her shiver. He was the ugliest creature on earth.
    Stacy wished Jason’s bullfrog would go jump in a well. Then the pet parade would be perfect!

SIX
    Stacy tossed her sneakers beside the steps in Dunkum’s basement. Sitting on the floor, she finished eating her apple.
    Dunkum whistled and the kids got quiet.
    Abby plopped down in her president’s seat—the blue beanbag. “OK,” she began. “Is everyone here?”
    The kids looked around.
    â€œSomeone’s missing,” Abby said.
    Eric pushed his hair back. “Did we forget to tell Jason?”
    â€œI thought you told him,” Dunkum said.
    Shawn stood up. “I go get Jason.”
    Stacy felt funny inside.
    When Shawn came back with Jason, the Cul-de-sac Kids began to plan the parade.
    â€œStacy is a good fixer-upper,” Abby said. “She should be in charge of arranging the pets.”
    Dunkum brought a marker board from his father’s study. He handed a blue marker to Stacy. “You make a list of all the girl animals.” He drew a black line dividing the board in half. “I’ll write the boy animals on this side.”
Girls
Boys
Quacker—Carly’s duck
Jack—Jimmy’s duck
Snow White— Shawn’s dog
Mr. Whiskers— Dee Dee’s cat
Blinkee—Dunkum’s rabbit
Sunday Funnies—Stacy’s dog
Fran the Ham—Eric’s hamster
Croaker—Jason’s bullfrog
    Stacy turned around. “What about you , Abby?”
    Shawn leaped off the floor. “Abby play march tape on tape recorder.”
    â€œGood idea!” Stacy said.
    â€œOr, Abby could pull a wagon full of my grandpa’s birdcages. He has three canaries and two parakeets,” Eric suggested.
    Stacy looked at Abby. “Wanna?”
    Abby nodded. “I’ll carry the tape recorder in one hand, and pull the wagon with the other.”
    â€œI could buy a lady frog for you,” Jason said. “Would you like that?”
    â€œUh . . . that’s OK,” Stacy said quickly. “Abby is our props manager and bird tamer. Besides, one frog on the block is enough.”
    Carly and Dee Dee giggled.
    â€œLet’s make Easter bonnets for the girl animals,” said Stacy. “Who wants to help me make them?”
    Abby shot up her hand.
    â€œWhat about bow ties for the boy animais?” Eric said. “Hey, Stacy, wanna help me?”
    Stacy smiled. “OK!”
    â€œGood idea,” Jason croaked. “I’ll help, too. Er-rib-bit!”
    Stacy groaned. Had Eric tricked her into touching Croaker? Again?
    Abby ended the meeting. “Remember, don’t tell your parents. It’s a big surprise. Stacy’s head of the parade. She’ll make sure all the animals are dressed for the show.”
    Stacy scrambled for her sneakers. Keeping a secret was not a problem. But tying a bow around a bullfrog’s neck? That was a problem!

SEVEN
    Stacy ran home to clean her room. Something bugged her about Jason’s horrible frog. What was it?
    She stood on a chair and dusted the shelf in her closet. In the back, Stacy found her old fairy-tale book.
    She jumped off the chair and sat on her bed. Slowly, she turned the pages. It was filled with beautiful pictures. And memories of her dad.
    Stacy picked up the bookmark. It had marked the spot in the middle of the story.The one her father was reading to her before he left.
    Stacy turned the page. “Oh no!” Staring up from the page was a giant green bullfrog. The story was “The Frog Prince”—the same one that Stacy was reading for school.
    Whoosh! Stacy slammed the book shut. A puff of dust flew out. “I