The Curled Tail

Ages 6-9

Zlati presses the clay snake's tail against the floor of their pretend zoo.

Her friend makes a broad paper wall around it.

"It needs space," Zlati says.

Her friend bends the wall closer.

Zlati reaches for its corner.

"Not so small."

Her friend lifts a little clay egg.

"This goes inside, too."

Zlati lets go of the corner. She looks at the egg, then at the wall.

Zlati curls her clay snake around the opposite edge.

Her friend puts the egg down. The wall still bends close to the snake's tail.

Zlati moves only the tail. She tucks its end beside the curled body.

Inside the paper wall, the snake curls around the little egg.