Sandy and the Special Shell

Sandy is a soft, friendly seal, and Sandy is always hoping for one special shell. Not just any shell. A curly, swirly, sunshine-yellow shell. Oh, how Sandy hopes for it!

Sandy has lots of other shells. Round ones, flat ones, spotty ones. But the one Sandy wishes for most is the swirly yellow one.

Along came Pebble the crab, with a whole basket of shells. And there, right on top - a curly, swirly, sunshine-yellow shell!

“That one!” said Sandy, eyes shining. “Oh, THAT is the one I was hoping for!”

So Pebble gave Sandy the yellow shell. And Sandy - oh, Sandy’s smile was the BIGGEST smile in the whole tide-pool! Sandy hugged the swirly shell close. “You gave me the very one I wanted most!”

That is the happy thing Sandy shows us. When you give a friend the thing they were REALLY wishing for - not just any thing, but THEIR special thing - it makes them happiest of all. A big, wiggly, whole-body smile!

A grown-up can play too! Ask each other: “What is YOUR favourite? Your favourite colour? Your favourite toy?” Then find that special thing and give it. Watch how big the smile gets when you give a friend the very thing they were hoping for.

Sandy gave Pebble a lovely spotty shell in return - the kind Pebble loved best. And now both friends had their special shell, and both friends beamed.

Give a friend the very shell they were wishing for, and watch how big they smile! That’s Sandy.