3CharactersSetting:Thelivingroomofthefamily’shouseNarratorMomPeterKateDadAnna4Narrator:ThefamilyishappybecauseDadhasjustcomebackfromhisworktrip.Mom,Anna,Peter,andKatewanttoknowwhat’sinthepackagesthatareonthetable.Mom:Yourfatheralwaysbringsyouspecialtreats!Peter:Weknow.He’sagreatdad!Dad:IhavesomethingforMom,too.5Anna:Pleasemayweopenthepresentsrightnow?Mom:Wholeftthatdooropenagain?Ialwayshavetotellyouchildrentoshutthedoor.Anna,pleaseshutitthistime.Thenwe’llseeaboutthepresents.6Dad:Mom,Ithinkyou’regoingtoenjoyyourpresent.Anna:Iclosedthedoor.Pleasemayweopenthepresentsnow?Dad:Youmayopentheminaminute.First,whocananswerthisquestion?What’sinthispackageforMom?Narrator:Dadholdsupthepackage.Katehasaguess.7Kate:It’sicecream!It’sicecream!Peter:It’snoticecream,Kate.Anna:It’ssomethingMomcanwear.Dad:No,guessagain.8Kate:It’sicecream!It’sicecream!Dad:It’snoticecream,Kate.Anna:MayIholdit?9Narrator:DadgivesAnnathepackage.Anna:It’sveryheavy.Mom:Ican’timaginewhatitcouldbe.Doesitsmell?Narrator:Momsniffsthepackage.Mom:IthoughtitmightbethosespecialsoapsIuse,butthere’snosoapsmell.10Kate:MayIholdit?Narrator:MomhelpsKateholdthepackage.Kate:It’sabigicecream!All:It’snoticecream!11Peter:Maybeit’sapictureorsomethingforthekitchen.Mom:I’dbetteropenit.Narrator:Momopensherpresent.Everyoneissurprised.It’sadoormat.Mom:Well,Ididn’texpectthis.12Narrator:Dadtakesthematandputsitbythedoor.Dad:Areyouready?Watchandlisten.Walkoverthemat,Peter.Narrator:Peterwalksoverthemat.Avoicesays,“Pleaseshutthedoor.”13Peter:It’satalkingmat!Kate:It’snoticecream!Narrator:Everyonelaughs.Theyalltaketurnswalkingthroughthedoor.Mom:Whatanespeciallyusefulpresent.I’llneverhavetoaskanyonetoshutthedooragain!14Anna:Pleasemayweopenourpresentsnow,Dad?Dad:Yes,youmay,butonlyafteryoushutthedoor!ThinkCritically1.WhatwasMomalwaystellingsomeonetodo?2.Isthisbookaboutrealormade-uppeopleandevents?Why?3.Whichcharacterwasthoughtful?Howcanyoutell?4.Whydoyouthinktheauthorwrotethestory?5.HowdidyoufeelwhenyoufoundoutMom’spresentwasadoormat?Why?ScienceWriteQuestionsInthebook,thefamilyaskedDadquestionstofindoutwhatMom’spresentcouldbe.Writefivequestionsthatyouwouldhaveaskedtohelpyoufindoutwhatthepresentwas.School-HomeConnectionTellfamilymembersaboutthestory.ThentalkaboutotherpresentsyouthinkMomwouldhaveliked.WordCount:396
