Storybook Lane
Elsie and the Rumble-Tumble Band
Ages 3–5
Elsie the elephant loves the plinka-plink of her little banjo. But when a runaway wagon arrives full of rattly, clangy, bouncy things, her quiet garden suddenly becomes VERY musical. Can Elsie turn all that rumble and tumble into a tune—even one the sleepy snail wants to hear again?
Page 1 of 12
Elsie the elephant loved little sounds.
Plink went a raindrop in a bucket.
Ting went a spoon on a cup.
Tap-tap went Elsie’s toes on the floor.
But Elsie’s favorite sound came from her little banjo.
Plinka-plink!
Every morning, she played one happy tune.
Plinka-plink, plinka-plink!
Page 2 of 12
One windy afternoon, Elsie carried her banjo into the garden.
She played for the daisies.
She played for the washing.
She played for a very sleepy snail.
Then—
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE!
Elsie stopped.
“What was THAT?”
Page 3 of 12
The sound came from behind the garden wall.
RUMBLE!
Elsie peeked over.
A little red wagon was rolling down the path all by itself.
Inside were three empty tins.
Clatter-clang!
A wooden spoon.
Tap-a-tap!
And one round lid.
BONG!
Elsie’s ears lifted.
Page 4 of 12
The wagon bumped to a stop beside Elsie.
The tins rattled.
The spoon bounced.
The lid rolled in a circle.
Bong... bong... bong...
Elsie smiled.
“You sound like a band.”
The sleepy snail opened one eye.
Page 5 of 12
Elsie tucked her banjo under one arm.
“Ready?”
She strummed.
Plinka-plink!
The tins answered.
Clatter-clang!
The spoon bounced.
Tap-a-tap!
The lid wobbled.
BONG!
The garden had never sounded so busy.
Page 6 of 12
Elsie played faster.
Plinka-plinka-plink!
The wagon rattled faster.
CLATTER-CLANG!
The spoon hopped faster.
TAP-TAP-TAP!
The lid spun faster.
BONG-BONG-BONG!
The sleepy snail pulled his head into his shell.
Page 7 of 12
“Oops,” said Elsie.
She stopped.
Everything stopped.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Elsie listened.
From the snail’s shell came a tiny—
tap.
Elsie leaned closer.
Tap... tap.
The snail was tapping his shell with one feeler.
Page 8 of 12
Elsie played one soft note.
Plink.
The snail tapped.
Tap.
Elsie played two.
Plink-plink.
The snail answered.
Tap-tap.
The tins gave a tiny rattle.
The spoon gave a tiny tick.
The lid gave the softest...
bong.
Page 9 of 12
Elsie’s eyes grew bright.
“Not louder,” she whispered.
“Together.”
Plink-plink.
Tap-tap.
Rattle.
Tick.
Bong.
The sounds fitted like puzzle pieces.
Even the wind joined in.
Whooooosh.
Page 10 of 12
A robin landed on the wall.
Chirp-chirp!
A frog beside the watering can added—
Ribbit!
Elsie giggled.
“Everyone gets a sound.”
So they played.
Plink!
Tap!
Rattle!
Tick!
Bong!
Chirp!
Ribbit!
Whoooosh!
Page 11 of 12
The tune bounced around the garden.
Not too loud.
Not too fast.
Just rumbly enough.
Just tumbly enough.
The daisies bobbed.
The washing flapped.
The frog puffed his cheeks.
And the snail came all the way out of his shell.
Page 12 of 12
When the tune ended, the garden went quiet.
For one tiny moment.
Then the snail tapped his shell.
Tap-tap?
Elsie grinned.
“Again?”
The tins rattled.
The spoon bounced.
The lid wobbled.
And the Rumble-Tumble Band began once more.
Plinka-plink!
Elsie and the Rumble-Tumble Band
The End
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