Alice’s Cosy Den

Alice wants a quiet place for her picture book. Mum brings a light blanket. “We could make a little den,” says Alice.

They put the blanket across two low, sturdy chairs. The middle hangs down. Alice looks underneath. “There is not much room in there.”

Alice crawls in and sits on the mat. The blanket brushes her head. She comes back out. “My roof is too low,” she says.

Mum moves the chairs a little farther apart. They spread the blanket flat between them. The middle no longer sags so much. Alice watches.

Mum fixes the blanket safely to the chair backs with large clips. She leaves the front wide open. “Shall we check your space?”

Alice sits on the mat again. Now the blanket stays above her head. She opens her book. “I can sit up,” she says.

Mum sits just outside. Alice turns a page and shows her a rabbit. The roof stays up. The wide opening lets in plenty of light.

“My reading place is ready,” says Alice. Mum passes her a cushion. They read together, with Alice inside her cosy den and Mum close by.