Hugo’s Puppet Picnic

Hugo and Anna are planning a puppet picnic. Hugo chooses a soft rabbit. Anna chooses a green bird. Two empty toy plates wait on the rug between them.

“I have brought all the food,” says Hugo in a deep rabbit voice. He puts both plates beside Rabbit. Bird looks down at the empty space near Anna.

Anna makes Bird turn away. “Then I cannot have a picnic,” she says in a small voice. Hugo stops. “Our story has got stuck,” he tells her.

Miss Park comes to listen. “What might Bird want Rabbit to know?” she asks. Anna brings Bird back. “I would like a place too,” Bird says.

Hugo makes Rabbit look at the two plates. He moves one towards Bird. “This one can be yours.” The puppets sit side by side, but the plates are still empty.

“We need pretend food,” says Anna. She makes Bird peck at a plate. “I have brought crunchy seeds.” Hugo lifts Rabbit. “I have brought an enormous carrot!”

Rabbit tries to lift the pretend carrot and falls backwards onto Hugo’s knee. Anna laughs. Bird offers to help. Together the puppets carry the invisible carrot between the plates.

They practise again, leaving room for each other’s voices. Hugo waits while Bird speaks. Anna watches Rabbit’s movements so she knows when to answer. Their picnic begins to feel like a story.

When the class comes to watch, Rabbit offers Bird a place straight away. Then comes the enormous carrot. The children laugh as both puppets wobble with its pretend weight.

After the show, Anna asks what they should do next. Hugo puts Rabbit beside Bird. “A walk after lunch?” he suggests. This time, both puppets will choose where to go.