Horace the Hedgehog's Huffs
Horace the Hedgehog's Huffs
Horace the hedgehog was, to put it mildly, grumpy. He wasn't just a little grumpy; he was exceptionally, extraordinarily grumpy. The other forest animals often wondered how one small creature could harbor so much grumbling.
"I hate dewdrops!" Horace would huff, shaking his prickly back. "They're always so… wet!"
The squirrels, who loved playing in the dewy grass, would giggle. "But Horace, they make everything sparkle!"
Horace would just roll his eyes. "Sparkle? Bah! I hate sparkle."
One sunny afternoon, Beatrice the bunny hopped over to Horace, who was currently scowling at a particularly fluffy dandelion. "Horace," she said, her nose twitching, "the berries are ripe! We're all going to pick some for a pie. Want to come?"
Horace grumbled. "Berries? I hate berries. They're sticky and seedy and… red! Red is such a loud color."
Despite his protest, Beatrice gently nudged him along with her. Soon, they arrived at a sunny patch filled with juicy, plump berries. All the animals were there: Finley the fox, Penelope the pig, even Celeste the cautious crow was pecking at the sweetest ones.
Horace stood back, arms crossed. "I hate sunshine," he muttered. "It's too bright."
- Grumpy:
- In a bad mood; complaining.
- Huff:
- To breathe out loudly in annoyance.
- Tentative:
- Hesitant; uncertain.
- Muttered:
- Said something quietly and unclearly.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why is Horace considered a grumpy hedgehog?
- 2What does Horace dislike about dewdrops?
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About this fiction passage for Upper Elementary
“Horace the Hedgehog's Huffs” is a fiction reading passage about Grumpy Animals, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (381 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.