The Winter Prince's Spring Surprise
The Winter Prince's Spring Surprise
Prince Pipkin was no ordinary prince. He was the Winter Prince, born on the coldest day of the year, with hair like freshly fallen snow and eyes the color of frozen lakes. He loved winter. He loved the crunch of snow under his boots, the way snowflakes danced in the wind, and the cozy feeling of being wrapped in a warm blanket by the crackling fire.
But as the days grew longer, and the snow began to melt, Prince Pipkin felt a strange unease. Spring was coming, and he didn't like it one bit. "Ha ha tjoe!" he'd grumble, which meant, "Oh dear, not the sun again!" in Winter Prince language.
One day, his wise old advisor, Professor Bramble, found him sulking by a melting snowman. "Prince Pipkin," he said gently, "why are you so unhappy about spring?"
"Because," Pipkin declared, "spring is messy! It's muddy, and green, and… and flowers are silly!" Professor Bramble chuckled. "But Prince Pipkin, spring is also a time of new beginnings. It's a time when the world wakes up from its long sleep. There's so much to discover!"
- Advisor:
- A person who gives advice, typically someone who is knowledgeable and experienced.
- Sulking:
- Being silently angry and refusing to be friendly or cheerful.
- Sprouts:
- New growth on a plant, such as a new leaf or stem.
- unease:
- A feeling of being worried, uncomfortable, or unsure about a situation.
- unconvinced:
- Not believing that something is true or not completely sure about an idea.
- chorus:
- A group of voices or animal sounds heard all together at the same time.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why did Prince Pipkin dislike spring?
- 2What did 'Ha ha tjoe!' mean in Winter Prince language?
Where this passage belongs
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About this fiction passage for Upper Elementary
“The Winter Prince's Spring Surprise” is a fiction reading passage about Seasons and Change, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (388 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.