mouse shrew Shrews eat insects, seeds, and worms. They are mammals, but they are not rodents like mice, because their teeth don’t keep growing. Mice are rodents, because they need to chew things to keep their teeth from getting too long. (Rodents’ teeth grow every day.)

Shroozy’s Birthday Illustrations by John S. Goodall Text for ESL by Annette Burton

Today is Shroozy’s birthday. Shroozy is still asleep. It’s almost seven o’clock in the morning. 1

“Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo,” sings the cuckoo bird clock. Shroozy sits up. She gets out of bed. 2

Shroozy takes off her night cap. She brushes her teeth. She washes her face. 3

Shroozy sits down at the table beside the fire to drink her breakfast tea. She has lots of birthday cards to open. 4

Shroozy takes her basket and her purse outside. She needs to go shopping. It is a beautiful day. Uh oh! There is a robber wearing a mask watching her. 5

Quietly the robber tiptoes behind Shroozy. She doesn’t see him. She doesn’t hear him. 6

Uh oh! The robber grabs Shroozy’s purse. He runs up the path. 7

“Robber! Robber!” yells Shroozy. “Stop him! He grabbed my purse!” 8

Peter Mouse hears Shroozy’s yells. Quickly he grabs the robber. 9

Peter takes the robber to Shroozy. The robber is very sorry he grabbed Shroozy’s purse. His mask falls off. A tear falls from his eye. He is ashamed. 10

“Here’s your purse, Miss Shroozy,” says Peter Mouse. “Oh, thank you, thank you, Mr. Mouse,” says Shroozy. The policeman takes the robber to jail. 11

“May I help you carry your basket?” says Peter. “That would be very nice,” says Shroozy. “But I have lots of shopping to do.” “I have time,” says Peter. 12

Peter carries the basket for her. Shroozy goes inside the store. “May I help you?” asks the clerk. 13

Shroozy takes out her long shopping list. Peter waits for her. 14

Peter carries the heavy basket for Shroozy. Shroozy is happy because she doesn’t have to carry it. 15

They are near Shroozy’s house. “Tonight I’m having a party,” says Shroozy. “Would you like to come?” “I’d like to come to your party,” says Peter. 16

“Goodbye, Peter,” says Shroozy. “Goodbye, Shroozy,” he says. “See you later!” they both say. 17

Shroozy carries the heavy basket down the stairs to her apartment door. She sets the basket down. She unlocks the door with her key. 18

She goes inside with the heavy basket. Her birthday cards are on the kitchen table. 19

Shroozy works hard to clean up. She sweeps with the broom. She washes the floor with a brush. She starts a good fire to cook on. 20

Shroozy bakes bread. She makes a cake and some cookies. She cooks some soup. The kitchen is very hot. 21

Shroozy gets dressed up for the party. She wears her best dress. 22

Her friends bring her presents. Peter gives her a present with striped paper. The little girl next door brings some pretty flowers. 23

Everyone sits down to eat the good food. The food is delicious. 24

After dinner, Shroozy cuts the birthday cake. It is chocolate cake with white icing. 25

Peter gets the record player. The other boys push the table out of the way. 26

All the guests dance and dance. Shroozy and Peter dance together. Everyone is having lots of fun. Shroozy and Peter are especially happy. 27

It is late. The candle has almost burned away. The guests say, “Goodnight. Happy birthday, Shroozy.” They go home. Peter says, “Thank you for inviting me to your party.” Shroozy says, “It was my pleasure, Peter.” 28

Peter goes up the stairs. He turns around. “I hope I see you soon,” he says. “Me too,” says Shroozy. 29

Shroozy yawns. She’s very tired. “I’ll clean up this mess tomorrow,” she says. 30

Shroozy has happy dreams. What a nice birthday! 31

1A ashamed 1B breakfast 1C broom 1D brush 1E candle 2A card 2B to dance 2C dress 2D face 2E jail 3A kitchen 3B list 3C mask 3D party 3E path 4A policeman 4B purse 4C robber 4d stairs 4E store 5A tea 5B tear 5C teeth 5D to tiptoe 5E to yawn