Percy the Park KeeperPercy the Park Keeper

Percy the park keeper Percy the park keeper loves to spend time loves to spend time with his animal friends, with his animal friends, even though his work even though his work in the park keeps him in the park keeps him very busy. The animals very busy. The animals often need Percy’s often need Percy’s help, and sometimes help, and sometimes he has to solve their he has to solve their problems, like the time problems, like the time when the hedgehog’s when the hedgehog’s balloon kept bursting…balloon kept bursting…

QUIZ!QUIZ!

Percy the park keeper looked Percy the park keeper looked up from his work and up from his work and

gazed in wonder.gazed in wonder.““Two red ones…a blue one…Two red ones…a blue one…

there’s a yellow one…and there’s a yellow one…and another blue one…”another blue one…”

Percy was counting balloons.Percy was counting balloons.““I wonder where they’re coming I wonder where they’re coming

from,” he said to himself. from,” he said to himself. “Somebody must have had a “Somebody must have had a

party.” He put down his party.” He put down his trowel and wiped his hands.trowel and wiped his hands.

““Well, if nobody wants them,” Well, if nobody wants them,” he said, “I think I’ll help he said, “I think I’ll help

myself.”myself.”

Percy chased after Percy chased after the balloons as the balloons as

they floated past they floated past him on the him on the

breeze. It didn’t breeze. It didn’t take him long to take him long to collect as many collect as many

as he could carry. as he could carry. He began to walk He began to walk back towards his back towards his

hut, whistling hut, whistling happily.happily.

Suddenly, Percy stopped. He could hear a faint sound Suddenly, Percy stopped. He could hear a faint sound coming from a tree nearby. It was not a happy sound.coming from a tree nearby. It was not a happy sound.

““Someone crying,” said Percy.Someone crying,” said Percy.

““Oh dear.” He let go of his balloons and hurried Oh dear.” He let go of his balloons and hurried over to the stump.over to the stump.

Sitting on the tree stump, and looking very upset, Sitting on the tree stump, and looking very upset, was a hedgehog. Two mice were doing their best was a hedgehog. Two mice were doing their best

to comfort him.to comfort him.

““Goodness me,” said Percy. “Whatever is Goodness me,” said Percy. “Whatever is the matter?”the matter?”

““Its all these Its all these balloons,” said the balloons,” said the

hedgehog.hedgehog.Then, in between sniffs and Then, in between sniffs and

sobs, he explained to sobs, he explained to Percy how he had Percy how he had

always loved balloons. always loved balloons. The trouble was that he The trouble was that he could never have them could never have them

because they would because they would always burst on his always burst on his

spines.spines.““It’s just not fair!” It’s just not fair!”

And the hedgehog burst And the hedgehog burst into tears again.into tears again.

““You poor thing,” said Percy. He tried to put his arm You poor thing,” said Percy. He tried to put his arm around the hedgehog but took it away at once.around the hedgehog but took it away at once.

““Ouch,” he said.Ouch,” he said.

Then Percy took one of his thick gardening gloves out Then Percy took one of his thick gardening gloves out of his pocket and put it on. The hedgehog nestled into his of his pocket and put it on. The hedgehog nestled into his

hand.hand.

““I think everyone should be able to play with I think everyone should be able to play with balloons,” said Percy. “And that includes hedgehogs.”balloons,” said Percy. “And that includes hedgehogs.”

He put on the other glove and gently carried the He put on the other glove and gently carried the hedgehog towards an old store shed. The two mice hedgehog towards an old store shed. The two mice

followed.followed.

The mice watched The mice watched Percy through the window. Percy through the window. He set the hedgehog down He set the hedgehog down

on the workbench and on the workbench and then he took a tin from the then he took a tin from the shelf. He opened the lid.shelf. He opened the lid.

““What’s Percy What’s Percy doing?” said one of the doing?” said one of the mice. “What’s in that mice. “What’s in that

box?”box?”““I don’t know,” said I don’t know,” said

the other mouse. “I can’t the other mouse. “I can’t see properly.”see properly.”

The mice didn’t The mice didn’t have to wait long to find have to wait long to find out. Percy picked up the out. Percy picked up the

hedgehog and brought him hedgehog and brought him outside.outside.

““There!” said Percy. “A good idea, even if I say so There!” said Percy. “A good idea, even if I say so myself! I think those balloons will be safe now.”myself! I think those balloons will be safe now.”

The mice clapped and the hedgehog beamed. He thought The mice clapped and the hedgehog beamed. He thought how smart he must look, wearing his corks.how smart he must look, wearing his corks.

Percy caught hold of a bright yellow balloon. Percy caught hold of a bright yellow balloon.

““Here you are,” said Percy as he handed it to the Here you are,” said Percy as he handed it to the hedgehog. “Your very first balloon.”hedgehog. “Your very first balloon.”

The hedgehog took the balloon and with a great big smile on The hedgehog took the balloon and with a great big smile on his face, he scampered off with the balloon floating beside him.his face, he scampered off with the balloon floating beside him.

““Another satisfied customer,” said Percy, feeling pleased Another satisfied customer,” said Percy, feeling pleased with himself.with himself.

Percy turned to go back to his hut. But suddenly, Percy turned to go back to his hut. But suddenly, there was a loud BANG!there was a loud BANG!

““Oops!” said Percy. “One of the corks must have Oops!” said Percy. “One of the corks must have come off. It’s a good job we’ve got plenty of come off. It’s a good job we’ve got plenty of

balloons!”balloons!”

““Don’t worry,” Percy called to the hedgehog, “I’m Don’t worry,” Percy called to the hedgehog, “I’m coming…”coming…”

Nick ButterworthNick Butterworth

Nick Butterworth was born in North London in 1946 Nick Butterworth was born in North London in 1946 and grew up in a sweet shop in Essex. He now and grew up in a sweet shop in Essex. He now

lives in Suffolk with his wife Annette and their two lives in Suffolk with his wife Annette and their two children, Ben and Amanda.children, Ben and Amanda.

The inspiration for the Percy the Park Keeper books The inspiration for the Percy the Park Keeper books came from Nick Butterworth’s any walks through came from Nick Butterworth’s any walks through

the local park with the family dog, Jake. The the local park with the family dog, Jake. The stories have sold nearly two million copies and stories have sold nearly two million copies and

are loved by children all around the world.are loved by children all around the world.

What colour balloon does Percy give to What colour balloon does Percy give to the hedgehog?the hedgehog?

Answers: Answers:

What does Percy put on the hedgehog What does Percy put on the hedgehog to stop the balloons popping?to stop the balloons popping?

Answers:Answers: RubbersRubbersBallsBallsCorksCorks

RedRed BlueBlue YellowYellow

QUIZ!QUIZ!

Next half of the quizNext half of the quiz

How many mice are with the How many mice are with the hedgehog?hedgehog?

Answers:Answers:

What colour is Percy’s hat?What colour is Percy’s hat?

Answers:Answers:BlackBlack RedRed BrownBrown

55 22 11

WELL DONE!!!!!WELL DONE!!!!!

WELL DONE!!!!!WELL DONE!!!!!

Sorry that’s the wrong answer.Sorry that’s the wrong answer.

Sorry that’s the wrong answer.Sorry that’s the wrong answer.