The Silky Seal Pup Read Online Free PDF

people saw how brilliant the Rescue Zoo was they were bound to give them lots of money!
    “I want to help,” she said bravely. “I’ve already got some money-making ideas!”
    She told Lucy about the parrot show and the information sheets. “Brilliant!” Lucy said, smiling. “Why don’t you use my laptop to start writing the sheets? When I get home tonight, I’ll help you add the Rescue Zoo hot-air-balloon logo to each one, so they look really smart.”
    Zoe was so relieved that her mum thought her ideas might help the Rescue Zoo. She and Meep rushed back to thecottage, determined to get started. They sat at the kitchen table and Zoe switched on the laptop.
    “Let’s start with Oscar,” Zoe decided. Great-Uncle Horace had taught her all about African elephants, and she’d learned lots more because she had spent so much time with her biggest animal friend. She opened a fresh page and wrote Oscar’s name at the top. “I’ll say that elephants are the biggest land mammals in the world. Oscar is seven, but he’ll get even bigger until he’s about ten. What else can we tell visitors about him?”
    “Write about his trunk!” chirped Meep.
    “Good idea, Meep,” said Zoe, typing quickly. “African elephants have very clever trunks, which can suck up water and pick up food.”
    “Let’s put what he eats,” suggested Meep, jumping up and down.

    Zoe nodded. “Elephants are herbivores, so that means they eat plants, roots and fruits. Oscar’s favourite treats are oranges and bananas.”
    “And he likes to be tickled behind his ears!” added Meep.
    “Perfect, Meep!” said Zoe, writing the last line. “Now, what about the giraffes?”
    The two friends worked hard all day, and only stopped for a quick lunch when Zoe heard Meep’s tummy rumbling.
    When they heard Lucy arriving home, Zoe was finishing a sheet about Star. “Mum, come and read what we’ve done!” she called.
    Lucy sat at the kitchen table and looked through all the sheets, with Zoe perched on her knee. When she got to the very last one, she read it aloud.
“Star the harp seal. Star is the Rescue Zoo’s newest animal. She likes milk and being cuddled, but she’s still very nervous of people. We’re trying hard to show her that the Rescue Zoo is her home now.”
Tears sprang into her eyes and she pulled Zoe into a tight hug. “These are wonderful,Zoe. I know that when people read them, they’ll realise just how special the Rescue Zoo really is!”

Chapter Eight
Parrot Practice
    As soon as the school bell went on Monday afternoon, Zoe rushed back home to the Rescue Zoo. She and the parrots had a show to practise for!
    Zoe and the keepers had spent all of Sunday arranging the fundraiser. They’d put colourful posters all around Zoe’s town to tell people about it, and everykeeper was planning their own special event or stall.
    Annie, the parrot keeper, had been happy for Zoe to do a show with Ruby, Rio and Cupid, and had even suggested they have it on the patch of grass near the gift shop, where all the visitors could come and see it. Zoe had been careful not to give away too much about what the clever parrots could do. She wanted it to be a surprise!
    Zoe ran into the cottage and dumped her bag on the kitchen table. “Meep!” she called. She listened, but there was no scamper of paws as Meep ran to greet her.
That’s strange
, Zoe thought. Meep was
always
waiting for her after school.
    Zoe wandered out into the zoo. As she got closer to the parrot enclosure shecould hear cross squawking.
    Meep was standing on a fence on the outside of the enclosure, talking to Ruby and the others.
    “There you are, Meep!” Zoe called in relief. Meep bounded off the fence and into her arms for a cuddle.
    “I was helping!” he chattered happily.
    Ruby gave an indignant squawk and ruffled her feathers.
    Zoe laughed. “Ruby says you were being a very bossy lemur!”
    “I wasn’t!” Meep protested.
    Ruby opened her beak and did a perfect