Publisher's Synopsis
Palmer, a tree frog with bushy tails and brilliant eyes, was excited and a little anxious as he stood on the edge of the expansive grounds of Lily Pad Elementary School. He was eager to make an impression on his first day as the school's new physical education instructor. Palmer inhaled deeply and sprang inside the school building as the morning light began to peep over the horizon, bathing the surrounding pond coated in golden glow from the lily pads. The sound of bells ringing, feet moving, and student conversation filled the corridors within. Palmer went to the staff room, where his colleagues' educators welcomed him with smiles and gestures of welcome. Palmer was greeted by Mrs. Croaker, the principal, and his first class of enthusiastic pupils after a brief orientation. With wide eyes, they gazed up at him, their expressions displaying a mixture of wonder and excitement. After clearing his throat, Palmer started his introduction. "Good morning to all of you! Despite the butterflies in his gut, he said with confidence, "My name is Palmer, and I'm your new PE teacher." "I'm so excited to be here at Lily Pad Elementary, and I can't wait to dive into all sorts of fun activities with you!" The pupils looked at each other expectantly, their excitement brimming as they anticipated what Palmer had in store for them. Their intensity was palpable in the air, which increased his own excitement even more. Palmer said with a kind grin, "Now, before we get started, I'd like to know a little bit about each of you." Which physical activity or sport is your favorite? Give me a tell with your hand!" Students enthusiastically discussed their hobbies, causing hands to shoot up around the room. Others were enthusiastic about soccer, others adored basketball, and some even spent their leisure time swimming in the pond. Palmer listened intently and mentally noted what they would want to learn in future classes. Palmer jumped straight into the lesson for the day after spending some time getting to know his classmates. He took the students outdoors to the large playground of the school, where brightly colored play equipment studded the surrounding area like a playground heaven. "Today, we're going to start with something simple but important: warming up!" Palmer said, motioning for the pupils to form a circle on the lawn. "Warming up reduces the risk of injury and helps our body prepare for physical activity. First up, let's practice some frog hops!" With that, Palmer showed off how to do a frog jump properly by bending his knees and leaping into the air with many strong hops. After gaping in amazement, the pupils excitedly followed suit, bouncing and leaping all around the circle as their laughter filled the air.
