Amos and Amelie Go to Nursery School

By Eva Markert

Amelie and Amos like going to nursery school. Amos makes the crybaby Anya laugh and saves Alex when he disappears during a trip to the forest. Toby is annoyed because Amos’ hamster has the same name as him. Amelie has to work hard to get a carrot down during a healthy breakfast and helps the Syrian girl Banu learn German. It never gets boring in nursery school!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Jun 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781667403847

Book preview

Where is Amos?

When Amelie arrives at nursery school today, her cousin Amos is not there. Strange! Normally he is always brought in earlier than she is.

Amelie is in the Sun Group. All children belonging to the Sun Group hang their coats in the hallway, where there is a large sun is painted on the wall. While Amelie puts on her slippers, she keeps an eye the front door.

Many mothers and fathers bring their children in. Ben is brought in by his father. Amelie feels sorry for Ben. His father is very strict and often scolds him.

Megan, who is also in the Sun Group, comes out of the group room. Hey, Amelie. Shall we play in the dolls’ corner? she calls.

Later, replies Amelie. I’m waiting for Amos. She stays sitting on the long bench under the pegs. Little by little, fewer people come in. Aunt Susan and Amos haven't turned up yet.

Is he sick? Yesterday afternoon he came over with his parents and he was quite healthy then.

Amelie remains sitting and waits.

Mrs. Sheffer, the leader of the Sun Group, sticks her head out of the door. Come in, Amelie, she says.

In a moment, Amelie replies. When Amos is here.

She continues to wait and thinks: Maybe the car is broken. Uncle Henry was saying yesterday that he absolutely had to bring it to the garage.

At nine o'clock, Ms. Cruft, the head of the nursery school, locks the front door. She does this every morning so that strangers can’t come in. And so that a child can’t run out without someone noticing.

Amelie goes to her. Can Amos not come in now? she asks.

Ms. Cruft smiles. Yes, of course, she replies. His mum just has to ring the bell.

This reassures Amelie. If only she knew where Amos was! He never arrives this late!

She goes back to Ms. Cruft. She is the head of the Moon Group, to which Amos belongs. Do you know why Amos isn’t here? she asks.

Ms. Cruft has no idea. His mum hasn’t called yet, she replies.

Amelie walks to the large front door. It’s made of glass so you can look through it. There is nobody to be seen on the long path that leads from the street to the nursery school.

A stormy wind is blowing outside. Gray clouds move across the sky. It looks like rain.

Amelie watches as the wind blows the leaves along the path. She suddenly feels bad-tempered. It’s really horrible outside! Not inside, though. But what good is that if Amos isn’t here?

She is about to go into her group room when suddenly two people appear at the end of the path: a tall person and a short person. They are running quickly towards the nursery school. And now Amelie realizes who it is.

She runs to Ms. Cruft. Amos and his mum are coming! she calls out.

Ms. Cruft fetches the key to unlock the front door.

Aunt Susan’s hair is tangled and she looks somehow different. She is out of breath. Please excuse the delay, she says to Ms. Cruft. For some reason the alarm clock didn’t go off this morning. The whole family overslept.

Oh dear! laughs Ms. Cruft.

The two talk briefly about how inconvenient it is when you oversleep.

Amelie goes to Amos, who is hanging his coat on a peg under the big moon.

That was something! He groans. Mum and Dad ran around like crazy this morning, and Mum kept telling me I had to hurry. Although I was really quick.

I know all about that, replies Amelie. They’re always making us hurry up in the morning at our house.

But definitely not like this! replies Amos. Dad didn’t have breakfast and downed a cup of coffee standing up before he left. And mum complained that she didn’t have any time to put on make-up.

Aha, that’s why she looked a little different, thinks Amelie.

Amos’ mum waves goodbye to them and runs out.

She’s still rushing, says Amos. I think it doesn’t matter if you arrive a bit later.

Amelie thinks about it. I don’t know why it’s bad if you’re late, she says. All I know is that the door is locked at nine o’clock. And that you can’t get in as easily after that and Ms. Cruft has to get the key first.

Amelie, where are you? Megan calls from the dolls’ corner.

I’m coming! Amelie runs over to her. Her mood is much better now. Amos is here. Now she can play with Megan with an easy mind.

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