The Hamster Who Joined the Circus – How Nibbles Stole the Spotlight and Came Home with Applause
Large text for little eyes.
At Maplewood Elementary, Room 4B had a furry little friend named Nibbles, a golden-brown classroom hamster with twitchy whiskers and a love for sunflower seeds.
He lived in a comfy cage by the window, but everyone knew Nibbles had big dreams. He ran in his wheel like a racecar driver, flipped off his tunnel like a gymnast, and posed dramatically whenever someone clapped.
One sunny afternoon, after recess, the kids rushed in—only to find Nibbles’ cage empty and the door swinging open. “Oh no!” cried Sasha. “He’s gone!” said Max. Then Lily pointed out the window: “Look! The circus is setting up in the park across the street!”
And taped to the window was a sunflower seed… with hamster-sized bite marks.
The Great Hamster Hunt Begins
Determined to bring their furry friend home, Sasha, Max, and Lily formed the Hamster Rescue Team. They followed a trail of clues: seed crumbs, chewed flyers, and tiny pawprints leading straight into the colorful circus tent.
Inside, music blared, acrobats twirled, and elephants danced. But the kids only had one mission—find Nibbles before the show began. Suddenly, they heard gasps from the crowd.
Up on the tightrope, wearing a sparkly red vest, was… NIBBLES!
The ringmaster shouted, “Behold! The Amazing Acro-Hamster!”
Hamster on the High Wire
Nibbles strutted across the tightrope like a pro. The crowd went wild as he somersaulted, spun in place, and even paused to nibble a peanut.
“Wow,” whispered Max, “he’s really good.” “But he doesn’t belong in the circus,” said Lily. “He belongs with us.”
Sasha had a plan. She reached into her pocket and pulled out Nibbles’ favorite treat, a cheesy cracker shaped like a star.
“We need to get closer,” she said. While the ringmaster was distracted, the kids snuck backstage, climbed the platform, and gently held up the cracker.
Nibbles sniffed the air… froze… and leapt into Max’s hoodie pocket! The crowd gasped, then cheered even louder, thinking it was all part of the act.
Back to Room 4B.
The kids raced back to school just in time for the final bell. They cleaned the cage, added extra snacks, and even made Nibbles a sparkly paper medal:
“Star of the Show”
That night, the ringmaster found a note stuck to the circus tent pole:
Dear Circus,
Thank you for letting me shine, but I belong with my friends.
Love, Nibbles (and the Hamster Rescue Team)
The next day, Room 4B had a new class rule:
“Always check the cage before recess.” And Nibbles? He still ran on his wheel like a tightrope walker, and sometimes, when no one was looking, he practiced backflips onto his food bowl. Because even the smallest stars sometimes need a little adventure before finding their way home.
The End !
