Gentoo Penguin

(Name) wants to know which animal is the most amazing in the whole world. So decides to go on an adventure to find out. First (Name) arrives in the cold Antarctic snow and sees two chubby black and white birds, standing on an icy rock. They each have a white stripe across the tops of their heads and their beaks are bright orange.

(Name) crunches through the snow towards the animals and says: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animals in the world?”

“Yes. We’re penguins,” say the animals in chorus. “We never get cold, even though it’s freezing here. That’s because of our thick layer of blubber. We use our strong paddle-shaped flippers to hunt for fish in the water. That makes us the fastest diving bird in the world! And we can hold our breath underwater for a whole seven minutes.”

“You are truly amazing, Mr and Mrs. Penguin,” says (Name).

(Name) has seen the penguins, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Green Tree Python

(Name) wants to go somewhere warmer because the Antarctic is too cold. Brrrrrrr! So it’s off to Australia and the hot tropical sun! (Name) goes to a big green jungle called the rainforest. In the trees, (Name) sees a slender green creature, coiled around a branch. It sits very still.  

(Name) walks up to the tree, pushing branches out of the way and says: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Yessssssssssssss, I am a green tree python,” hisses the long, slender animal. “When I hatched from my egg, I was bright orange and I turned green when I grew up. I live in the rainforest and spend most of my days coiled around a branch of a tree. I’m also nocturnal – this means I spend my days sleeping, and I love to slither around the forest at night.”

 “You are truly amazing, Mr. Python,” says (Name).

(Name) has seen the penguins and a green tree python, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Giant Panda

Next, (Name) travels to China. In front of (Name), there is a big cave and outside is an animal that looks like a big black and white bear, eating a bamboo shoot. Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!

When the animal sees (Name), it stops eating. (Name) says: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Yes, I am a giant panda,” says the animal. “My fur is black and white. I’m brilliant at climbing trees and I’m also one of the most endangered species on the planet. I spend most of my day eating and live on a diet of bamboo leaves and bamboo shoots.”

“You are truly amazing, Miss. Panda,” says (Name).

(Name) has seen the penguins, a green tree python and a panda bear, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Peacock

(Name) wants to go somewhere else now and travels to India. (Name) sees a beautiful bird standing a few feet away, pecking at ants and termites. Its feathers are the brightest emerald green and ocean blue. The bird spreads its feathers, showing off to (Name).

(Name) walks up to the bird and says: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Yes, I am a peacock,” says the animal. “I’m the most handsome creature in the world. No other creature is as beautiful as me. When I fan my tail, it gets the attention of lady peacocks called peahens. They just can’t resist me. They love to flock around me because I’m so good-looking. And the crown on my head makes me look like a king!”

“You are truly amazing, Mr. Peacock,” says (Name).

(Name) has seen the penguins, a green tree python, a panda bear and a peacock, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Panther Chameleon

Next, (Name) goes to a jungle in Madagascar. (Name) sees an unusual creature climbing through the branches of a tree. It has scaly skin, in red, green, white and yellow, and grips the branch tightly with its claws. Suddenly, it changes from bright green to bright red with lovely pink spots.

(Name) walks up to the animal and says: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Yes, I am a chameleon,” says the animal. “I can change from red to green so I can hide in the forest. I have a looooong, sticky tongue which I can shoot out to catch my dinner. I can see in every direction without moving a muscle. And I can even sleep upside down by hanging from branches using my tail!”

“You are truly amazing, Mrs. Chameleon,” says (Name).

(Name) has seen the penguins, a green tree python, a panda bear, a peacock and a chameleon, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Wild Dromedary Camel

(Name) goes to Africa. Here, it is very hot! (Name) sees an animal with a hump on its back, sitting down in the sand. It makes a funny face.

(Name) kneels down in front of the animal and says: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Yes. I am a one-hump camel,” says the animal. “No other creature can walk across the desert for as long as I can without food or water in such a hot climate. I don’t sweat much either, even in this hot desert! I never get sand up my nose because my nostrils close up. I have bushy eyebrows and two rows of long eyelashes to protect my eyes, too. But if I’m angry, I’ll spit. So watch out!”

“You are truly amazing, Mr. Camel,” says (Name). “But I don’t want to be spat on, so I’m going to go now.”

(Name) has seen the penguins, a green tree python, a panda bear, a peacock, a chameleon and a camel, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Nile Crocodile

(Name) wants to cool off from the desert, so travels to a big river. (Name) is just about to go for a dip, but sees a gigantic scaly animal, lying on a rock, bearing its teeth. It smiles slyly at (Name) and opens its mouth, revealing a set of razor-sharp teeth.

(Name) walks to the edge of the river and shouts: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Snap! Snap! Snap! I am a crocodile,” says the animal. “I have sharp claws and my tail is very, very long.  My rough, scaly skin is completely waterproof. I have razor-sharp teeth and the most powerful jaws which can crush my dinner in no time. I can eat underwater and can hold my breath for up to two whole hours. I also have the most amazing night vision.”

“You are truly amazing, Mrs. Crocodile” says (Name). But (Name) feels a bit scared and moves away.

(Name) has seen the penguins, a green tree python, a panda bear, a peacock, a chameleon, a camel and a crocodile, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Hippo

Further along the river, (Name) sees an enormous plump creature with stubby legs and a wide snout. It stands in the shallows of the water and stares at (Name).

(Name) stands on the riverbank and shouts: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Yes. I am a hippopotamus,” says the animal. “I spend most of my day wallowing in water or mud. I can hold my breath underwater for a whole five minutes. I like to pamper myself. Every day I take a long mud bath to keep me cool and away from the hot sun. When I’m underwater, I can see, hear and smell what’s going on around me without anyone seeing me because my nostrils, eyes and ears are on the top of my head. And I can open my mouth wide enough to fit in a child as big as you!”

“You are truly amazing,” says (Name) “But I don’t want to be eaten, so I’m going to go now. Good-bye, Mr. Hippo!”

(Name) has seen the penguins, a green tree python, a panda bear, a peacock, a chameleon, a camel, a crocodile and a hippopotamus, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Bull Elephant

(Name) walks away from the river. In the distance, (Name) sees a huge grey animal in a lake using its big long trunk to take a drink of water.

(Name) wades into the lake and shouts: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Yes, I am an elephant,” says the animal. “I’m the largest and strongest of all the land animals. I have the biggest brain in the animal kingdom and the biggest ears, and I can live for up to seventy years. I weigh more than two cars, can use my trunk to suck up water and I take dust baths.”

“You are truly amazing, Mr. Elephant,” says (Name).

(Name) has seen the penguins, a green tree python, a panda bear, a peacock, a chameleon, a camel, a crocodile, a hippopotamus and an elephant, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Cheetah

(Name) walks away from the lake and out onto a big open plain in full sunshine. Suddenly, something dashes out from behind a tree, so fast that (Name) can hardly see what it is.

“Wait!” cries (Name). “Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Yes. I am a big cat called a cheetah,” says the animal. “I can run faster than any other animal, up to speeds of 70 miles per hour. That’s as fast as a car! I’m slim and beautiful with my lovely spotted coat. I have the most amazing eyesight during the day and can see things far away. I don’t get thirsty much either. I only need to drink once every few days. But I don’t roar like lions and tigers. I prefer to purr.”

“You are truly amazing, Mrs. Cheetah,” says (Name).

(Name) has seen the penguins, a green tree python, a panda bear, a peacock, a chameleon, a camel, a crocodile, a hippopotamus, an elephant and a cheetah, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Chimpanzee

(Name) needs some shade from the sun and walks into the forest. Resting up in a tree is a hairy black creature with very long arms and a funny face. It looks as if it’s daydreaming.

“Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“Ooh ooh aah aah! I am a chimpanzee,” cries the animal. “I can live for up to 60 years. I am very strong; in fact, I’m probably three times stronger than you! And when I grow up, I’ll be seven times stronger! I like to sleep in the trees and make a bed from the green leaves. I eat fruit, but I also like bugs, which I dig up from the ground using a stick.”

“You are truly amazing, Mr. Chimpanzee,” says (Name).

(Name) has seen the penguins, a green tree python, a panda bear, a peacock, a chameleon, a camel, a crocodile, a hippopotamus, an elephant, a cheetah and a chimpanzee, but still doesn’t know which animal is the most amazing in the world.

Lion

(Name) leaves the forest and walks back into the sunshine again. There, (Name) sees a beautiful creature with golden fur lying on a rocky ledge. Its mane glistens in the bright sunlight.

(Name) moves slowly towards the beautiful animal and says: “Hello. Are you the most amazing animal in the world?”

“I am a lion,” says the animal. “The most amazing animal would be one that can swim and catch fish like the penguin, slither like the python, is rare and peaceful like the panda, has a beautiful tail like the peacock, is unusual and clever like the chameleon, is able to survive without water for a long time like the camel, is tough like the crocodile, can bathe in mud all day like the hippopotamus, is as mighty and strong as the elephant, is fast like the cheetah, or cheeky and funny like the chimpanzee. All the animals you’ve met today are amazing in their own ways. Every animal has a talent, and not one of them is any more amazing than the other.”

“You are truly amazing,” says (Name). “None of the animals I met today spoke about each other like you have, Mr. Lion,” says (Name). “You must be the most amazing animal in the world, for you are the most beautiful and wise. You must be the king of beasts.”

Activity Page

So, you’ve seen the penguins, a green tree python, a panda bear, a peacock, a chameleon, a camel, a crocodile, a hippopotamus, an elephant, a cheetah, a chimpanzee and a lion. If you’re feeling creative, why don’t you draw or stick in a picture of what you think is the most amazing animal in the world.