The Frog Chef A Reading A Z Shared Reading Book Word Count: 837 Home Connection: Inflectional ending -ing Your reader is learning to recognize the inflectional ending -ing and identify how words with this ending are used in sentences. As you read together, have your reader look for examples of words with the -ing ending. Have your reader list the words and the page numbers on which they are found. Challenge your reader to tell whether the word with the inflectional ending is used as an adjective, a noun, or a verb. The F r og Chef A Fractured Fairy Tale Visit www.readinga-z.com for thousands of books and materials. Written by Lisa Harkrader Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa www.readinga-z.com
The F r og Chef A Fractured Fairy Tale Written by Lisa Harkrader Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa www.readinga-z.com The Frog Chef: A Fractured Fairy Tale Shared Reading Book Level 3 Learning A Z Written by Lisa Harkrader Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa All rights reserved. www.readinga-z.com
Once upon a time, there was a chef who had three sons. The chef was known far and wide for his dazzling skill at preparing Kobe steak, a fine Japanese beef famous for its delicious flavor and tenderness. The chef sliced and diced, flipped and flung. He tossed his spatulas and juggled his knives. He seasoned the steak perfectly and concocted delicious sauces. The Kobe King owned a restaurant in San Francisco. For many years, it was the most popular restaurant in the city. When his sons were grown, they worked alongside their father in the kitchen slicing, dicing, flipping, and flinging. But then the restaurant began getting bad reviews. People started to say the recipes were old, stale, and boring. He became known as the Kobe King. 3 4
A big restaurant competition was coming up. Restaurants from all over the city would compete. If we win, said the Kobe King, our restaurant s reputation will be restored. But the Kobe King knew that to win, they would need new, fresh recipes. And he knew how to get them. The Kobe King opened an ancient chest that had been handed down from his ancestors. From the chest he pulled three pairs of chopsticks. He gave one pair to each of his sons. These chopsticks have magic, he told them. Throw them out into the city. They will lead you to the young women you will marry. 5 6
The two older sons threw their chopsticks. Each pair landed beside a lovely young woman. Enchanted by the chopsticks magic, the women agreed to become the older sons wives. The youngest son, Shinji, wanted to please his father. He threw his chopsticks as hard as he could. They landed in a pond outside the city, in the mouth of a frog. The chopsticks held more magic than the sons knew. One pair and the Kobe King did not know which one would lead to a woman with great cooking skills. Once this woman had married one of his sons and become part of the family, the Kobe King was certain she would help create the new, fresh recipes that would win the contest. 7 8
Shinji took back the chopsticks and threw them again and again. Each time they landed in the frog s mouth. Finally, in despair, he gathered up the frog and brought her home to be his wife. Her name is Midori, he told his family. His brothers could only laugh. Your chopsticks must have lost their magic, they told him. A frog? the Kobe King cried. I can t have a frog in my kitchen! Still, he knew not to question the magic of the chopsticks, so he told his sons that one of their wives possessed great cooking skills, and he needed to find out who it was. Then he gave the wives including Midori cooking tasks to complete. Keep Midori hidden, he told Shinji. No one can know that a frog is preparing our food. 9 10
Later, the wives including Midori presented their newly created dishes to the Kobe King. He tasted one dish, and then another, from the two lovely wives. Oh, my, he said as he gulped a glass of water to wash the horrible taste from his mouth. I m sure you tried your best, but these are awful! Then he tasted Midori s dish. I can barely believe my taste buds! said the Kobe King. This is new, fresh... and delicious! He smiled at the frog. Your cooking, my dear, will help us win the contest. Shinji was stunned. Midori? Shinji smiled with pride. My frog is the one with great cooking skills! 11 12
The day of the competition arrived. The Kobe King and his sons carried in the food. The lovely wives arranged the knives and spatulas. Midori stayed hidden as she sliced and diced, flipped and flung. At last the judges sampled Midori s dish. We have tasted fine food, they said, but none as fine as this. We declare the Kobe King the winner! The reputation of our restaurant is restored! cried the Kobe King. He clasped his hands over his chest in delight. The two older sons danced with their wives, round and round. Shinji was so happy that he hugged Midori close as he, too, spun round and round. Then, he lifted her to his face and kissed her. 13 14
Before Shinji knew what was happening, Midori the frog turned into a beautiful young woman. Shinji s mouth dropped open. How can this be? Midori smiled. I was the daughter of a great chef. One of my father s jealous enemies put a spell on me. I was to live out my days as a frog. Your kiss has broken the spell. I was miserable at the pond, said Midori, not because I was a frog, but because I missed my cooking. So Midori and Shinji lived happily ever after, slicing and dicing, flipping and flinging, tossing and juggling in the Kobe King s kitchen. Once again, the Kobe King s restaurant was the most popular restaurant in all of San Francisco. 15 16