Fiona's Little Lie

PreS-Gr 2—Wells offers another tale with favorites Fiona and Felix. This time, Fiona is thrilled to volunteer as the Birthday Elf, tasked with bringing in a treat for the class to celebrate Felix's birthday. While riding home from school, Fiona notices a caterpillar and forgets all about her task. The next day at school, she lies, stating that a trio of alligator thieves stole and ate the cupcakes. Forced to confront the thieves and consumed by guilt, Fiona tells the truth. All ends well when Fiona's mom shows up with a batch of cupcakes. Wells demonstrates a difficult concept for some children, that it is best to tell the truth when one has made an honest mistake. The decision to come clean is no less difficult for Fiona, as she admits the truth only when she is caught in her lie and coaxed by an adult. While the story is true to life, the morality lesson could be muddled for children. Yet Fiona's apology to those she accused of stealing is another valuable lesson, with a positive ending for everyone.