Lulu Bell and the Fairy Penguin Read online

  Miss Baxter smiled. ‘That’s all right, girls,’ she said. ‘I’m glad your cat is safe and sound. Now, take a seat. Today we are going to vote on our mural design.’

  Lulu sat down. She felt a flutter of excitement in her stomach.

  ‘The builders have just erected a timber fence around their building site on the main street,’ explained Miss Baxter. ‘This is where we will paint our mural. Hands up – does anyone have any ideas?’

  A dozen hands shot up around the room.

  ‘Yes, Ethan?’ asked Miss Baxter.

  ‘We could paint a giant pirate scene! It could have pirate ships and treasure chests, cutlasses and cannons, parrots and swashbuckling pirates.’

  ‘Very good, Ethan. I like that idea. And what do you think, Jade?’ asked Miss Baxter.

  ‘We could paint a long scene of Shelly Beach with surfers and swimmers.

  We could do lifesavers and sandcastles, sailboats with white sails, seagulls and dolphins frolicking in the waves.’

  Lulu stretched her hand as high as she could reach towards the ceiling. Her bottom lifted right out of the chair.

  ‘That would be lovely, Jade,’ said Miss Baxter. ‘I can imagine it as a colourful painting of our local area. And what is your idea, Lulu?’

  Lulu sat up tall. She flicked one honey-coloured plait over her shoulder. She could see exactly how the mural would look.

  ‘I think we should do a mural about the little penguins,’ suggested Lulu. ‘We could paint the beach at the cove and the wharf. There would be burrows filled with chicks and penguins waddling down to the water. And we could paint some of the dangers that threaten the penguins. Like dogs off their leads and pollution and boats.’

  Lulu looked around the classroom at her friends.

  ‘Molly and I rescued a little penguin last night. It was being attacked by a dog. It nearly died and then all its chicks might have died as well. The mural could show people what they can do to protect our own little penguins.’

  Miss Baxter nodded. ‘You certainly have been busy since yesterday afternoon,’ she said. ‘I think that is a wonderful idea too, Lulu. We could also include some of Jade’s ideas, such as seagulls and sandcastles.’

  Miss Baxter began to hand out sheets of drawing paper.

  ‘So, now I want you all to take some time to draw a design for the mural,’ said the teacher. ‘Draw whatever inspires you. When you are finished, we are all going to vote on the best design. The builder wants us to start work on the mural tomorrow. They are going to throw a party for us to celebrate when the mural is finished.’

  The students set to work drawing their ideas for the mural. Lulu hummed under her breath as she worked. She sketched out her design. Then she began to add detail and colour.

  When everyone had finished, the students walked around the classroom. They admired the different designs and chatted about them all. Finally, each child wrote down the name of the person who had drawn their favourite design. They dropped their vote into a box on Miss Baxter’s desk.

  Miss Baxter counted up the votes. Lulu sat with her stomach twisted with nerves.

  ‘And the winning designer is … Lulu,’ announced Miss Baxter with a smile. ‘Congratulations, Lulu. I think this mural will be gorgeous.’

  Lulu clapped her hands together. It would be so exciting to see her very own design painted onto a big wall.

  Chapter 11

  Painting the Mural

  The next day, the whole class wore painting clothes instead of school uniforms. The building company had supplied everything they needed. There were paintbrushes, rollers, water buckets and paint pots in a rainbow of colours. Mum had come along to help too.

  Miss Baxter divided the class into groups of four. Each group got to work on a section of the fence. A few children rolled on the colours for the background. There were bright blues for the sea and sky, and golden yellows for the beach and sun.

  Other children sketched in details: penguin chicks, burrows, a wharf, fishermen, families, seagulls, sandcastles, sailboats, ferries and fish.

  Lulu painted a cute little penguin in the foreground. He had a glossy blue-grey coat and a white tummy. Then she painted a big scruffy dog on a lead, running along with its owner.

  Lulu stepped back and admired the figures.

  ‘Beautiful job, Lulu,’ said Mum. ‘It looks just like Scruffy.’

  It took two whole days to paint the mural. Then the workmen covered it up with a canvas screen.

  Friday afternoon came. All the children and their families were invited to a special unveiling of the mural. A photographer from the local newspaper was there. So were the school principal and the Mayor. The students all wore their best school uniforms with hats and shiny shoes.

  Molly, Sam and their mum stood with the Bell family.

  The Mayor stepped up to the microphone. The photographer took some photos.

  ‘Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen, and children,’ began the Mayor. ‘This is a special afternoon. We are here to celebrate a wonderful piece of community artwork. It is a mural painted by some of the students of Shelly Beach Public School …’

  Lulu looked around. Where was Dad? He had promised to come along. Perhaps there was an emergency at the surgery? Where could he be?

  Mum squeezed her hand and smiled.

  ‘I would like to welcome a very special guest,’ said the Mayor. Everyone clapped.

  A tall figure shuffled through the crowd. It was dressed in a penguin suit. The penguin character cavorted and capered. It waved its flippers and made squeaky penguin yelps. The children all laughed with glee.

  ‘Please also welcome Lulu Bell. She is one of the students who designed the mural,’ continued the Mayor. ‘Please come up, Lulu.’

  Lulu blushed. Everyone turned to look for her. She picked her way through the crowd and stood next to the Mayor.

  ‘Hello, sweetie,’ whispered the penguin character. The man dressed up as a penguin was Dad!

  The penguin bowed. He took Lulu’s hand and kissed it. Then he danced around and around in a circle with her. The penguin waddled from side to side. The audience shrieked with laughter.

  The Mayor gave a speech about responsibility and community. He spoke about working together to protect endangered animals.

  At last it was the big moment. Lulu and Dad untied the ropes that held up the canvas screen. It dropped to the ground and revealed the long mural. The rich summer colours gleamed. The painted penguins looked very cute. Everyone clapped and cheered.

  ‘Yay, Lulu,’ cried Gus. He jumped up and down in his Bug Boy suit.

  The photographer took lots of photos. Of the mural and all the children who painted it. Of Lulu perched up on Dad’s shoulders. And of Miss Baxter shaking hands with the giant penguin.

  When all the excitement was over, Dad took off his penguin head. The family walked around to the cove beach. Molly, Sam and their mum came too.

  Dad bought fish and chips for everyone. They sat in the warm sand and ate the crunchy, hot fish and salty, crispy chips straight out of the paper.

  ‘Yum!’ said Lulu.

  ‘Dulishus,’ said Gus.

  ‘What a lovely way to finish the day,’ said Mum. ‘A picnic at the beach.’

  ‘What an action-packed week it’s been,’ said Dad. ‘Penguin rescue, kittens in the washing machine and an official launch for the beautiful new mural.’

  ‘Speaking of kittens …’ said Molly. She turned to her mum. Her eyes were pleading. ‘Can I, can we … please?’

  ‘Get a kitten?’ asked Sam.

  Molly’s mum looked at the hopeful faces of all the children.

  ‘Weeeeell,’ said Tien. ‘Okay. But you have to look after her, Molly.’

  ‘Hurray,’ shouted Lulu, Molly and Rosie. They hugged each other and danced up and down. Sam hugged his mum.

  ‘Of course I’ll look after her,’ cried Molly. Her eyes shone with excitement. ‘I’ll love her and feed her and she can sleep on my bed. Oh, thank you,
Mum. Thank you, Chrissie.’

  ‘Have you decided what to call her?’ asked Lulu.

  ‘Ebony-Lou,’ said Molly with a grin. ‘Ebony because she is black and Lou because Lulu saved her life.’

  ‘I like it,’ said Molly’s mum.

  ‘A beautiful kitten named after a beautiful girl,’ said Mum.

  Lulu Bell and the Birthday Unicorn

  It’s almost time for Lulu’s little sister’s birthday party. But there’s a problem! A pony is running loose and Lulu and her dad, the local vet, have to rescue it.

  Can they find the pony? And what will happen if the naughty pony gets into more mischief at the party? It’s lucky that Lulu has a plan!

  Out now

  Read all the Lulu Bell books

  Lulu Bell and the Birthday Unicorn

  Lulu Bell and the Fairy Penguin

  Lulu Bell and the Cubby Fort

  August 2013

  Lulu Bell and the Moon Dragon

  August 2013

  About the Author

  Belinda Murrell grew up in a vet hospital and Lulu Bell is based on some of the adventures she shared with her own animals. After studying Literature at Macquarie University, Belinda worked as a travel journalist, editor and technical writer. A few years ago, she began to write stories for her own three children – Nick, Emily and Lachlan. Belinda’s books include the Sun Sword fantasy trilogy, timeslip tales The Locket of Dreams, The Ruby Talisman and The Ivory Rose, and Australian historical tales The Forgotten Pearl and The River Charm.

  www.belindamurrell.com.au

  About the Illustrator

  Serena Geddes spent six years working with a fabulously mad group of talented artists at Walt Disney Studios in Sydney before embarking on the path of picture book illustration in 2009. She works both traditionally and digitally and has illustrated eighteen books, ranging from picture books to board books to junior novels.

  www.serenageddes.com.au

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian Copyright Act 1968), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of Random House Australia. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Version 1.0

  Lulu Bell and the Fairy Penguin

  9781742758787

  Copyright © Belinda Murrell 2013

  Illustrations copyright © Serena Geddes 2013

  The moral right of the author and illustrator has been asserted.

  A Random House Australia book

  Published by Random House Australia Pty Ltd

  Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney NSW 2060

  www.randomhouse.com.au

  Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found at www.randomhouse.com.au/offices

  First published by Random House Australia in 2013

  National Library of Australia

  Cataloguing-in-Publication entry

  Author: Murrell, Belinda

  Title: Lulu Bell and the fairy penguin [electronic resource]/Belinda Murrell;

  Serena Geddes, illustrator

  ISBN: 9781742758787(ebook)

  Series: Murrell, Belinda. Lulu Bell; 2

  Target audience: For primary school age

  Subjects: Little blue penguin – Juvenile fiction Children’s stories

  Other authors/contributors: Geddes, Serena

  Dewey number: A823.4

  Cover and internal illustrations by Serena Geddes

  Cover design by Christabella Designs

  Internal design and typesetting by Anna Warren, Warren Ventures

  eBook production by First Source

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