The Story of Ferdinand

by Munro Leaf

Fiction

 The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf, is a beloved children's classic. It is the story of Ferdinand, a peaceful bull who is unlike the other bulls in the pasture.  Ferdinand loves flowers and is perfectly content just sniffing the flowers under the cork tree rather than fighting with the other bulls. His mother is concerned and asks him why he doesn't go play, Ferdinand responds that he is perfectly fine enjoying the flowers.  As Ferdinand grows older, the other bulls in the pasture all train so that they will be chosen to fight in the coveted Madrid Bull Fights, however, Ferdinand continues to sit and enjoy the flowers, ignoring the possibility of being chosen to fight.  One day, Ferdinand is sniffing flowers when suddenly he lands on a bumble bee! Ferdinand reacts to the sting and goes crazy because it hurt him so badly.  Meanwhile, 5 men had come to visit the bulls to pick one for the fights in Madrid.  The men happen to see Ferdinand in the field going crazy and pick him! Ferdinand is driven to Madrid to fight; however, when he sees all the pretty flowers in the arena, he does not fight, he sits and smells the flowers. He is taken back to the pasture and is happy to sit and smell from then on.  This book is a classic, I would love to have it in my classroom library.  It offers children a sense of hope that though they might be different, its okay to "sit and smell the flowers".  I would read this story to my class possibly during morning meeting.  It is a great way to start the day to read children a book that is simple and offers a great message.