The Big Parade
Words in RED are the personalized words
“The Big Parade”
was created especially for
Ann Marie Nelson
at the age of 3
Lots of love,
Aunt Mary
April 12, 2002
Page 4
Ann Marie Nelson sat up wide awake in her bed. The sun was just coming up in Miami, Florida. She could tell that it was going to be
a gorgeous day. She glanced out her bedroom window. Ann
remembered exactly where she was planning to go today with Katherine and Tommy.
Page 7
Ann
had been so excited for the past week. With Katherine
and Tommy, she
had made a game of finding the most circus posters all over town. Today was the
big parade and that meant the start of all the circus activities.
Ann
had even tried to go to sleep as fast as she
could last night to make the morning come more quickly.
Page 8
Ann
began to think about all the fantastic fun she
would have. Last year, her favorite act was the
clown with the invisible dog. Ann wondered if
the clown would be there again today. Then Ann
thought about the child who would be selected by the mayor this year to lead
the parade. Who would that lucky person be?
Page 11
Just
then the phone rang. “Ann Marie Nelson, will you
lead the big parade for us this year?” asked the mayor of Miami, Florida. “Oh yes, yes!” exclaimed Ann. “Will I get to ride in the fire truck?” The mayor
chuckled, “You most certainly will, Ann!”
Page 12
Katherine and Tommy waited with Ann while a huge helicopter
landed in her back yard. It was there to pick up Ann.
The helicopter took off minutes later with Ann
in the front seat grinning from ear to ear. After waving goodbye, Katherine and Tommy hurried downtown to see the
parade.
Page 15
From
the helicopter, Ann could see the circus parade
beginning to assemble at the edge of town. The helicopter landed and Ann ran to the mayor. On their way to the shiny, red
fire truck at the head of the parade, they walked past all the practicing
performers and anxious animals that would be following Ann.
Ann was thrilled.
Page 16
Someone
shouted, “Look, Ann Marie Nelson is leading the
parade this year!” At that very moment, a big drum roll was heard. Ann carefully climbed aboard the fire truck next to
the driver who was dressed like a clown. Ann enjoyed
the marvelous, marching music played by the band as the fire truck drove down
the main street of Miami, Florida.
Page 19
Immediately
behind the band was a beautiful bareback rider. Her two magnificent, prancing
horses were so well trained that the rider could balance on both their backs
while standing up. Ann imagined that the fine,
fancy feathers on the noble horses’ head were bobbing to the beat of the music.
She bobbed his head also.
Page 20
The
fire truck turned a corner. Ann saw three small children
mimicking the dancing bear who was dressed in a pink ballerina costume. The
big, brown bear was very entertaining as she proudly performed bouncy ballet
steps while balancing on a ball.
Page 23
The
circus elephants followed next. As she watched the playful pranks of the
darling baby elephant, Ann daydreamed about
taking him home. When the elephant fanned his big floppy ears, Ann could almost picture him flying through the sky
with the greatest of ease. If the baby strayed too far, the mother elephant
would lovingly wrap her trunk around his.
Page 24
A
jolly juggler on a unicycle juggling five full bottles fascinated Katherine and Tommy. He pedaled so fast that there
were times when it was hard to keep up with him. It was incredible that he
never dropped a bottle, no matter how fast he pedaled. Katherine
and Tommy knew it took practice to be that good.
Page 27
Ann
was amused by the antics of the slippery seal. The seal would flip the ball
backwards and then, with his hind flippers, smack it right back to the tip of
his nose.
Everyone loved watching the seal clap after each trick he performed. Katherine and Tommy had fun imitating his funny, barking noises.
Page 28
The
acrobatic troupe was next. Their tumbling and flipping routines had the crowd
cheering. Ann was enjoying her place of honor,
but was really tickled when the driver told her she would have a chance to
watch the entire parade pass before her as each act entered the big top circus
tent.
Page 31
A
majestic lion with all his marvelous mane was in the last wagon. He was
so-o-o-o big, and his roar was so-o-o-o loud that Ann
could hear him from the very front of the parade. The mild-mannered monkeys on
top of his cage did not seem at all frightened of the ferocious feline.
Page 32
The
fire truck stopped at the entrance of the big top circus tent. Ann talked to the circus stars as they went inside. It
made her feel like an important star to be so close to them. Then Ann joined Katherine and Tommy
in her special section inside the tent.
Page 35
When
the circus was over, Ann was escorted outside by
the mayor and the ringmaster. Ann did not want
this special day to end. As she turned to look one last time, some performers
were waving goodbye. Ann waved back and smiled,
for she knew she would never forget the day she led THE BIG PARADE!
Page 36
Ann Marie
Nelson
In
THE BIG PARADE, there were many
different
characters. Can you unscramble
the
names?
olin______________________________________________
reba______________________________________________
ymnkoe___________________________________________
esorh_____________________________________________
lesa_______________________________________________
nlwoc_____________________________________________
glreguj_____________________________________________