A week after La St-Jean, July 1st had arrived.
When Babou woke up, he noticed something different.
The house was filled with red and white. A little Canadian flag sat on the kitchen table.
Benny pointed from his highchair.
“Red!”
Mama smiled.
“Good morning, my son-shines. Today is Canada Day.”
Babou looked around.
“Another celebration?”
Dada laughed.
“Yes. And this one is all about Canada.”
Mama brought out pancakes, and Dada added maple syrup on top.
Benny bounced in his chair.
“More!”
After breakfast, everyone got ready.
Dada packed snacks. Mama filled water bottles.
Babou wore a red shirt, and Benny wore a little white outfit with a red maple leaf.
Babou pointed.
“What is that?”
“A maple leaf,” Mama said, “Canada’s special leaf. We will see lots of them today.”
The family drove to Ottawa, Canada’s capital city.
As they arrived, Babou saw red and white flags waving everywhere.
People smiled, carried little flags, and celebrated together.
“So many people!” Babou said.
Dada nodded.
“Families from all over Canada come here to celebrate Canada Day.”
The streets were full of music, laughter, and excitement.
Families shared food while children played and flags waved in the air.
“Red!” Benny shouted.
Soon, Grandma Tee, Grandpa Mac, family, and friends joined them in the park.
They shared snacks, laughed together, and made memories.
Babou played with his older cousins while Benny chased bubbles.
“Pop! Pop!”
Later, Mama took the boys for a walk.
They stopped to look at a large Canadian flag waving above them.
Babou looked up.
“Why does Canada have a maple leaf?”
Mama picked up a small leaf from the ground.
“Maple trees grow all over Canada. They give us maple syrup, and their leaves became a symbol that brings people together.”
Babou held the leaf gently.
“So this little leaf represents Canada and gives maple syrup?”
Mama smiled.
“Yes. It carries a story and helps make your favorite syrup.”
Babou grinned.
“I love maple syrup!”
As the sun went down, Mama painted a little red maple leaf on each boy’s cheek.
Benny looked at Babou’s cheek and shouted: “Red!”
Babou smiled.
“I have a maple leaf too.”
Soon, everyone gathered for the fireworks.
Dada lifted Benny onto his shoulders.
“Look up.”
BOOM!
The sky lit up above the city of Ottawa.
Benny’s eyes grew wide.
“DADA!”
Dada smiled.
“Yes, Benny. That’s Canada Day.”
On the way home, Babou held the little maple leaf carefully.
“I want to keep it.”
At home, they placed it inside their memory book.
“Now we’ll always remember Canada Day!” shouted Babou
Benny pointed.
“Leaf!”
And inside their little memory book was a tiny piece of a big adventure: a maple leaf, lots of love, and a brand-new family memory.
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💬 After The Story
Take a moment together to talk about what you just read.
🌿 Talk together
– What do you like on your pancakes: maple syrup, fruit, or something else?
– If you found a beautiful leaf outside, would you keep it and why?
🌙 Gentle questions
– What is a family memory you would like to keep forever?
– What is something small that reminds you of a big moment?
👶 For little ones
– Can you think of something red like Babou’s maple leaf?
– Can you pretend to catch a leaf as it falls from a tree?
✨ Feeling check
– Unsure
– Thankful
– Inspired
– Something else (you can tell me!)
—
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