Page 1 of 8
Part 1
Just after sunrise, Mina found three cards with dark shadow shapes. She wanted to match each card to something in the garden.
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Mina Matches the Morning Shadows
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Mina Matches the Morning Shadows
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Page 1
Part 1
Just after sunrise, Mina found three cards with dark shadow shapes. She wanted to match each card to something in the garden.
Page 2
Part 2
One card showed branching lines, one showed a long seat with legs, and one showed a round body with a curved handle.
Page 3
Part 3
Mina held the branching shadow beside the bench first. The shapes did not match, so she turned the card and looked again.
Page 4
Part 4
Across the path, the young tree stretched thin branches onto the grass. Its shadow had the same branching shape as the first card.
Page 5
Part 5
Mina carried the long shadow card to the bench. The flat seat and four legs had the same shape as the card.
Page 6
Part 6
The final card showed a curved handle and a long spout. Mina matched it to the watering can beside the flower bed.
Page 7
Part 7
Mina placed each card beside its match: tree, bench, watering can. She checked the big shape parts one more time.
Page 8
Part 8
As the sun rose, the real shadows grew shorter. The tree still had branches, the bench still had legs, and the can still had a handle and spout.
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Try the story activityMina Matches the Morning Shadows
Share a rhyme inspired by the story. Read the words together, tap a gentle beat, or make up your own tune.
A rhyme based on an earlier story edition; some words and events differ from the reading edition.
Open the rhyme
Intro
Morning sun begins to glow.
Long dark shadows stretch below.
Verse 1
Mina sees three shapes appear.
What made every shadow here?
Branches match the apple tree.
That first match is clear to see.
Chorus
Follow the shadow, look at its shape.
Find the object by the path it makes.
Tall or curved, wide or small,
Morning light can show them all.
Verse 2
Low and wide leads to the bench.
Small and curved shows watering can.
Sun climbs higher in the sky.
Every shadow shortens by.
Final Chorus
Follow the shadow, look at its shape.
Tree, bench, can—the matches are made.
Mina waves and laughs to see
Her own shadow wave with glee.
Outro
Morning shapes can change their size,
But their outlines give us signs.