1

The paintbrush

1

Bohlale walked into her classroom.

There was a new poster on the wal . It showed a bright painting.

Bohlale stared at the painting.

She was amazed.

Usual y, Bohlale loved to listen during shared reading. But today, she looked at the painting instead.

Usual y, Bohlale loved to count.

But during maths, she did not count with the others.

The only thing Bohlale could think about was the new painting on the wal .

3

When the bell rang, Ms Mahao let the class out for break.

‘Bohlale, come and see me please!’ she cal ed.

‘I see that you like the painting,’ she said. ‘Maybe you wil like this!’

Ms Mahao gave Bohlale a book.

Siya was waiting for Bohlale outside.

‘Look!’ said Bohlale.

Bohlale opened the book. Every page showed a new, more beautiful painting. Bohlale was amazed.

Koki cal ed Bohlale to come and skip.

‘Not today!’ she cal ed back.

5

When Bohlale got home, she found her old paint box. But, when she opened it, there was no paintbrush! She looked in her desk. She looked in her toy basket. She couldn’t find the paintbrush anywhere.

6

Bohlale went to play outside. She found a red leaf. She found a shiny bottle cap.

Bohlale’s dad came outside.

‘Look what I found!’ she said.

‘Wow!’ said Dad. ‘Come inside for supper.’

7

After supper, Bohlale stared at the paint. She stared at the paper. Then Bohlale had an idea. She dipped her finger into the paint. She began to paint with her finger.

Then she painted with the red leaf. Everything became a paintbrush!

Bohlale painted and painted, until her father came into her room.

‘It’s time for bed,’ he said.

‘Look!’ she said.

‘Wow! You’re a real artist,’ he said, looking at her paintings.

9

The next morning, Bohlale chose her favourite painting and put it in her schoolbag.

‘I’m leaving early,’ she told her mother.

Bohlale opened the classroom door. Ms Mahao was getting ready for the day.

Bohlale took the painting out of her bag.

‘This is for you,’ she said.

‘Wow!’ said Ms Mahao. ‘Maybe one day your paintings will be

in a book.’

When the bell rang, Bohlale walked into the classroom.

The other children were staring at something on the wal .

Bohlale looked closer – it was her painting!

‘I want to paint like that!’ she heard one of the children say.

Bohlale couldn’t wait to go outside and find new things to paint with.

1. What was on the wall of Bohlale’s 4. What objects did Bohlale use to paint classroom?

with? She used her finger, a red leaf and a There was a new poster on the wal , shiny bottle cap.

showing a bright painting.

5. Why didn’t Bohlale paint with a 2. What did Bohlale’s teacher give to her?

paintbrush?

Her teacher gave her a book of paintings.

Because she couldn’t find a paintbrush to paint with.

3. Why did Bohlale give a painting to Ms Mahao?

6. Why was Bohlale excited to go outside

• Because she wanted to say thank you to and find new things to paint with?

Ms Mahao for giving her the book.

• Because she wants to find new things to

• Ms Mahao was so kind to Bohlale that she paint with.

wanted to give her a gift.

• Because she feels proud of her paintings.

• Bohlale wanted to show Ms Mahao that She is excited to make new painting.

she could also paint a picture.

• Because it is so much fun to paint with different objects.

• She wants to try painting with new and different objects.

• She had so much fun painting. She wants to paint more.

• She likes being creative and painting with new and different things.

• Maybe she wants to make Ms Mahao a new painting to hang on the wal .