Giraffes Can’t Dance長頸鹿不會跳舞

繪本導讀：

每到動物園，相信你一定會去拜訪那些脖子長長、舉止優雅的長頸鹿！瞧，繪本中的杰拉德就是一只長頸鹿。它靜靜地站在樹下，抬頭就能吃到樹上的葉片，美得像一幅畫！可是，你知道杰拉德的煩惱嗎？

熱鬧非凡的非洲叢林舞會就要開始了！叢林里的動物們個個都舞姿蹁躚，華爾茲、探戈、恰恰……多么迷人！可杰拉德一走上舞臺，大家就哄堂大笑。畢竟——長頸鹿天生不會跳舞呀！杰拉德該怎么辦呢？

Gerald was a tall giraffe.

His neck was long and slim.

He was very good at standing.

Every year in Africa they hold the Jungle Dance（叢林舞會）.

Gerald felt so sad， because he was really very bad at dancing.

The warthogs（疣豬）

started waltzing（華爾茲）.

The lions danced a

tango（探戈舞）.

The chimps（黑猩猩）

all did a cha-cha（恰恰舞）.

Gerald walked towards the floor.

The animals all laughed， “Giraffes can’t dance.”

“They’re right，” Gerald thought， “I’m useless.”

He started walking home.

Then he found a little clearing and looked up at the sky.

“The moon can be so beautiful，” He whispered.

“Excuse me！” said a cricket（蟋蟀）.

“You just need a different song.

Listen to the swaying grass and listen to the trees.

That lovely moon is playing just for you.

Everything makes music if you really want it to.”

The cricket picked up his violin.

Then Gerald felt his body do the most amazing thing.

His neck was gently swaying and his tail was swishing round.

Gerald felt so wonderful.

“I am dancing！ Yes， I’m dancing！ I AM DANCING！” Gerald cried.

Then one by one each animal arrived and watched him.

They shouted， “It’s a miracle（奇跡）！ Gerald is the best dancer！”

（寧 靈 /供 稿）

Gerald finished with a bow（鞠躬）.

Then he looked up at the moon and stars above.