Free Patchwork Picnic (9781743583524) by Danny Parker

The box looked very, very old. It must have been in the shed for years.
    Lola grabbed a cloth from the kitchen and cleaned the dust off the wood.
    As she was cleaning, Lola saw some writing inside the lid:

    Is that a place? Lola wondered. Perhaps Timberfields is where the box was made.
    The toy box looked much better once it was clean.
    Lola and her mum carried the box up to her room.
    Her mum went back out to the shed, and Lola picked up Buddy. He was her favourite toy.
    Buddy was a learn-to-dress clown. He was covered in buttons and poppers, zippers and buckles. Lola loved him.
    â€˜What do you think of my new toy box?’ she asked Buddy. ‘Does it look like a good home for you and the others?’

    Lola often had chats like this with Buddy. He was an excellent listener!
    Just then, she heard Nick stomping up the stairs. ‘Oi, Lola!’ he said loudly. ‘I’m coming in to talk about that box.’
    Lola sighed. Not another Nick attack!
    â€˜Go away,’ she called back. ‘Mum gave the box to me .’
    â€˜But I want it,’ Nick moaned. ‘It’s not fair! I’ll swap you something. You can have the bike wheels. Come on, Lola!’
    â€˜No,’ said Lola. ‘The box is mine, and I’m keeping it.’
    Nick was always wanting her stuff. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone?
    â€˜I’m counting to five,’ Nick called through the door. ‘Then I’m coming in!’
    Sometimes I wish he’d just disappear, Lola thought grumpily.
    â€˜One!’ called Nick.
    Or maybe I could disappear?
    â€˜Two!’
    I should hide , thought Lola.
    â€˜Three!’
    She looked at the open toy box. Of course!
    â€˜Four!’
    Lola grabbed Buddy and hopped into the toy box. She shut the lid and crouched inside.
    And then everything changed.
    The box filled with light and began to shake.
    What on earth? thought Lola, alarmed.
    It was so bright that she had to shut her eyes. She held Buddy tight.
    It felt like someone had picked up the toy box and was rattling it around like a money tin! Buddy flew out of her hands and landed in the corner of the box.
    Suddenly, the shaking stopped.
    Lola waited a second. Then she opened her eyes. Phew!
    Leaving Buddy behind, she lifted the lid of the toy box and jumped out.
    She felt very cross.
    â€˜Nick, what is your problem ?’ she started to say.
    But then she looked around, and – oh gosh!
    Lola had climbed into her new toy box. But she had climbed out of …

She had climbed out of a large wooden picnic hamper!
    And Lola wasn’t in her bedroom anymore. She was on the side of a beautiful hill.
    She couldn’t believe it.
    Things got even stranger when Buddy climbed out of the hamper and stood next to her.
    Lola stared at her favourite toy. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
    â€˜Bless my buttons, Lola,’ Buddy said in a funny voice. ‘You look like a goldfish!’
    Lola gulped. Is that …? Is Buddy talking to me?
    Buddy giggled. Then he copied Lola, opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish. He looked very funny.
    â€˜But … you’re a toy!’ said Lola, finally. ‘You’re …’
    â€˜I’m Buddy the Clown,’ he said. ‘But hey, you know that. You named me!’
    Lola nodded. And she shook her head. Then she did both at the same time.
    She was smiling. Actually, she was grinning.
    â€˜Seeing as you can talk, Buddy,’ she said, ‘could you tell me where we are? This isn’t my bedroom anymore, right?’
    Buddy flung his arms out wide.
    â€˜Right!’ he said. ‘Lola, we are in the Kingdom – the most wonderful place ever! I’m so happy I could pop my popper.’

    Lola grinned even wider.
    Pop my popper?
    â€˜Do you always talk like that?’ she asked.
    Buddy looked hurt. ‘What’s wrong with how I speak?’
    â€˜Nothing,’ she laughed. ‘I love it. I’ve