The Bird That Could Think

Story by: Annette smithIllustrated by: Ben Spiby

One day, a big black crow found some nuts under a tree. “These nuts will be good to eat,” said the crow to herself. “But they d have very hard shells.” The crow picked up a nut in her beak and flew to a branch high in the tree.

She let the nut go. It fell down onto the grass. But it did not break open!“The grass is too soft,” said the crow.“I need to find something that is much harder than grass.” Then the crow heard some cars going along a busy road.

“Aha!” she said. “A road is much harder than grass. The nut will break open, if I drop it onto the road.” The crow flew over the trees to the busy road.“I can see just the place,” said the crow “I will sit on those power lines that go over the road. I will drop the nut from up there.”

When the crow dropped the nut, it landed on the road, but it still did not break open. Then a car went right over the nut and broke the hard shell. The crow felt so pleased. This was the right place. She was just about to swoop down and pick up the nut, when another cart came along the road.

Every time the crow tried to get the nut, a car came along. The crow sat on the power line. She watched and she waited. But it was a very busy road. Then the crow saw the cars stop at the red lights. “Aha!” said the clever crow.“I know what to do now!” She flew back to the tree and got another nut.

This time she sat on the power line beside the lights. She dropped the nut on the road. Some cars went right over it and broke it open. But the crow did not move. She waited! She waited until the lights turned red! When the cars stopped, the clever crow flew down to get the nut at last.

She knew that this was the best place of all.