Read this story to your child.
Vanessa didn't like going to preschool. When she sat in the story circle, Vanessa put her head down so her hair covered her face. When the other children raised their hands for a chance to share, Vanessa kept her hands in her lap. One day the teacher said, "Let's play a game of Follow the Leader." The children said, "Yes, yes. Let's play." Vanessa didn't say anything. The teacher said, "Vanessa, would you be our leader?" Vanessa kept looking down and shook her head. "Please be our leader," the teacher said and held out her hand to Vanessa. Vanessa took her hand and stood up. The teacher pointed to the chalkboard at the end of the room. "Lead us to the chalkboard, Vanessa," the teacher said. "We will follow you."
Vanessa looked straight ahead and started to walk toward the chalkboard. Vanessa didn't walk funny like Kevin did when he was the leader. She didn't pretend to be a butterfly like Maria did. She just walked, and the other children walked behind her.
Then Vanessa tripped! She caught her tennis shoe on the corner of the carpet and fell over on her side. Vanessa was all ready to cry. Then she noticed that all the other children had fallen down too, and they were all laughing. Vanessa started to laugh. She got up on her hands and knees and started to crawl across the carpet. The children followed her, still laughing. When Vanessa reached the chalkboard, she stood up and clapped her hands three times. All the children did the same. Vanessa smiled. It was fun being the leader.
