Page 1
In the little town of Pinger
is a very lovely park.
Where all the little children play
But never after dark.
Page 2
Pinger Park has everything a child could ever wish.
From monkey bars to bumper cars, to animals and fish.
Page 3
There's lots of green, green grass and sky high tall trees.
Veggie gardens and lovely flowers. It is the place to be.
Page 4
There's something else in Pinger Town not far from Pinger Park.
The Zinger family: Mom, Dad, Billy and a little dog named Spark.
Page 5
The Zingers' youngest boy, the one with a freckled face, is little Conrad, glasses bright wearing sneakers with no lace.
Page 6
All the kids loved
Conrad, the way
he'd wear his
clothes.
Page 7
His baseball cap
turned front to
back, those
freckles on
his nose.
Page 8
All the kids around the block would gather every day outside his house and holler out,
"Hey Conrad, come and play."
Page 9
Conrad and his friends took pride in keeping Pinger Park clean. They picked up trash and litter. They were the clean-up team.
Page 10
One day the Mayor of Pinger called a meeting of the town.
"The park has got to go!" he said. "It must be torn down."
Page 11
"So many families have moved here. People are coming still.
We need the land the park is on. There's no land on which to build."
Page 12
When Conrad and his friends heard this, it made them very sad. Without Pinger Park what would they do? The news was very bad.
Page 13
Conrad had to think fast. He told his pals, "here's what I'll do. I'll write a letter to the city paper, and get it in the news."
Page 14
So Conrad
wrote from
his heart
with hope and
a very big wish.
And when he
finished the letter
it read something like this.
Page 15
Dear Mr. Mayor,
It's Conrad here.
I'm not sure what I should say. Some years ago I asked my mom, "Can I please go out and play?"
Page 16
She took me to Pinger Park.
I was only about three.
But I remember it so well.
It was the best fun to me!
Page 17
The park's where I lost my first tooth. It's special can't you see?
Page 18
It's also the place my pals and I planted our very first tree.
Page 19
So I write for all of us kids. I write for the place where we play. I write for the trees and flowers. Please let Pinger Park stay.
Page 20
Everyone read Conrad's letter. Then they marched to see the Mayor.
"Save Pinger Park!" they chanted. "Mr. Mayor, don't you care?"
Page 21
The Mayor was moved with compassion.
He said, "I won't let the park be torn down. It means too much to our children. It means too much to our town."
Page 22
"So I've made a new decision. And it comes straight from the heart. Let's all thank Conrad. He helped save Pinger Park."
Page 23
So in the little town of Pinger there is still a lovely park. Where all the little children play, but never after dark.
Page 24
Pinger Park has everything, even a new children's bank. And everyone in Pinger Town, has Conrad Zinger to thank.
