Tom and the Red Toolbox

Tom is seven years old. Today is his birthday. Dad has a present for him. It is big and red. It has a handle.

"Open it," Dad says. Tom opens the box. He looks inside. He sees many things. "Wow!" he says.

"It is a toolbox," Dad says. "It is for you."

Tom takes out a tool. It has a long handle and a heavy head.

"It is a hammer," Dad says. "It hits nails." Dad gives Tom a small nail and a piece of wood. Dad holds the nail. Tom looks at the hammer. He looks at the nail.

"Let's try!" Tom says. He hits the nail. He hits it again. The nail goes into the wood. "I did it!" Tom says.

Next, Tom takes out a tool with a blue handle. It is long and thin.

"It is a screwdriver," Dad says. "It turns screws." Dad gives Tom a screw and a piece of wood.

"Let's try!" Tom says. He turns the screwdriver. It is hard. The screw does not go in. Tom is a little sad.

"Let's try again!" he says. He turns it slowly. Round and round. This time, the screw goes in. Tom smiles. "Now I can do it!" he says.

Mom comes into the room. She looks at the tools. "What a nice present!" she says. "Tom, I need help. My shelf is not strong. It moves when I touch it."

Tom looks at the shelf. He looks at the small screws. He looks at his screwdriver.

"Let's try!" Tom says. He turns each screw. One, two, three, four. Dad helps him hold the shelf. Then Tom pushes the shelf with his hand. It does not move. It is strong now.

"Thank you, Tom," Mom says. "You are a good helper."

Tom is very happy. He puts the hammer in the box. He puts the screwdriver in the box. He closes the red toolbox and holds the handle.

"This is the best birthday," Tom says. "Tomorrow, I want to build something big."

Dad laughs. "What do you want to build?"

Tom thinks. "I don't know yet," he says. "But let's try!"

See you next time, Tom!