Perfectly Norman (Big Bright Feelings)

**Lisa Bueno** (0:00)
Okay, our friends, so today we are reading a Big Bright Feelings book. Do you have big feelings sometimes? Yeah, I know I do, for sure. Today's story is called Perfectly Norman, and it has a subtitle which says, Can Norman find the courage to be himself? Hmm, good question. This story was written by Tom Percival, and it's read today by Mommy and Philip. Here we go. Norman had always been normal, perfectly normal until one day he grew a pair of wings.
Whoa!
Right? Uh-huh. That's what the book says. Yeah. Norman had imagined growing taller or growing a beard like his dad, but he had never imagined growing a pair of wings.
Still, they were here now, so we decided to test them out right away. Soon, Norman was swooping around and generally having the most fun ever. And in the picture, we can see him with these beautiful wings. They're pink and green and yellow and orange. They're kind of amazing. But then, he had to go in for dinner. You see, Norman had always been so normal, he didn't know his parents would feel about his extraordinary wings. Dinner! We can see his mom or his dad as somebody's calling for dinner. As he went in, Norman covered himself up in a great big coat. Do you think the coat will successfully hide his giant wings? Yeah, I don't either.
His parents didn't notice the wings, but they did think it was odd to be wearing a coat indoors. Bath time was problematic, because if he takes his coat off, everyone will see the giant wings. And so was bed time. The coat was hot and uncomfortable, but Norman had decided that no one should see his wings. Ever. I don't know why, though. Wings are cool, right? The next day, Norman went to the park, but he was far too hot to play any of his favorite games. And so it went on. Long car journeys became unbearable. The swimming pool was dreadful. And that was nothing compared to his friend's birthday party. The only time that Norman could feel normal now was when it rained, because he was wearing that coat.
One day, a boy tried to pull his coat off, and Norman had to run away, hot-faced, angry, and sad. He wished he'd never grown those stupid wings, but then he saw some birds high up in the sky, and remembered the joy of his first flight. It occurred to Norman that it was the coat that was making him miserable, not the wings.
And in the picture, he sees the birds, and they do look like they're having a wonderful time. Why don't you try taking that scruffy old thing off? Suggested his mom and dad. Norman looked up at them hesitantly. His parents smiled and nodded, and Norman smiled back, and then he threw off the coat, and let his wonderful wings fan out.
And Norman leapt into the air, and finally he was free of that coat. And he noticed a few other children wearing thick, heavy coats of their own, and they looked up at Norman and around at each other, nervously, around at one another nervously. And there was a moment's pause, and then, whoosh, the sky was filled with flying people, and Norman had never felt so happy. He realized that there's no such thing as perfectly normal, but he was perfectly Norman, which was just as it should be.
And my friends, you may have something special about you too. Maybe you're not growing wings, right? But maybe there is something extra special about you. Maybe you've got some big feelings that make you feel like you're the only one who has them. Well, guess what? You're not the only one. And my good friends, I want to say one more thing about this story. Norman is very, very loved by whom?
His parents? And when you are loved by your parents, what would happen if you told your mom and dad, look, mom and dad, I've grown wings and you showed us your wings, what would happen? We would be like super cool. We would be celebrating how super cool it is that you have wings. And then we'd probably be like, can you take us for a flight around the neighborhood? How strong are they? Can they lift us? We would be super excited. Because parents who love their kids are excited when their kids have something fun and something interesting that makes them unique and special.
And that is worth sharing with your parents. And I think if he had told his parents right from the get-go, mom and dad have got wings, I don't think they would be upset at all. And I don't think they were. And that, my dear friends, is the end. Hope you can join us for another Story Tomorrow.