* * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * *

''The Big Parade''

was created especiallyfor

Yuta Yamada
at the age of８

with love from
Uncle Hiroshi

February 23, 2006



** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

YutaYamadasat up wide awake in his bed.
The sun was just coming up inHiroshima.
He could tell that it was
going tobe a gorgeous day.
He glanced out his bedroom window.
Yutaremembered exactly where he was planning
to gotoday withLisa, Taro and Hanako.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

Yutahad been so excited for the
pastweek. WithLisa, Taro and Hanako,
he had made agame of finding the most
circus posters all over town. Today
was the bigparade and that meant the
start of all the circus activities.
Yutahad even tried to go to sleep as
fast as he couldlast night to make the
morning come more quickly.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Yutabegan to think about allthe
fantastic fun he would have.
Last year, his favorite act was theclown
with the invisible dog.
Yutawondered ifthe clown would be there
again today. ThenYutathought
about the child who would be selected
by the mayor thisyear to lead the parade.
Who would that lucky person be?



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

Just then the phone rang.
''Yuta Yamada,will you lead the big parade for
us this year?" asked the mayor ofHiroshima.
''Oh, yes, yes!'' exclaimedYuta.
''Will I get to ride in the　fire truck?''
The mayor chuckled,
"You most certainly will,Yuta! ''



* * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * *

Larry, John and Tommy waited withYuta
while a huge helicopter landed in his back yard.
It was there topick upYuta.
The helicopter took off minuteslater withYuta
in the front seat grinning fromear to ear.
After waving goodbye,Lisa, Taro andHanako
hurried downtown to see the parade.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

From the helicopter,Yutacould see
thecircus parade beginning to
assemble at the edge of town.
The helicopterlanded andYuta
ran to the mayor.
On theirway to the shiny, red fire
truck at the head of the parade,
they walkedpast all the practicing
performers and anxious animals that
would befollowingYuta.
Yutawas thrilled.



* * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * *

Someone shouted, ''Look,YutaYamada
is leading the parade this year!''
At that very moment, abig
drum roll was heard.
Yutacarefullyclimbed
aboard the fire truck next to the driver
who was dressed like aclown .
Yutaenjoyed the marvelous, marchingmusic
played by the band as the fire truck
drove down the main street ofHiroshima.



** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Immediately behind the band wasa
beautiful bareback rider. Her two magnificent,
prancing horses were sowell
trained that the rider could balance
on both their backs whilestanding up.
Yutaimagined that the fine,
fancy feathers on the noble
horses' heads were bobbing to the beat
ofthe music. He bobbed his head also.



* ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The fire truck turned a corner.
Yutasaw three small children mimicking
thedancing bear who was dressed
in a pink ballerina costume.
The big, brownbear was very entertaining
as she proudly performed bouncy ballet
stepswhile balancing on a ball.



* * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The circus elephants followed next.
Ashe watched the playful pranks
of the darling baby elephant,
Yutadaydreamed about taking him home.
When theelephant fanned his big floppy ears,
Yutacouldalmost picture him flying through
the sky with the greatest of ease.
Ifthe baby strayed too far,
the mother elephant would lovingly
wrap hertrunk around his.



* * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * *

A jolly juggler on a unicycle juggling
five fullbottles fascinatedLisa, Taro and Hanako.
Hepedaled so fast that there were times
when it was hard to keep up with him.
It was incredible that he never dropped a bottle,
no matter how fast hepedaled.
Lisa, Taro and Hanakoknew
it tookpractice to be that good.



* * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Yutawas amused bythe antics of the
slippery seal.
The seal would flip the ball backwards
and then, with his hind flippers,
smack it right back to the tip of hisnose.
Everyone loved watching the seal clap
after each trick heperformed.
Lisa, Taro and Hanakohad funimitating
his funny, barking noises.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Theacrobatic troupe was next.
Their tumbling and flipping routines
had thecrowd cheering.
Yutawas enjoying his
place ofhonor, but was really tickled
when the driver told him he would have
achance to watch the entire parade
pass before him as each act entered
thebig top circus tent.



* * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * *

A majestic lion with all his marvelous
manewas in the last wagon.
He was so-o-o-o big,
and his roar wasso-o-o
loud thatYutacould hear him from
thevery front of the parade.
The mild-mannered monkeys
on top of his cagedid not seem at all
frightened of the ferocious feline.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thefire truck stopped at the entrance
of the big top circus tent.
Yutatalked to the circus stars
as they went inside.
It made him feel like an
important star to be so close to them.
ThenYutajoinedLisa, Taro andHanakoin
his special section inside the tent.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

When the circus was over,
Yutawas
escorted outside by
the mayor and the ringmaster.
Yutadid not want this
special day to end. As he turnedto
look one last time, some performers
were waving goodbye.
Yutawaved back and smiled,
for he knew he would neverforget the day
he led THE BIG PARADE!



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

Yuta Yamada
In THE BIG PARADE, there weremany
different characters. Can you
unscramble the following names?

olin------------------------
reba-----------------------
ymnkoe-------------------
esorh----------------------
lesa-----------------------
nlwoc---------------------
glreguj--------------------