Lulu Bell and the Tiger Cub by Belinda Murrell

Chapter 1
Zoo Excursion
    Lulu hopped from foot to foot to keep warm. Her backpack bumped up and down on her back. Overhead the sky was heavy with dark grey clouds.
    It was Wednesday morning and everyone was at school super-early. Lulu felt a bubble of excitement in her tummy. Today was the day of the big zoo adventure.
    All the year three students from Shelly Beach School were going on the excursion. It was extra special for Lulu because the zoo vet, Dr Bradley, was one of her dad’s best friends. Dr Bradley had promised to give Lulu and her friends a special tour.
    The kids were gathered in the playground. They were wearing casual clothes instead of their school uniforms.Lulu was rugged up in her scarf and jacket and a woolly cap. Her best friend Molly had her hands buried deep in her pockets to keep warm. Lauren skipped over, carrying her backpack in one hand.

    â€˜Brrrr,’ said Lulu. ‘It’s freezing. I hope the bus comes soon.’
    The teachers, Miss Baxter and Miss Donaldson, were organising the children into lines.
    â€˜Come on, 3B,’ called Miss Baxter. ‘It’s time to get your names marked off the roll.’
    Mum was standing to one side and chatting to the other parents. She had volunteered to help on the excursion. Dad would take Lulu’s younger sister Rosie to school later. Her three-year-old brother Gus was spending the day with friends.
    â€˜Fingers crossed I’m in your group, Lulu,’ said Molly. ‘It will be so much fun.’
    Lulu nodded, her eyes shining.
    â€˜Dad spoke to Dr Bradley last night,’ said Lulu. ‘She said our group can come and visit her at the zoo’s vet hospital. We might even get to watch an operation.’
    Miss Donaldson smiled at them. ‘It sounds like your group is going to have some very special treatment, Lulu. I wish I could come with you.’
    At last the big blue bus pulled up at the front gate.
    â€˜Yippety-do,’ cried Lulu.
    All the kids piled on the bus and stowed their backpacks under their seats. Lulu, Molly and Lauren sat together. Mum sat beside the other parents. With a rumbling roar, the bus pulled out.
    â€˜We’re off,’ said Lauren. ‘I can’t wait to get to the zoo.’
    â€˜I wonder what animals we’ll see today?’ asked Molly. ‘I hope we see lots of elephants and meerkats.’
    â€˜I’d like to see the wombats and the tigers,’ said Lulu. ‘And the monkeys. They always make me laugh.’
    The boy sitting behind Lulu began to make ‘oooh-oooh-ahhh-ahhh’ noises.He jumped up and down on his seat, scratching his head with one hand, and under his arm with the other.

    Lulu, Lauren and Molly turned around and giggled.
    â€˜Max, you make a perfect monkey,’ said Lulu.
    Max gave a cheeky grin. ‘Just call me king of the jungle!’
    His friend Daniel chuckled. ‘The king of the jungle is the lion. You’re more like the jungle joker, Max.’
    Max ruffled Daniel’s hair, knocking off his cap.
    The bus ride took half an hour. The excited kids talked, laughed and joked. The noise was deafening. At last, the bus pulled up at the zoo entrance. The kids piled off.
    The teachers divided the year intoeight groups of five. Each group was led by a parent or teacher. Lulu went to stand beside Mum. Miss Baxter called out the names of the other children in their group: Molly, Lauren, Max and Daniel.
    â€˜Yay,’ cried Molly. ‘We’re together.’ She linked one arm through Lulu’s and the other through Lauren’s. Max and Daniel gave each other a high five.
    Mum smiled at them. ‘Looks like I have a fantastic group.’
    Mum had her big camera slung around her neck. A clipboard with the zoo map and the plan for the day was tucked under her arm.
    Miss Donaldson gave them their instructions. ‘Each group will explore the zoo on their own,’ she said. ‘Please make sure you stay with the