Pip was a little dumpling. He was round, squishy, and perfectly plump. Inside, he was filled with yummy chopped carrots, sweet peas, and tiny bits of mushroom. Pip lived inside a warm, cozy bamboo steamer basket. He shared this basket with his brothers and sisters. They were all dumplings, just like him.
Every day, the steamer basket sat on a big stove. It was always warm inside, making Pip feel like he was wrapped in a thick, fluffy blanket. Pip loved his family, but he was very curious. He always looked up at the heavy wooden lid of the basket.
“What is out there?” Pip asked his older sister, Penny.
“It is the Big Kitchen,” Penny said. “It is cold and very big. We belong in here, where it is warm and safe.”
But Pip did not want to stay in the basket forever. He wanted to see the Big Kitchen.
One evening, the giant hand of the Chef lifted the wooden lid. Steam rushed out in a big white cloud. This was Pip’s chance! He wiggled his squishy body. He rolled over his brother, Paul. He bumped past Penny.
“Wait, Pip!” Penny called out. “Where are you going?”
Pip did not answer. He rolled right to the edge of the bamboo basket and took a big jump.
Boing!
Pip landed on the kitchen counter. It was not warm and cozy. It was hard, flat, and very cold. Pip shivered. He looked around. The Big Kitchen was enormous. There were tall silver jars, shiny metal spoons, and plates as big as mountains.
Pip started to roll across the counter. He rolled past a giant green apple. He rolled under a bridge made of a wooden rolling pin. He felt very brave.
Suddenly, a giant shadow fell over him. Pip stopped rolling. Two big yellow eyes stared down at him. It was Mochi, the kitchen cat. Mochi had soft white fur and a long tail that swished back and forth.
Mochi lowered her nose and sniffed Pip. Her whiskers tickled Pip’s doughy head.
“Oh no,” Pip thought. “She thinks I am a toy!”
Mochi lifted her big white paw. She was going to bat Pip right off the counter! Pip had to think fast. He remembered that he was made of soft, bouncy dough.
When Mochi’s paw came down, Pip squished himself flat against the counter, then popped back up and bounced high into the air. He bounced right off the handle of a shiny metal spoon.
Clang!
He flew through the air and landed straight inside an open bag of white flour.
Poof!
A cloud of white flour went everywhere. Mochi the cat sneezed. “Achoo!” The cat shook her head, lost interest in the bouncy little dumpling, and walked away to take a nap on a comfortable chair.
Pip peeked out of the flour bag. He was covered in white powder. He looked like a little snowball. He was safe from the cat, but he was very tired. His squishy dough was getting cold. He missed his warm bamboo steamer. He missed Penny and Paul.
“The Big Kitchen is too big for a little dumpling,” Pip said to himself. “I want to go home.”
Just then, the Chef walked back to the counter. He saw the open flour bag. He looked inside and saw Pip.
“Well, look at you, little runaway dumpling,” the Chef said with a gentle smile.
The Chef picked up a pair of smooth wooden chopsticks. He carefully picked Pip up. The chopsticks held him tight but did not hurt him. The Chef carried Pip across the Big Kitchen.
He opened the bamboo steamer basket. Warm, happy steam puffed out. The Chef gently placed Pip right back next to Penny and Paul.
“Pip! You are back!” Penny cheered.
“We missed you,” Paul said, scooting closer to share his warmth.
Pip snuggled into his cozy spot. The heat from the steamer melted the cold flour away. He was warm, safe, and right where he belonged.
“Did you like the Big Kitchen?” Penny asked.
“It was an adventure,” Pip said, closing his eyes. “But the best part of an adventure is coming back home.”
Pip let out a happy little sigh. He was a brave little dumpling, but right now, he was just a sleepy little dumpling. He closed his eyes, felt the warm steam hug him tight, and fell fast asleep.
Do you want to bring Pip and his friends to life? Grab your crayons and markers! You can download and print your very own cute dumplings to color for free right here: 👉 Dumplings Coloring Pages
