Luca and the Stuck-in-the-Sand Crab

Luca loved the beach! The sun felt warm on his nose, and the sand was soft and squishy between his toes. He was building the best sandcastle ever, with tall towers and a little path made of shiny, white shells. He was a very helpful boy, and today he was helping the beach look beautiful.

Suddenly, he saw something tiny wiggling near a big, grey rock. It was a little crab! But the crab wasn't scuttling sideways like crabs usually do. One of its little claws was stuck fast under the heavy rock. The little crab waved its free claw and looked very worried.

"Oh no!" said Luca. Being a helpful boy, he ran over to the rock. He put his hands on it and tried to move it. "Push, push, push!" he grunted. But the rock wouldn't budge. It was just too heavy! Luca felt a bit sad for his new crab friend.

Luca looked at his red bucket and his yellow spade. Then he had a super-clever idea! He couldn't move the rock, but he could move the sand! He started to dig a little trench right next to the crab's claw. "Dig, dig, dig!" he whispered excitedly. Soon, the sand was gone, and the little claw was free!

The little crab wiggled its claw, clicked it happily as if to say "thank you," and scuttled off towards the sparkling blue water. Luca giggled. He felt so happy inside! He had helped his friend by thinking in a new and clever way. Being helpful was the best feeling in the world.