Ellen is a small girl who has a special toy called Penguin to whom she attributes her own feelings and worries.

One day they go to the park and watch the older children playing in the adventure playground, but the sight of the steep slide scares her (or, in her eyes, Penguin), as do the big geese, and they're much too shy to join in with the dolls tea-party.

They try playing catch and football, but they're no good at it and the other children tell them to go away.

But then they see another little girl with her toy monkey and taking a deep breath, Ellen goes over and talks to her.

The two girls become friends at once and, that evening, Ellen can talk about nothing else (though, of course, it's Penguin that Ellen says is doing all the chattering!).Clara Vulliamy's illustrated children's books include "Danny's Duck" and four Baby Days Board Books, "Blue Hat, Red Coat"; "Boo Baby Boo"; "Bang and Shout" and "Yum, Yum".