Toby’s Silly Pie (or Toby's Crooked Pie) | Oops, Toby! | Bedtime stories for Kids

One sunny morning, Toby the bear woke up with a big idea. I want to bake a pie. All by myself, he said, bouncing out of bed. In the kitchen, Mama Bear smiled. That's a lovely idea, she said. Do you want some help? Toby shook his head. No, thank you. I want it to be a surprise. He climbed up on a stool and tied a big yellow apron around his belly. Then he opened the cupboard and started picking ingredients. Let's see. Flour, honey, berries. And maybe a little extra honey. And some oats. And a carrot. Why not? Toby stirred everything together in a big bowl. It didn't look quite like Mama's pie, but it smelled sweet and exciting. He poured it into a pie pan, placed it in the oven, with Mama's help for the hot part, and waited. Ding! The pie was ready! Toby gasped when he saw it. The crust was lumpy. One side was higher than the other. And it leaned a little, like it wanted to take a nap. Oh, no, Toby whispered. It's a crooked pie. He carried it carefully to the table where Mama and Papa were waiting with tea. I tried my best, he said softly. But it looks silly. Mama took a bite. Papa took a bite. They both smiled. Mmm, said Mama. It's delicious. And full of love, said Papa. Toby's eyes lit up. Really? Crooked pies are our favorite kind, said Mama. They're made with heart, said Papa. And as they shared the pie, Toby smiled. Because sometimes, trying your best is the very best ingredient of all. Moral. Even a crooked pie can be perfect when it's made with love.