Opal the Sugar Glider and the Rainy Day Picnic

When things don’t go to plan, little hearts can still find big joy

Opal the Sugar Glider had the whole day planned — snacks, games, and sunshine! But when the weather turns, Opal feels disappointed and unsure what to do. With help from her friends, she learns that when plans change, something even better might unfold.

A gentle, joyful story about flexibility, connection, and finding fun when things don’t go to plan.

🌟Perfect for children learning to cope with disappointment and discover joy in the unexpected.

🎧 Listen to / Download the Audiobook

Hit play to listen to a sample of the heartwarming PatchO Pal story, read aloud for little ears.

The full audiobook is a PatchO Family email list exclusive. Opal's full audiobook will be sent to your inbox as a special "thank you" for repeat PatchO Family customers.

📖 Read Along Story

Snuggle up and read the full story with your little one below.

Opal the Sugar Glider and the Rainy Day Picnic

A gentle, joyful story about flexibility, connection, and finding fun when things don’t go to plan. By patcho.com.au.

Opal the Sugar Glider zipped through the trees, Grinning with joy in the warm morning breeze.

“I’ve planned the best picnic!” she shouted with glee, “With fruit, yummy crackers, and sweet lemon tea!” 🧺

She met her best friends by the big paperbark, With games in a basket and treats to embark.

They unpacked their goodies and danced all around, Till raindrops came falling — first soft, then profound.

The clouds had crept in with a sneaky grey sweep, And down came the rain in a splattery heap! 🌧️

Their sandwiches squished, the fruit rolled away — “This isn’t the picnic I planned for today…”

Opal sat down with a frown on her face, Her picnic had turned to a soggy disgrace. 😢

“I worked so hard — now it’s all gone a-muck. This rain’s ruined everything. Just my luck!”

Pat plodded over with a leaf held up high, And gave Opal a calm, gentle smile nearby.

“Sometimes,” Pat said, “things don’t go our way… But we can find new ways to have fun today.”

They tucked in together beneath leafy shade, And nibbled what bits of their picnic had stayed.

“It’s not what I pictured,” said Opal, she sighed, “But I’m glad you’re all here — with me by my side.”

She spotted a puddle and gave it a poke, Then giggled aloud at the ripples she woke. 😄

She tapped with her tail — tap-tap, then a spin — And started to dance with a puddle-y grin.

Hazel spun circles, her wings all a-swish, While Chad made a beat with a stick on a dish.

The gumtrees all danced as the raindrops came down, Their puddle-y party brought smiles, not a frown. 🌦️

Opal beamed brightly, her heart feeling light, “This wasn’t our plan — but it still turned out alright."

When things don’t go how you thought they would do, You might find a way to enjoy something new.

So when plans go sideways and skies turn to grey, You can still find the sunshine tucked into your day.

With friendship to share and a new point of view — You might be surprised what the rain brings you too. 🌈

The end.

💡A Note for Grown-Ups

For young children, disruptions to routine and plans can feel overwhelming. “Opal the Sugar Glider and the Rainy Day Picnic” helps children learn that:

• Disappointment is a normal feeling.
• Flexibility and curiosity can help them try new things.
• Finding joy in the unexpected builds resilience.
• Being with trusted friends can shift a hard moment into a playful one.

This story gently models self-regulation, emotional flexibility, and the power of social connection — all key ingredients for resilience in young children.

You can support your child by:

• Acknowledging their feelings first. Let them know it’s okay to feel disappointed, upset, or frustrated when things don’t go as planned:
  "You worked hard on this, and it’s hard when it doesn’t happen the way you hoped."
• Modeling flexibility yourself. Show them how you adjust by suggesting playful alternatives and keeping a light tone:
  "Hmm, it’s raining — maybe we can have an indoor picnic instead?"
• Inviting curiosity. Help them notice what’s still good in the moment, or discover something new to enjoy:
  "What else can we do with this time? Do you see any fun puddles to jump in?"
• Focusing on connection. Sometimes the people they’re with matter more than the activity — remind them:
  "I love that we’re here together, even if it’s not what we planned."
• Celebrating little wins. Praise their efforts when they find even a tiny bit of fun in a tricky moment:
  "You found such a clever way to make it fun anyway — that’s amazing!"

These gentle strategies help children learn that while disappointment is real, it doesn’t have to stop the fun — and that they can find sunshine even on a rainy day.

🌈Love this story?

Opal's not the only one with a story to share.

Each of the PatchO Pals has their own heartwarming tale — giving young kids simple stories and tools to help with common challenges like feeling overwhelmed, losing focus, impatience and fomo, overcoming fears, sensory overload and disappointment when things change.

All stories are available for free as read-alongs, and you can unlock the audiobooks as you journey with the PatchO Pals —  by joining our email list, placing your first order, or exploring more with us.  

✨ Collect them all and build your own PatchO Storytime Audiobook Library! 

📚 PatchO Pal Stories & Audiobooks

📖 Pat the Platypus and the Stormy Surprise
🎧 Audiobook — Free to everyone.

📖 Ari the Superb Fairywren Finds His Focus
🎧 Audiobook— PatchO Family email list exclusive: Sign up bonus.

📖 Tilly the Treefrog and the Waiting Game
🎧 Audiobook — PatchO Family email list exclusive: Post-purchase bonus.

📖 Chad the Aussie Water Dragon and the Wobbly Bridge
🎧Audiobook — PatchO Family email list exclusive:  Reviewer bonus.

📖 Hazel the Microbat and the Soothing Sounds  
🎧 Audiobook — PatchO Family email list exclusive: 1 month PatchO-versary bonus.

📖 Opal the Sugar Glider and the Rainy Day Picnic (this story)
🎧 Audiobook — PatchO Family email list exclusive: Repeat purchase bonus.

💌Be sure to join our PatchO Family Email list (via the footer) to secure your audiobooks!

✍️Written by the PatchO Team
At PatchO, we’re a small Aussie team on a mission to inspire families to embrace life’s adventures — big and small.

Whether you’re navigating bedtime, busy mornings, or emotional ups and downs, we’re here to help make everyday rhythms feel calmer, more connected, and a little more magical — with the support of nature and our friendly PatchO Pals.

🧸 Want more gentle support for your family’s routines?
Explore our aromatherapy patches made to support big little feelings. Our Comfort Companions are thoughtfully designed to support connection, play, and meaningful moments together.