The First One to Say Sorry
Wonderbin
Selwyn and Mairin had been best friends since kindergarten, inseparable enough that their teachers had long since stopped bothering to seat them apart. Every single afternoon af...
For parents: Wonderbin stories are hand-picked for calm, screen-friendly reading. Perfect for shared bedtime time — start a chapter, then pause when it feels right.
About this story
Selwyn and Mairin spend every afternoon on the porch, building cardboard cities and flying a red-and-silver model airplane. The plane was a gift from Selwyn's grandfather, and Mairin is the only friend he trusts to fly it. When an eager throw sends it into the railing, a wing snaps off. Selwyn's angry words hurt more than the accident.
For days, their familiar school routine turns into separate desks and lonely recesses. Selwyn misses Mairin, but worries that apologizing would mean the broken plane never mattered. His mother offers a quiet question: could Mairin be waiting for him to go first, just as he is waiting for her?
The next morning brings a nervous walk, a pause on a different porch and an apology for words that were unfair. Neither friend can undo the accident, but they can take responsibility for their own part. Later, they repair the wing together. Its small visible seam stays, while their easy afternoons return.
This illustrated story explores accidental damage, anger, pride and the courage to begin an honest conversation. Across 32 pictures, families can follow the friendship from its ordinary joys through a difficult silence to a hopeful repair, then talk about caring for treasured belongings and speaking kindly when feelings run high.
- The First One to Say Sorry
- children's story about apologies
- Selwyn and Mairin
- repairing a friendship
- broken toy airplane story
- taking responsibility
- kind words after an argument
- illustrated friendship story
Questions parents ask
- What is The First One to Say Sorry about?
- Mairin accidentally breaks Selwyn's treasured model airplane. His harsh words lead to days apart, until he finds the courage to apologize for what he said. The friends reconnect and repair the wing together.
- Does apologizing mean the broken toy does not matter?
- No. Selwyn apologizes for his unfair words, while Mairin also acknowledges the accident. The plane still needs repair. The story makes room for caring about a treasured object and caring about a friend's feelings.
- Are there upsetting moments?
- A toy wing breaks, Selwyn says hurtful things and the friends spend several lonely days apart. No one is physically hurt. A gentle conversation with his mother and a hopeful reunion lead toward repair.
- Who might enjoy the story, and what can families discuss?
- Children aged five and up who recognize playground disagreements may connect with the two friends. Families can discuss accidents, hurtful words, giving someone time and making a specific apology without pretending nothing happened.
