What is an entertaining text in primary school writing?

An entertaining text is writing made to delight the reader - a story, a poem, a comic scene. It usually has a character with a problem, things that happen, and some kind of turn at the end. Lainey's piece 'Mr. Bongo' is a short comic narrative: a grumpy main character, three escalating pranks, and a small change of heart.

Can teachers and homeschoolers use this as a writing sample?

Yes. Lainey has consented to publication via theINmag, and the piece is free to use as a mentor text in classrooms and homeschool sessions. If you do use it, we'd love to hear how it landed - get in touch through the magazine.

How can a kid write their own entertaining story?

Start with a character who wants something they can't easily get. Mr. Bongo wants the new giraffe gone. Give your character a couple of attempts that don't work the way they expected. Let something small change their mind at the end. Write it the way you'd tell it out loud - if it makes you laugh, it'll probably make a reader laugh too.

Mr. Bongo

Real Kids Voices

Entertaining piece by Lainey, age 12. Bendigo VIC. Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

Real Kids Voices4 min readMay 28, 2026

Mr. Bongo

Mr. Bongo is a very ordinary giraffe. He does the same thing every day. First, he has his cold porridge and gets changed into his business suit (even though he doesn't work in an office). Anyway, Mr. Bongo didn't care. He worked at a zoo, and all he did was stand there, eating and eating. "Oh my god, this is such hard work," Mr. Bongo would say. Every day little kids and adults watched him over a fence and stared at him, ALL DAY. His dream is to not be behind a fence and run around free.

A new giraffe at the office

One day at work, Mr. Bongo was extra grumpy because his porridge was a tiny bit warm. The day didn't get much better from there for Mr. Bongo. When he got to work he saw a new giraffe in his office space. Mr. Bongo was furious. What was a tiny giraffe doing here? Will he eat all of my food? Mr. Bongo had so many questions but he just went on with his work (which was eating and having people stare at him all day). Mr. Bongo figured he'd make the new giraffe, named Gongo by the way, not like this new place and make him want to leave.

The trip

So one day, Mr. Bongo decided to trip Gongo over. This would make him not like the workplace and want to leave. When Gongo was tripped over, he didn't do anything. He got right back up and kept eating. HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING! Mr. Bongo didn't know what to do.

The leaves and the water

The next day, Mr. Bongo started eating Gongo's leaves but Gongo just said politely, "Do you want some?" Mr. Bongo started to realise that Gongo wasn't that bad but he still had to go! So, Mr. Bongo drank all of Gongo's water. Gongo wasn't happy. He said, "Why are you being mean? I am trying really hard to be nice."

Mr. Bongo felt guilty. Gongo had tried to be nice and share. So, Mr. Bongo decided he'd let this new giraffe stay at the 'office'.

Got questions?

An entertaining text is writing made to delight the reader - a story, a poem, a comic scene. It usually has a character with a problem, things that happen, and some kind of turn at the end. Lainey's piece 'Mr. Bongo' is a short comic narrative: a grumpy main character, three escalating pranks, and a small change of heart.
Yes. Lainey has consented to publication via theINmag, and the piece is free to use as a mentor text in classrooms and homeschool sessions. If you do use it, we'd love to hear how it landed - get in touch through the magazine.
Start with a character who wants something they can't easily get. Mr. Bongo wants the new giraffe gone. Give your character a couple of attempts that don't work the way they expected. Let something small change their mind at the end. Write it the way you'd tell it out loud - if it makes you laugh, it'll probably make a reader laugh too.