Potter Problem Solving
Download the coloring book version of this story.
Mr. Potter was a problem solver. The sign above his door said, “Potter Problem Solving - No Problem Too Big or Too Small”. The sign dangled from one corner, almost falling off. Mr. Potter had tried string, clothes pegs, and chewing gum, but nothing worked. “I’ll have to solve that problem”, he said.
One day, Gina Gannan came to the office.
“I’m here to speak with Mr. Potter. I have a problem that needs to be solved!”
Mrs. Baya, the secretary, showed her into Mr. Potter’s office.
“My neighbor’s dog jumps over the fence and digs up my roses. What should I do?”
On his desk was a messy pile of papers with solutions to all kinds of problems. Mr. Potter looked through them, but he didn’t find anything suitable.
“Gina, your problem is very serious. It needs some thought. Come back tomorrow morning and I’ll have a solution for you.”
Gina Gannan left, and Mr. Potter hurried home for lunch. When he arrived, Mrs. Potter was reading a book about how airplanes can fly even though they are so heavy.
“I have a problem,” said Mrs. Potter, “I’d like to speak with you about it.”
“I’m sorry, I’m far too busy solving a very tricky problem. Make an appointment with Mrs. Baya and we can talk about it in the office.”
That night, Mr. Potter fell asleep very quickly. But Mrs. Potter couldn’t sleep at all. Mr. Potter was mumbling something about roses, dogs, and fences. He snored very loudly.
Mr. Potter woke up bright and early. “I know what Gina Gannan should do!”
That morning, Gina Gannan arrived at the office. “Mr. Potter, do you have a solution for me?”
“Yes! Build a wooden box around each rose. That way, the dog won’t be able to dig them up!”
“That’s an excellent idea. I’ll do it right away!”
Just as Gina Gannan was about to leave the office, in walked Mrs. Potter. She had come to make an appointment. But when she heard Mr. Potter’s solution, she whispered to Gina, “Leave a window in the boxes for sunlight and so you can water the flowers.”
“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Potter. I will.”
Just then, the door flew open and in walked another customer. “I’m Max Razeh. May I see Mr. Potter, please?” asked the tall, skinny man. He had a bandage on his chin.
“Follow me,” answered Mrs. Baya.
“I have a problem,” said Max Razeh, “My car is very small, but I’m very tall. Whenever I drive, my knees knock my chin. See the bandage?”
Mr. Potter looked through his pile of solutions for an answer but didn’t find anything suitable.
“Max, your problem is very serious. It needs some thought. Come back tomorrow morning and I’ll have a solution for you.”
Mr. Potter came home after a long day at work. Mrs. Potter was reading about how seeds grow into plants.
“I have a problem,” said Mrs. Potter, “I’d like to speak with you about it.”
“I’m sorry, I’m far too busy solving a very difficult problem for Max Razeh. Make an appointment with Mrs. Baya, and we can talk about it in the office.”
That night, Mr. Potter fell asleep very quickly. But Mrs. Potter couldn’t sleep at all. Mr. Potter mumbled something about tall people, small cars, and chins. He snored very loudly.
Mr. Potter woke up bright and early. “I know what Max Razeh should do!”
That morning, Max Razeh arrived at the office. “Mr. Potter, do you have a solution for me?”
“Yes! Cut a hole in the roof of your car and put your head through it when you drive. You’ll have plenty of room, and your knees won’t knock your chin.”
“Mr. Potter, you’re an excellent problem solver. I’ll do it right away!”
Just as Max Razeh was about to leave, in walked Mrs. Potter. She had come to make an appointment. But when she heard Mr. Potter’s solution, she whispered to Max Razeh, “Pop an umbrella through the hole so you don’t get wet when it rains.”
“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Potter. I will.”
Just then, the door opened slowly and a young, shy lady entered. “Excuse me. May I see Mr. Potter, please?”
“Right this way,” said Mrs. Baya.
“How may I help you?” asked Mr. Potter.
“My name is Sally Madaf and I have a problem. Whenever I read a book and close it, I lose my place. Can you help?”
Mr. Potter looked through his papers but didn’t find a solution to Sally’s problem.
“Sally, your problem is very serious, indeed. It needs some thought. Come back tomorrow morning and I’ll have a solution for you.”
That night, Mrs. Potter was reading about how batteries work. Mr. Potter was getting ready for bed.
“I have a problem,” said Mrs. Potter, “I’d like to speak with you about it.”
“I’m sorry, I’m far too busy solving a very difficult problem for Sally Madaf. Make an appointment and we can talk about it in the office.”
That night, Mr. Potter fell asleep very quickly. But Mrs. Potter couldn’t sleep at all. Mr. Potter mumbled something about books, pages, and losing your place. He snored very loudly.
Mr. Potter woke up bright and early. “I know what Sally should do!”
That morning, Sally Madaf arrived at the office.
“Mr. Potter, do you have a solution for me?”
“Yes! Before you close a book, tear out the last page you read. The next time you open it, you’ll know exactly where to start from.”
“Mr. Potter, you’re an excellent problem solver. I’ll do it right away!”
Just as Sally was about to leave, in walked Mrs. Potter. She had come to make an appointment. But when she heard Mr. Potter’s solution, she whispered to Sally, “Just fold the corner of the page so you’ll know where you’re up to. That way, you can read the book again another time.”
“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Potter. I will.”
Mr. Potter saw Mrs. Potter standing by the door. “How can I help you?” he asked.
“My problem is that I can’t sleep. You always mumble and snore very loudly.”
“Oh, that’s a serious problem.” Mr. Potter looked through his papers for a solution.
“Try building a wooden box around your head to stop the noise.”
“No, that won’t do,” replied Mrs. Potter.
“How about cutting a hole in the roof and sleeping with your head outside?”
“No, that won’t do, either.”
“What about tearing out some pages from a book and putting them over your ears?”
“No, I won’t do that. But maybe I’ll buy some earplugs.”
“That’s a wonderful solution!” said Mr. Potter. “You’re very good at solving problems. Why don’t you come to work here?”
“How exciting! Do you have any problems that I can solve right now?”
“The sign above the office door keeps falling down. I’ve tried string, clothes pegs, and chewing gum, but nothing worked. Do you have a solution?”
Mrs. Potter thought for a moment and said, “Instead of a sign, paint the words above the door. That way, it can never fall down.”
“Mrs. Potter, you’re an excellent problem solver. I’ll do it right away!”