The Big, Big Trip to China

Read-aloud note

Read slowly, soften your voice near the end, and leave a small pause before the final goodnight line.

Story

One morning, a very big blue whale looked at a very big map and said, "I would like to see China." And five dinosaurs heard him and said, "We would like to come too!"

There was Trixie the T-Rex, who had tiny arms but a very loud voice. There was Della the Diplodocus, who had a neck so long she could see over any wall. There was Terry the Triceratops, who wore a stripy red scarf because he liked feeling fancy. There was Steggy the Stegosaurus, who had spiky plates on his back that were perfect for hanging hats. And there was Petra the Pterodactyl, who could fly up high and shout, "I can see it! I can see it!" every time she spotted something wonderful. Every time she did, everyone asked, "What can you see, Petra? What can you see?"

The blue whale, whose name was Benny, could not walk on land, of course. So the five dinosaurs had a think. Trixie used her loud voice to call for a very wide river. Della used her long neck to stretch a big leafy bridge from one hill to the next. Terry wore his scarf proudly at the front so everyone knew where to go. Steggy carried all the hats and snacks on his back plates, neat as a row of little hooks. And Petra flew ahead, calling back, "I can see the red lanterns! I can see the tall pagoda! I can see a garden full of golden fish!" And each time, they all called up, "What can you see, Petra? What can you see?"

Benny swam gently through every river and lake along the way, his big blue back glittering in the sun. And when they finally arrived, they found a wide, shimmering lake right in the middle of a beautiful garden. Benny slipped into it with a happy splash. The lanterns glowed red above him. The golden fish came to say hello. The five dinosaurs sat along the bank, eating their snacks off Steggy's back, watching the lights shimmer on the water. Petra landed softly beside Benny and said very quietly, "I can see that you are happy." And Benny smiled the biggest whale smile and said, "Yes. And so am I."

Scenes

A Very Big Idea

One bright morning, Benny the blue whale looked at a very big map and said, "I would like to see China." And five dinosaurs heard him and said, "We would like to come too!"

Who Does What?

Trixie called for a wide river with her very loud voice. Della stretched a big leafy bridge from hill to hill. Terry wore his scarf proudly at the front. Steggy carried all the hats and snacks on his neat back plates. And Petra flew ahead, calling, "I can see it! I can see it!"

What Can You See, Petra?

Petra flew up high and shouted, "I can see the red lanterns! I can see the tall pagoda! I can see a garden full of golden fish!" And everyone called up, "What can you see, Petra? What can you see?"

The Beautiful Garden

Benny swam gently through every river and lake, his big blue back glittering in the sun. When they finally arrived, he slipped into a wide, shimmering lake right in the middle of a beautiful garden with a happy splash.

Happy, All Together

The five dinosaurs sat along the bank, eating snacks off Steggy's back, watching the lights shimmer on the water. Petra landed softly beside Benny and said very quietly, "I can see that you are happy." And Benny smiled the biggest whale smile and said, "Yes. And so am I."