The Big Race at Sunny Grass Park

Read-aloud note

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

Story

At bedtime, a tiny tap made everyone wonder. At bedtime, a tiny tap made everyone wonder. Everyone was lined up at the starting line. Lion fluffed his mane. Tiger wiggled his stripes. Elephant swung her trunk. And Ostrich? Ostrich was looking at her own very long legs like she had never seen them before.

"On your marks," said the little frog referee. "Get set... GO!"

The path crossed the blue chair, the moonlit rug, and a little basket by the window.

Lion zoomed. Tiger zoomed faster. Elephant thundered along, boom boom boom, shaking the ground just a little. But Ostrich took one enormous step, then another, then another, and whoooosh, she flew past everyone like a feathery rocket.

Lion looked at Tiger. Tiger looked at Elephant. Elephant looked at Lion. "Did you see that?" they all said at the same time.

Ostrich was already at the finish line, catching her breath and looking very pleased with her very long legs. Then she noticed her friends were still running, puffing hard in the sunshine. So she ran all the way back, and she ran alongside each of them, boom boom boom, all the way to the end together.

The little frog blew his whistle. Everyone cheered. Lion got a flower crown. Tiger got a flower crown. Elephant got a very big flower crown. And Ostrich got the biggest flower crown of all, which wobbled on her head in the most wonderful way.

They all lay down in the sunny grass, out of breath and happy. "Again?" said Ostrich, looking at her legs again. "Again!" said everyone else.

Then came the gentle surprise: the little sound was making a tiny path for a friend.

The little friend helped right away, tucked the tiny clue into a cozy spot, and smiled. At last, everything felt warm and close. Softly, softly, home we go. The star was back where it belonged.

Scenes

On Your Marks

At bedtime, everyone lined up at the starting line. Lion fluffed his mane. Tiger wiggled his stripes. Elephant swung her trunk. And Ostrich looked at her very long legs like she had never seen them before.

Get Set… GO!

"On your marks," said the little frog referee. "Get set… GO!" The path crossed the blue chair, the moonlit rug, and a little basket by the window. Lion zoomed. Tiger zoomed faster. Elephant thundered along, boom boom boom.

Whoooosh!

Ostrich took one enormous step, then another, then another, and whoooosh — she flew past everyone like a feathery rocket! Lion looked at Tiger. Tiger looked at Elephant. "Did you see that?" they all said at once.

Running Back Together

Ostrich was already at the finish line, looking very pleased. Then she saw her friends still puffing along. So she ran all the way back, and she ran alongside each of them, boom boom boom, all the way to the end together.

Flower Crowns and Home

The frog blew his whistle. Everyone cheered. Each friend got a flower crown — and Ostrich got the biggest, wobbling in the most wonderful way. They lay down in the sunny grass, happy and close. Softly, softly, home we go.