The Tiny Turtle's Big Race
The whole meadow was buzzing. Today was the Great Meadow Race! Rabbits stretched their long legs, foxes shook out their tails, and there — at the very back — was a small turtle named Tilly.
“You’re too slow to race,” giggled the hare.
“I’d still like to try,” said Tilly kindly.
Ready… set… go! The animals dashed away in a blur, and Tilly began to plod. Step… step… step.
She was far behind when she heard a tiny cry. A baby bird had tumbled from its nest and lay peeping in the grass.
Now, Tilly could have hurried past. The race was still going! But she stopped.
Slowly, gently, she nudged the little bird onto her smooth round shell and carried it — step by careful step — back up the hill to its nest, where its mother waited with grateful wings.
By the time Tilly reached the finish line, everyone had gone home. She came in dead last.
But the next morning, the whole meadow was talking — not about who won the race, but about the kind little turtle who stopped to help.
“You didn’t win,” said the hare, a bit ashamed. “But you did something better.”
Tilly just smiled and pulled into her cozy shell for a nap. She knew a happy heart was the best prize of all.
The end. 🐢
Talk about it together
- Why did Tilly stop during the race?
- Is being first always the most important thing?
- When have you helped someone even though you were busy?