How Dexter Built the Bridge
A storm washes away the only bridge. Every animal has an important job to do.
There was once a river called Bubbling River. A little wooden bridge crossed it, and every animal used it to get to the market. Then one night, a howling wind came, and in the morning, the bridge was gone.
The animals gathered on the bank. ‘How will we cross?’ sighed Freya. ‘It’s too wide to jump,’ said Lena. ‘And too deep to wade,’ said Tariq. Everyone was gloomy.
Dexter the duck thought hard. ‘We can build a new bridge,’ he said. ‘But we’ll need everybody.’ The animals looked at each other, and started to nod.
Tariq, who was the strongest, hauled big logs from the forest. Freya, who was the nimblest, climbed up and tied them with long, strong vines. Lena dug holes for the posts.
And Dexter? Dexter was the smallest, but he could squeeze into tiny spaces. He wriggled between the logs to tie knots no one else could reach. Every knot counted.
By sunset, the bridge was finished. It wobbled a little at first. Then Tariq stepped on it. It held! Then Freya, then Lena, then Dexter. They all crossed, cheering.
The new bridge was stronger than the old one. And at the middle, the animals carved: ‘Built by everyone.’ It’s still there today, if you know where to look.
The little lesson
Everybody has something to give, big or small, and together it adds up.
Let’s talk about it
- What job did you think was most important?
- Think of a time you worked together with others.
Finish stories to collect Dexter as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
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