How Esme 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 berry patch. 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 Nina. ‘It’s too wide to jump,’ said Ruby. ‘And too deep to wade,’ said Lena. Everyone was gloomy.
Esme the little bird thought hard. ‘We can build a new bridge,’ she said. ‘But we’ll need everybody.’ The animals looked at each other, and started to nod.
Lena, who was the strongest, hauled big logs from the forest. Nina, who was the nimblest, climbed up and tied them with long, strong vines. Ruby dug holes for the posts.
And Esme? Esme was the smallest, but she could squeeze into tiny spaces. She 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 Lena stepped on it. It held! Then Nina, then Ruby, then Esme. 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 Esme as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Animal Tales stories
Whoosh! Tomas’s Windy Picnic
A big gust of wind takes the picnic away. Can the friends catch it?
Knock, Knock, Who’s at Suki’s Door?
Suki hears a strange knock in the night. Who could it be?
Bruno Finds a Friend
Bruno is so shy that he hides from everyone, until a friend needs help.
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