Tracks in the Mud: Yusuf’s Walk
Yusuf goes for a walk with Grandpa and learns to see what the forest is saying.
On Saturday morning, Yusuf went walking in the woods with Olive the owl. ‘Today,’ said Olive, ‘we’re going to listen with our eyes.’ Yusuf wasn’t sure what that meant.
They stepped quietly along the trail. Olive stopped and pointed at the mud. ‘Look.’ Yusuf crouched down and saw a trail of claw marks by a hole. ‘A badger passed by here this morning,’ whispered Olive.
Further on, they saw a feather, a nibbled acorn and a spider web covered in dew. Each one told a little story. Yusuf began to notice more and more: bark scratched by a squirrel, a nest high in a tree.
They sat by a stream and ate sandwiches. A woodpecker tapped in the distance. A dragonfly hummed past. Yusuf realised the forest was full of life, once you slowed down enough to see it.
On the way home, Yusuf said, ‘Thanks, Olive. I never knew woods could talk.’ Olive smiled. ‘They always do. You just have to listen.’ And Yusuf kept looking all the way home.
The little lesson
If you slow down and look, nature tells you wonderful stories.
Let’s talk about it
- What tracks have you seen?
- What did Grandpa show Yusuf?
Finish stories to collect Yusuf as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Outdoors stories
Jonah’s First Camping Trip
Jonah sleeps in a tent for the first time and hears all the night sounds of the woods.
Opal at the Seaside
Opal builds a sandcastle, and the tide comes in. Oh no! Or maybe, oh yes!
A Night Under the Stars with Idris
Idris sleeps in a tent for the first time and hears all the night sounds of the woods.
You might also like
Elsa Tells the Truth
Elsa scores a goal that no one saw was wrong. What would you do?
Up, Up and Away with Sana
Sana takes a hot air balloon ride across the countryside and sees the world from above.
Rory’s Goal That Wasn’t
Rory scores a goal that no one saw was wrong. What would you do?