Tillo and One Little Step

One bright morning, Tillo the story-sore was picking daisies when a hare named Hoppy rushed past. Whoosh! I'm the fastest animal in the meadow, Hoppy called. Behind him came a little tortoise named Toby. Step, step, step. Good morning, Toby, said Tillo. Where are you going? To the big oak tree, Toby replied. There's a lovely view from the hill. Hoppy stopped and wiggled his ears. The oak tree? At your speed, you'll take all day. Toby looked down at his little feet. I do walk slowly, he said. Tillo sat beside him. That's all right. You can go at your own pace. Hoppy bounced up and down. Let's have a race, from this daisy patch to the oak tree. All right, said Toby. I'll give it a try. Tillo raised a leap, like a little flag. Ready, steady, go. Hoppy sprang away. Boing! Boing! Boing! Toby took one small step, then another. Tillo walked beside him. Ahead, Hoppy looked back. Toby was only just leaving the daisies. I've got plenty of time, Hoppy said. I'll have a little rest. He curled up beneath a shady bush. Soon, his nose stopped twitching. Then his eyes closed, and Hoppy fell fast asleep. Meanwhile, Toby kept walking. Step, step, step. At a muddy puddle, he stopped. Oh, he said, I don't want to slip. Shall we look for a dry way round? asked Tillo. Together, they found a path beside the puddle. Step, step, step. Further along, Toby reached the hill. He could see the oak tree at the top, but it still looked far away. My legs are tired, he said. Let's have a little rest, said Tillo. They sat in the soft grass and listened to a bird singing. After a while, Toby stretched his feet. I'm ready for a few more steps. Up the hill they went. Step, step, step. At last, Toby reached the big oak tree. I did it, he cried. Tillo's golden-cheeked star sparkled. You did! You found your way and kept going. Just then, Hoppy woke up. The race! He dashed across the meadow and hurried up the hill. But Toby was already resting beneath the tree. You got here before me, Hoppy said, catching his breath. Toby smiled. I took it one step at a time. Hoppy lowered his ears. I'm sorry I laughed at you for being slow. Would you like to sit with us? asked Toby. The three friends settled beneath the oak tree. Below them, the meadow was dotted with yellow flowers. What a lovely view, whispered Hoppy. And we all got here, said Tillo. He turned towards the children watching. Is there something you're learning to do? You can take your time, ask for help, and rest when you need to. Then Tillo smiled. Let's sing about taking one little step. When something's new, I have a go. Sometimes quick and sometimes slow. A wobbly line, a tumbling tower. I can learn a little more each hour. I don't need to be the fastest today. One little step helps me on my way. If it's tricky, that's okay. I can try another way. One little step, one little try. Take your time and so will I. At our own pace, day by day. We're learning in our own little way. Have a rest, ask for a hand. Can you help me understand? When we're ready, off we go. One little step helps us grow. When I'm tired, I stop and sit. Take a breath and rest a bit. Stretch my fingers, wiggle my toes. Watch a butterfly as it goes. Then when I feel ready to play, I'll try again and find my way. Little by little, I'll carry on. Look at the things I've already done. One little step, one little try. Take your time and so will I. At our own pace, day by day. We're learning in our own little way. Have a rest, ask for a hand. Can you help me understand? When we're ready, off we go. One little step helps us grow. If I'm stuck, I turn and say, Could you show me another way? A helping hand, a kindly word, It feels so good to have been heard. We can practice, you and me. Try together, then we'll see. I may not know just what to do, But I can learn with help from you. Do we have to win a race? No! We learn at our own pace. Can we rest along the way? Yes, we can! That's okay! Can we ask a friend to show us? Yes! A helping hand can help us. R