A fable about Finishing what you start

Dakota and the Hill That Stayed

Starring Dakota, the Deinonychus. Dakota promises to carry the signal scarf to Windtop, and when the climb stays difficult, she keeps choosing the hill one marker at a time.

Ages 3–6
Joining the shelf
Book in the works

See how the story goes Meet Dakota

No. 20

Meet

Dakota

Deinonychus

Learns: Finishing what you start
Grown-up value: Determination
Fable: No. 20

How the story goes

One small trouble. Three turns.

A peek for grown-ups, so you know where the story is headed before you turn the first page.

A small trouble
Windtop needs its red signal scarf. Dakota sprints up the hill, but soon her breath feels scratchy.
A brave choice
“Come down if you need,” Bayley calls. “I’m okay!” Dakota calls back. “I just need to go slower.” Bayley keeps watch.
A happy turn
Ten steps, a breath, the next marker. At sunset Dakota ties the red scarf at the top, then walks down toward supper.

And the moral of the story

“Finish what you start, even the hard part.”

Say it together at the last page. It’s short on purpose.

For grown-ups · After the last page

Talk about it.

1What did Dakota tell Bayley?
2What would you do if a climb felt too hard?
3What is something hard you could do a little at a time?

Up next · Fable No. 21 · Doing little jobs every day

Dana’s Little Red Shovel

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