A fable about Being on time

Patrice Before the Moon Bell

Starring Patrice, the Plesiosaurus. Patrice keeps arriving after the moon bell, so she plans three things to do before it rings and discovers that being ready is a gift to everyone waiting.

Ages 3–6
Joining the shelf
Book in the works

See how the story goes Meet Patrice

No. 39

Meet

Patrice

Plesiosaurus

Learns: Being on time
Grown-up value: Punctuality
Fable: No. 39

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
Patrice reaches the harbor as the moon bell’s last note fades, again. Her friends have waited and waited.
A brave choice
Devon helps her pick three things to do before the bell: stop collecting, pack, go. Next evening she spots a pretty shell and leaves it for tomorrow.
A happy turn
She arrives early, holds the rope, and the boat launches on the very first note.

And the moral of the story

“Being on time tells friends they matter.”

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

For grown-ups · After the last page

Talk about it.

1What might Patrice’s friends have done while they waited?
2Why do you think Patrice left the pretty shell for tomorrow?
3What three things do you do before you go somewhere?

Up next · Fable No. 40 · Thinking first

Pax Chooses the Shady Path

Turn the page