Reading time: about 3 minutes · Best for ages 3 to 7
The Tortoise Who Counted Stars is a slow, sleepy animal story that is perfect for winding down. The counting gets quieter and quieter, and so does your reader.
The Tortoise Who Counted Stars: Read the Story
Tobias the tortoise was very old and very slow. He liked to lie on his back on the soft grass at night, looking up at the sky.
“What are you doing?” asked a young rabbit named Hazel, hopping by.
“Counting the stars,” said Tobias.
“How many have you counted?”
“Four thousand, three hundred and twelve,” said Tobias. “I started when I was a baby.”
Hazel’s ears went straight up. “That’s so many! Can I help?”
So Hazel lay down next to Tobias. “Four thousand, three hundred and thirteen,” she said, pointing at a star. Then a hedgehog joined them, and a family of mice, and a sleepy badger. Soon every animal in the meadow was lying on the grass, pointing at the sky.
“Four thousand, three hundred and fourteen… fifteen… sixteen…”
The counting got slower and slower, and quieter and quieter. The mice fell asleep first, then the hedgehog, then the badger. Hazel’s eyes closed somewhere around four thousand, three hundred and thirty.
Tobias smiled. It had taken him his whole life to count that many stars on his own. Tonight, with his friends, he had counted more than ever before. He closed his eyes too, and dreamed of tomorrow’s stars.
The Moral of the Story
Big jobs are easier and more fun when friends help.
Questions to Ask After the Story
- How long had Tobias been counting stars?
- Who helped Tobias count?
- Can you count five stars before you close your eyes?
