The Little Engine That Could
A small blue engine bravely carries toys over a mountain after bigger trains refuse to help.
Chug-chug! The little blue engine huffed quietly at the bottom of a tall, twisty mountain, gazing up, wondering if today would be the day she climbed all the way to the other side. The sun twinkled on her shiny blue paint, and she felt excited but just a tiny bit nervous—because the mountain looked bigger than ever!
All morning, a long train waited on the track, full of fun things for the children living over the hill. There were shiny toy cars, soft teddy bears, yellow rubber ducks, cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles, and even a big red balloon! But the train’s engine was tired and could not go any further. The toys and treats wiggled and wobbled each time the wind blew, hoping someone could help them get across.
First, the big shiny yellow engine puffed up. “I have lots of wheels and am very fast, but I’m too busy for a small hill,” she said, zooming away with a whoosh.
Then an old sleepy engine rolled over, yawning so wide you could see steam coming out. “I’ve hauled heavy loads for years, but my boiler needs a nap,” he sighed, and chugged back where he came from.
The toys and treats grew worried. Would the children ever get their surprises?
Down at the end of the track, the little blue engine blinked her bright eyes and tried to look very brave. “Maybe I could help!” she peeped, a bit unsure. The dolls, teddy bears, and the balloon cheered. “Please, little engine, please try!”
She wiggled her wheels and clicked onto the train. Her whistle squeaked, “I think I can! I think I can!” And slowly, with a puff and a push, she started up the big hill. Up and up, her engine went. She gave her very best, even when her wheels slipped on a bend and her little boiler said, “Phew!”
The higher the little engine climbed, the louder she said, “I think I can! I think I can!” Trees waved their leafy arms, and busy birds cheered her on. “Toot, toot! You’re almost there!” they chirped.
As she reached the tippy top, the little engine felt tired, but she didn’t stop. She smiled, thinking of the smiling children and all the toys and treats wobbling behind her. “I knew I could! I knew I could!” she giggled, zooming down the hill to the town below—deliveries bouncing with every happy bump.
When the children ran to greet her and unleash all the fun and treats, the little engine felt proud as could be. She knew, deep in her gears, that trying her best had helped her do something amazing.
Even the tiniest engine can make big dreams come true if she just keeps chugging along!
All morning, a long train waited on the track, full of fun things for the children living over the hill. There were shiny toy cars, soft teddy bears, yellow rubber ducks, cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles, and even a big red balloon! But the train’s engine was tired and could not go any further. The toys and treats wiggled and wobbled each time the wind blew, hoping someone could help them get across.
First, the big shiny yellow engine puffed up. “I have lots of wheels and am very fast, but I’m too busy for a small hill,” she said, zooming away with a whoosh.
Then an old sleepy engine rolled over, yawning so wide you could see steam coming out. “I’ve hauled heavy loads for years, but my boiler needs a nap,” he sighed, and chugged back where he came from.
The toys and treats grew worried. Would the children ever get their surprises?
Down at the end of the track, the little blue engine blinked her bright eyes and tried to look very brave. “Maybe I could help!” she peeped, a bit unsure. The dolls, teddy bears, and the balloon cheered. “Please, little engine, please try!”
She wiggled her wheels and clicked onto the train. Her whistle squeaked, “I think I can! I think I can!” And slowly, with a puff and a push, she started up the big hill. Up and up, her engine went. She gave her very best, even when her wheels slipped on a bend and her little boiler said, “Phew!”
The higher the little engine climbed, the louder she said, “I think I can! I think I can!” Trees waved their leafy arms, and busy birds cheered her on. “Toot, toot! You’re almost there!” they chirped.
As she reached the tippy top, the little engine felt tired, but she didn’t stop. She smiled, thinking of the smiling children and all the toys and treats wobbling behind her. “I knew I could! I knew I could!” she giggled, zooming down the hill to the town below—deliveries bouncing with every happy bump.
When the children ran to greet her and unleash all the fun and treats, the little engine felt proud as could be. She knew, deep in her gears, that trying her best had helped her do something amazing.
Even the tiniest engine can make big dreams come true if she just keeps chugging along!
