FOR KIDS — ReadPlay -INDOORS AT HOME OR IN YOUR BACK YARD: story 1 of 10

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AT HOME — PLAY TIME WITH PARENTS

I BELIEVE is a journey of discovery and gratitude with two amazing horses Carlo and Teddy and the other Animal Beings and Human Beings they meet along the way.

I BELIEVE I am courageous and an explorer just like Carlo and Teddy, two amazing horses

Once upon a time in a far away land there lived two horses, Carlo and Teddy. Carlo had never seen another horse and believed he was the only one of his kind. It was the same for Teddy. He too had never seen another horse and believed he was the only one of his kind.

Carlo and Teddy had the same desire to make a new friend. Carlo believed he was the only one who felt sad for not having a friend. Teddy felt the same way. One day they decided to do something about not having a friend. They did not want to be sad anymore.

That morning, as the sun was rising and the birds were chirping in the trees, Carlo decided to explore what lay over the hills and down the valley from where he lived.

Carlo was trotting across the green field and over the hills when he stopped in his tracks. Below the hilltop, another horse was standing by the stream in the meadows. The horse was playing and kicking his feet in the water.

Carlo could not believe his eyes. He had trotted all morning up and down the hills. He was so excited. He galloped down the hill kicking tufts of grass from beneath his feet.

“Hello, hello,” called out Carlo. “Hi, my name is Carlo. Who are you?”

Teddy looked up from the stream, “Hi, my name is Teddy, nice to meet you. I was about to sit down and have my lunch. Would you like to join me?

“Oh yes,” said Carlo. “Thank you, that is very kind.”

Teddy walked over to a big weeping willow tree. “Over here,” he said. “I have a small picnic of wheat, a yummy bowl of concentrate made of oats, barley and corn, and some treats in that basket: beautiful red apples and brilliant orange carrots.”

“Wow, this picnic looks amazing,” said Carlo. “I’m so happy I found you! Where do you come from?”

“I come from over there, beyond the forest,” said Teddy. “I’ve lived there on my own from as far back as I can remember.” He offered an apple to Carlo.

“Thank you, this looks delicious,” said Carlo. He bit into the apple. “Yummy. It is very sweet.”

They sat together for a while eating their lunch. They shared stories of growing up.

“When I left home this morning I didn’t imagine I could find another horse,” said Teddy. “I was so sad that I didn’t have a friend, someone just like me.”

“Me, too. I had no idea it was so easy to meet other horse, to meet someone just like me,” said Carlo.

“We are both horses but I bet we are very different. I’m sure we like different things and we know different things that we can learn from one another,” said Teddy.

“Yes, that is very exciting. You are white and grey in colour, and I am chestnut,” said Carlo.

“Why do you think we have not known of each other before?” asked Teddy. “I only left my home this morning and by lunch time we found each other.”

“Me too, I only left my home this morning,” said Carlo. He pointed up over the hills from where he had come. “It did not take long to make a friend once I made the decision to stop being lonely and sad.”

“There must be other horses who are wondering the same thing,” said Teddy. He pulled out a map of the region where they lived.

“What’s that?” asked Carlo.

“This is a map. It is a picture of mountains, rivers and everything around you. It shows where we are and where we can go. It shows you if you will be climbing up or going down hills or mountains. See, we are here, by this stream in the valley,” pointed Teddy.

“I come from where three rivers meet. Where is that on the map?” asked Carlo.

“Right here,” pointed Teddy. “This symbol shows the big white rushing rivers flowing down from the mountains into this lake.”

“If I had known how close you lived to me and how easy it was to make a new friend I would have made this decision a long time ago. I would have found the courage to explore further afield and sought new and wonderful things,” said Carlo.

“I’m certain that we can find others and others are looking for us as well,” said Teddy.

“I’m certain of that now,” said Carlo.

“Shall we finish our lunch and explore further afield to see what else we can learn and discover?” asked Teddy.

“Absolutely!” said Carlo. “We do come from a far and away land. But we are also neighbours no matter the distance between us. We found each other and became friends because we chose to.”

This was how Carlo and Teddy became friends and started their adventure together.

“Carlo.”

“Yes, Teddy.”

“I know the girls and boys reading our story can draw a map of where they live and where they would like to go.”

“Yes, I believe they can!”

This page is for you to draw a map of where you live.

Go ahead! Draw a map of where you live.

Draw a map of the world. Colour the places you would like to go or have already been. Colour a bright yellow star where you have made new friends, and write their names next to the star, or draw a star where you would like to go. When you are done drawing your map, BELIEVE that you are there already!

But there is more fun to be had!

For the next 30 days draw a map of your dreams. This is any dream you have. Let your imagination soar all over your Believe page.

ALSO on another Believe page

Draw a map of all the places where you would like to see the animals that you want to learn more about.

Draw a map of the places where people are helping animals.

Bring Carlo and Teddy on your journey. Talk to them.

Lets begin.

Most importantly — Have fun!

Remember to smile.

Remember to laugh.

Remember to be curious and ask questions.

Remember to Believe in yourself.

Say out loud 10 times. I Believe in myself.

WOW! YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU DID ALL THE FUN STUFF!

YOU PARTICIPATED IN 30 DAYS OF FUN!

KEEP GOING!

EXPLORE YOUR IMAGINATION!

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF ALWAYS!

SHARE YOUR EXCITEMENT AND THE EXPLORATION OF YOUR IMAGINATION WITH A FRIEND!

THANK YOU FOR BEING GOOD AND KIND TO EVERY ANIMAL.

On behalf of all the ANIMALS — thank you for making this a better world for ALL OF US!