Listen to “The Little Engine That Could” on Spreaker.
In a colorful village nestled between rolling hills and sparkling rivers, there lived a small blue engine named Emily. Emily wasn’t the biggest or fastest engine in the village, but she had a strong heart and a shiny blue exterior. She loved chugging along the tracks, carrying cargo from one side of the village to the other.
One sunny morning, a group of toys gathered at the village station. They were excited to be delivered to the children on the other side of the hills, but there was a problem. The toys were too heavy, and the engines that usually carried them were busy with other tasks.
The toys looked at each other with worry. “Who will help us get to the children?” they wondered aloud.
Just then, Emily rolled into the station, her wheels clacking against the tracks. She saw the worried toys and the disappointed faces of the children waiting on the other side of the hills. Determination filled her heart. “I can help!” she announced with a cheerful whistle.
The toys exchanged surprised glances. “Are you sure, Emily? You’re not the biggest engine,” said a teddy bear with a concerned look.
Emily smiled warmly. “Size doesn’t matter when you have a strong will and a brave heart,” she replied.
With the toys loaded onto her cargo cars, Emily started her journey. The hills ahead were steep and challenging, but Emily was determined to get the toys to the children. She chugged and puffed, her wheels turning with all her might.
As Emily climbed the first hill, doubt began to creep into her mind. She had never faced such a hard task before. But then, she remembered her motto: “I think I can, I think I can.” With each thought, her determination grew stronger, and her wheels pushed on.
As Emily continued her climb, she met other engines along the way. They offered words of encouragement and cheered her on. “You’re doing great, Emily! Keep going!” they shouted.
The journey was tough, and Emily faced moments of doubt and tiredness, but she never gave up. She thought about the children’s smiling faces, waiting eagerly for their toys. Their happiness gave her more strength, and she pressed on, repeating her motto with each chug.
Finally, after much effort, Emily reached the top of the hills. She was tired but happy. The children’s excited cheers filled the air as they saw Emily approaching with their beloved toys.
The toys were delivered, and the children gathered around Emily, thanking her with bright smiles. Emily beamed with pride, knowing that her bravery and determination had made a difference.
As Emily returned to the village, the other engines greeted her with admiration and respect. “You truly are a brave little engine,” they said.
Emily smiled, her heart swelling with happiness. She had learned that with a strong will, a brave heart, and positive thinking, even the smallest engine could overcome the biggest challenges.
And so, in the colorful village nestled between the rolling hills and sparkling rivers, Emily the little blue engine became a beloved hero, an inspiration to all who knew her story. And whenever a challenge arose, children and toys alike would remember Emily’s motto and repeat it with determination: “I think I can, I think I can.”
As the sun set over the village, Emily rested in the train shed, her wheels still and her whistle silent. She closed her eyes, knowing that no matter what lay ahead, she had the strength and courage to face any journey, just like the brave little engine that could.
The end!
Follow-up questions:
- Who is the main character of the story, and what is her name?
- Why did Emily decide to help the toys get to the other side of the hills?
- What challenges did Emily face on her journey, and how did she overcome them?