The Mountain series - Part 9

Story 9: The Great Dividing Range’s Sun Hat

Characters:

• The Great Dividing Range (Australia – sunny, kind, and full of surprises)

• Kiki the Koala (sweet, sleepy, loves cuddles)

• Jojo the Kangaroo (bouncy and full of questions)

• Slinka the Snake (wise and slow)

• Etna (as usual, dramatic and heat-sensitive!)

Story: The Great Dividing Range’s Sun Hat

It was very sunny in Australia—so sunny, even the rocks were squinting.

Jojo the Kangaroo bounced up to the Great Dividing Range and asked,

“Why don’t you get hot, big mountain? You sit in the sun all day!”

The mountain chuckled. “Ah, I have a secret…”

Just then, Kiki the Koala peeked out from behind a gum tree, yawning.

“I know the secret! He wears a sun hat!”

Jojo blinked. “A sun hat?! But I don’t see one!”

The Great Dividing Range smiled.

“Look closely… see the trees on my head? The rivers in my valleys? The clouds that shade me?

That’s my sun hat.”

Jojo giggled. “Your sun hat is made of the whole Earth!”

Slinka the Snake slithered by, slowly and coolly.

“A good mountain knows how to stay balanced. Not too dry, not too hot…”

Suddenly, Etna called from across the world,

“Send me that hat! I’m melting!”

They all laughed.

“Here,” said the Great Dividing Range. “Take some of my clouds. Sharing shade is what good mountains do.”

And with that, a soft puff of cloud floated all the way to Etna, who immediately sighed, “Ahhh… better.”

Moral:

Nature is full of clever ways to care for itself and others. Sharing comfort makes everyone feel better!