The Lantern Crosses the Pond
The idea: one more piece, touching the last, until both banks join.
Read it
Five nights, one book
Little children love the same story again. Read this one five nights running, with a different job each night.
- listen.
- say the last words.
- tap along.
- guess who's next.
- read it to a toy.
Who is in this book
-
Bà Tư The grandmother who hands over the lantern from VầnTots -
Tí a child of the Green Notices small things; says "again" -
Ferra A chain grows one touching piece at a time — never a floating one from FerryTots -
Reedy Plan around what is in the way from FerryTots -
Lily Cross only when the two banks are joined from FerryTots
Every recurring character has a short tune, so you can tell who is on stage before a word is said. The tunes play only when you tap, and the Reading Access sound switch turns them off.
The Honest Page
Which parts of this story are true, stretched or made up?
True
- A path only gets you across if every piece touches the one before it, from one side all the way to the other.
- When something is in the way, a path can go round it and still join up.
Stretched
- Real lily pads would not hold a child. What we simplified: In the story the pads are big enough to stand on; real ones would sink. Grown-ups use stepping stones.
Made up
- Ferra, Reedy and Lily are made up. Otters, birds and frogs do not lay paths for children.
Tell it back
Tell the story to a toy, or to a grown-up. When you have, the grown-up taps the button, and a keepsake from The Lantern Crosses the Pond goes on your belt.
On your belt: a keepsake from The Lantern Crosses the Pond.
Your belt lives on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Ring the hammer for someone
Pick this book for someone younger. The link carries only the book, and it will wait for them on the Green.