Trip to the Mountains

This morning, Hannah’s family is going on vacation to see the mountains.  They will drive all day on a road called a highway.  On the highway, their car will go very fast and very far.

Hannah helps to pack her things.  She puts her favorite purple shorts into her suitcase.  Mommy remembers Hannah’s toothbrush and toothpaste and Daddy remembers her socks.

It is time to leave!  Hannah is in a booster seat and her little sister Ivy is in a car seat.  They each have a small blanket.  Between them is a box with books and toys.

The car backs slowly out of the driveway and they wave “goodbye” to the house.  They drive through their neighborhood, past their library, the grocery store, and Hannah’s school.  Then the car drives onto the highway.

Hannah bounces up and down in her seat.  She is sure that she will see mountains soon!  For now, she looks out of her window and sees big buildings with shining blue glass.  Ivy sees a railroad track out of her window.

“Train! Train!” says Ivy.

A big truck drives past their car.  There are eyes looking out of the truck at Hannah.  Daddy says that the truck has pigs inside!  Maybe the pigs are going to the mountains.

Now, Hannah sees green grass and hills.  There are shadows on the hills.  Mommy says those are the shadows of the clouds.  Hannah does not see any mountains.

The car gets off of the highway and onto a short road to a building.  The building has potties.  Hannah is glad to get out of her seat.  She goes to the bathroom with Mommy, and then runs around in the grass.

When it is time to leave, Hannah feels grumpy.  Out her window she sees more green grass and more hills.  The sun makes her face feel hot.  She does not see any mountains.

Mommy is driving the car.  Daddy reads a book.  He holds the book high between him and Mommy so that Hannah and Ivy can see the pictures.  Ivy falls asleep, so Daddy stops reading and everyone is quiet.

Hannah does not want to be quiet.  She wants to hear Daddy read.  She puts her head on her blanket, against her window.  This is the time of day when Hannah takes her nap.  She cries just a few tears and thinks about her bed at home.

Hannah hears the car door slam.  She rubs her eyes.  She has been asleep!  Mommy and Daddy help her get out of the car and they go into a restaurant.  Hannah eats a hamburger and Ivy eats spaghetti.  Hannah looks outside and sees that the sun is close to the road.  But she does not see any mountains.

It is time to drive some more.  Daddy is driving now, so Mommy plays the harmonica and they all sing.

“She’ll be comin’ round the mountain when she comes!”

Now Hannah cannot see the sun.  Instead, the sky is pink and purple.  It is very pretty and Hannah is excited.  She jumps around and giggles.  She tickles Ivy and kicks at the seat.

“Hannah, you need to settle down,” scolds Mommy.

Hannah makes a mean face.  Her legs feel itchy and her feet want to tap.  It is getting hard to be good.  Hannah finds a doll in the box.  She makes the doll dance and talk to a toy pony.

When it gets dark, Hannah stops playing and watches out her window.  Near the moon, the sky is white.  But straight up, there are lots and lots of stars.   When she looks below the sky, all she can see are dark shadows.  She cannot see any mountains.

The car leaves the highway and goes slower and slower.  They stop at a blue door in the side of a long building.  Daddy leaves and comes back with a key.  This is their hotel room with two big beds, a sink, bathtub, potty and television.

“I wanted to see mountains!” cries Hannah.  “Now we are done driving!  Now I will never see them!”

Mommy and Ivy stay in the hotel, but Daddy takes Hannah outside.  He holds her hand and they walk together past the cars into some tall pine trees.

The moon is very bright and Hannah sees lots of things.  She sees birds hop along on the ground.  She sees pinecones and mushrooms.  But Hannah does not look up.  She rubs the tears in her eyes.  This is the time of day when Hannah goes to bed.

The ground under Hannah’s feet becomes sand.  Hannah sees shiny rocks and curly, smooth tree branches.  Daddy squeezes her hand.

“Hannah, look up!”

Hannah lifts her eyes.  In front of her is the most water Hannah has ever seen!  It is a big lake twinkling and sparkling.  The water rolls onto the sand and leaves bubbly lines.  The lake goes on and on into the dark.

But then, Hannah notices that the blackness goes up… up… up!  Dark, silver triangles come out from behind the lake.  They almost touch the moon.  The tops are bright and sparkling with white.  Hannah claps and points and grins.  Finally, she sees the mountains!

This text is intended to be a picture book for children.  Feedback is appreciated.  © Katie Bieker, 2013.