ISBN-13:978-0-547-02713-5ISBN-10:0-547-02713-3

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

Online Leveled Books

Level: J

DRA: 18Genre:FantasyStrategy:VisualizeSkill:Compare and Contrast

Word Count: 348

1.4.17

The Mountain

by Emily de Laurelia • illustrated by Nicole Rutton1032755

1_027135_AL_LRSE_CVR_L17_MOUNT.indd 1 5/17/10 5:53:26 PM

by Emily de Laureliaillustrated by Nicole Rutton

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

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ISBN-13: 978-0-547-02713-5ISBN-10: 0-547-02713-3

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The The MountainMountain

2

Mole and Rabbit were best

friends. They lived beside a

mountain.

One day, Rabbit felt bored.

He didn’t want to look for rocks.

He didn’t want to tell jokes.

He wanted to do something new.

3

“Let’s go to the other side of

the mountain!” Rabbit said.

“That’s far away,” said Mole.

“Would we go by car or train

or bike?”

“There are no roads for cars

and no tracks for trains. There are

no trails for bikes,” Rabbit said.

4

“We could make a tunnel

through the mountain!” Mole said.

“A tunnel will be cozy. It’s the

fastest way to the other side.”

“We could ride a hot air

balloon over the mountain!”

Rabbit said. “A balloon ride will

be exciting. It’s the finest way

to the other side.”

5

Mole and Rabbit thought and

thought. Finally, Mole spoke.

“Maybe you could go over the

mountain,” she said.

“Yes,” said Rabbit. “And

maybe you could go through it.”

6

So Rabbit took off in the hot air

balloon. “Don’t worry. I’ll see you

soon!” he called.

Mole began to dig. “See you

on the other side!” she called back.

7

Mole was right. The tunnel

was cozy. She liked to dig quickly.

It was a fast way to travel.

But she wanted to show Rabbit

the busy earthworms. She wanted

to tell Rabbit a joke.

Mole missed Rabbit.

8

Rabbit was right. The balloon

ride was exciting. He liked to feel

the wind in his fur.

But he wanted to show Mole

the clouds. He wanted to tell Mole

a joke about the farmer in the dell.

Rabbit missed Mole.

9

Mole got to the other side of

the mountain. Rabbit was not

there yet. She waited and waited.

Then… above the trees… there

was the hot air balloon!

“Hello, Rabbit!” called Mole.

“Hello, Mole!” Rabbit called back.

10

“Next time, let’s go on a trip

together,” said Mole.

“I’m sure that will be better!”

said Rabbit.

“Well, we have to get back

home,” said Mole. “Will you try

my tunnel?”

“Um…” said Rabbit. “Wouldn’t

you like to ride in my balloon?”

11

RespondingTARGET SKILL Compare and

Contrast How are Rabbit and Mole the same? How are they

different? Make a diagram.

Text to Self Draw a picture of a place you visited. Write two

sentences about that place.

Write About It

1212

about

by

car

could

don’t

maybe

sure

there

mountain tunnelLEARN MORE WORDS

TARGET SKILL Compare and

Contrast Tell how two things are

alike or not.

TARGET STRATEGY Visualize Picture

what is happening as you read.

GENRE A fantasy is a story that

could not happen in real life.

WORDS TO KNOW

ISBN-13:978-0-547-02713-5ISBN-10:0-547-02713-3

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

Online Leveled Books

Level: J

DRA: 18Genre:FantasyStrategy:VisualizeSkill:Compare and Contrast

Word Count: 348

1.4.17

The Mountain

by Emily de Laurelia • illustrated by Nicole Rutton1032755

1_027135_AL_LRSE_CVR_L17_MOUNT.indd 1 5/17/10 5:53:26 PM