The Hidden Valley

In a dusty old trunk, Mei found a map. It showed a jungle, a waterfall and a secret valley marked with a tiny dinosaur footprint.

Mei packed her binoculars and a sandwich, and stepped through the old garden gate. On the other side, everything was jungle!

Parrots squawked hello. Butterflies as big as hands floated past. Mei followed the map along the winding trail.

Behind the giant ferns, something was crying. It was a baby dinosaur, no bigger than a pony. "I've lost my family," she sobbed. "My name is Dot."

"Don't worry, Dot," said Mei, sharing her sandwich. "I've got a map. We'll find them together."

At the river, Dot let Mei ride on her back, and splashed across to the other side.

Then they found footprints in the mud. Huge ones! "Those are my mum's!" Cried Dot.

When the rain came pitter-pattering down, they sheltered under a giant leaf and counted the raindrops until the sun came out.

A rainbow appeared over the jungle, and at its end was the great waterfall from the map.

Behind the waterfall was a hidden valley, full of friendly dinosaurs, munching, splashing and stomping.

Dot's mum came thundering over and wrapped her long neck around them both. "Thank you," she said, and gave Mei a ride high above the valley.

At sunset, Mei waved goodbye and stepped back through the garden gate. In her pocket was a shiny teal scale, a present from Dot.