Mateo Stops, Looks, and Listens!

Mateo Stops, Looks, and Listens!

by

Patches the Story Dog

Patches the Story Dog

for your Preschooler

Preschooler Stop, Look, and Listen! Independence

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Mateo stands on the front porch of a bright, cheerful house, smiling wide with his arms stretched out happily. He is wearing his bright yellow shoes and looking out at the sunny neighborhood. In the background, a colorful neighborhood street with bright houses, green trees, and a clear blue sky.

Mateo opens his front door. The sun is warm. The sky is blue. "I am going on a walk!" says Mateo. He puts on his bright yellow shoes. Click, click, click down the steps!

Mateo walks along a wide sidewalk, waving up at two small birds perched in a friendly green tree. Bright flowers line the sidewalk edge. In the background, a row of colorful neighborhood houses with tidy front yards.

Mateo walks down the sidewalk. He sees big trees and little flowers. He hears birds singing. Tweet, tweet, tweet! "Hello, birds!" says Mateo. The sidewalk is wide and smooth under his feet.

Mateo stands at the edge of a curb with his toes near the line where the sidewalk meets the street, his body straight and still, looking proud and careful. In the background, a quiet neighborhood street with a crosswalk painted on the road.

Mateo comes to the curb. He stops! His toes are right at the edge. "I stop at the curb," says Mateo. "I do not step into the street." He stands very still. Good job, Mateo!

Mateo stands at the curb, turning his head to the left with one hand shading his eyes, looking carefully down the street in both directions. In the background, an empty, quiet street stretching in both directions with trees lining the road.

Now Mateo looks. He looks to the left. He looks to the right. He looks to the left again. No cars this way. No cars that way. "It is safe to cross!" says Mateo.

Mateo walks across a crosswalk on the street, taking careful steps with a big, proud smile on his face, his bright yellow shoes visible on the white painted lines. In the background, friendly houses and a big leafy tree on the far side of the street.

Mateo walks across the street. He does not run. He does not stop in the middle. He walks straight across. Step, step, step. He gets to the other side. "I did it!" says Mateo with a big smile.

Mateo stands at another curb, this time looking to the right, with his hands at his sides and a focused, careful expression on his face. In the background, a bright yellow house with a red mailbox and a garden of sunflowers.

Mateo keeps walking. He comes to another curb. What does Mateo do? He stops! He looks to the left. He looks to the right. He looks to the left again. "No cars! I can cross!" says Mateo.

Mateo stands on the sidewalk cupping one hand to his ear, eyes wide with interest, listening carefully. A small friendly dog peeks out from behind a fence nearby. In the background, green trees with leaves blowing gently in the breeze and a wooden fence.

Mateo walks across again. Step, step, step. But wait—now Mateo listens too. He cups his hand to his ear. He hears leaves going swish, swish, swish. He hears a dog going woof, woof! "I listen for sounds," says Mateo. "My ears help me stay safe."

Mateo stands firmly at the curb, holding still with a serious, alert expression, looking toward a small blue car approaching down the street. In the background, the quiet neighborhood street with the small blue car in the distance.

Mateo comes to one more curb. He stops. He looks to the left. He looks to the right. He looks to the left again. He listens. What does he hear? Vroom, vroom! A car is coming! "I will wait," says Mateo.

Mateo watches the small blue car driving past him as he stands safely on the sidewalk, his hair blowing slightly from the breeze of the passing car. In the background, the street with the small blue car moving away down the road.

The car drives by. Whoooosh! Mateo feels the whoosh of air. He waits until the car is all gone. Then he looks again. Left. Right. Left. No more cars! Now it is safe. Mateo walks across. Step, step, step.

Mateo stands safely on the sidewalk, looking toward a friendly neighbor waving from the window of a big red truck parked along the street. Mateo is laughing with one hand on his chest. In the background, the colorful neighborhood with bright houses and a big shade tree.

Then—HONK, HONK! A loud, surprising sound! Mateo jumps a little. But he does not run into the street. He stays on the sidewalk. He looks around. It is just a friendly neighbor waving from a big red truck. "You scared me!" Mateo laughs.

Mateo stands tall on the sidewalk with his fists raised in celebration, beaming with pride, his bright yellow shoes planted firmly on the ground. In the background, the sunny neighborhood street stretching behind him with birds in the sky.

Mateo is so proud. He stopped at every curb. He looked both ways every time. He listened with his ears. Even when a loud sound surprised him, he stayed safe and smart. "I am a good walker!" says Mateo.

Mateo walks up the steps to his cheerful front porch, turning back to wave with a big, warm smile, his bright yellow shoes on the porch steps. In the background, the golden afternoon sun setting over the colorful neighborhood houses and friendly trees.

Mateo walks all the way home. He is the best little walker in the whole neighborhood! Can you be a good walker too? Stop at the curb. Look both ways. Listen for sounds. You can do it! Just like Mateo!

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