Read the Prereading information on page 307 and About the Author on page 316. Then look at the pictures on pages 308 and 313. What is the real name of the ranch? What do you think might happen there? Begin to picture in your mind what may lie behind the gate you see on page 313. Close your eyes and envision the animals, the people, and the buildings that might be on a “ranch of dreams.” What do you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel? Share your mind pictures with a partner.
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first paragraph of the story aloud. Adjust your mind pictures as you learn more about the ranch.
2. Continue reading the story, envisioning how the narrator describes the rescue. Think about the steps the rescuers took to make the operation a success.
If you are having difficulty picturing the story events, write down the steps of the rescue. Hint: The first step that the rescuers take is to sue the Park Service.
Find a partner and draw pictures of the steps the rescuers took in chronological order. You may go back to the story and check the order of events. Add captions beneath your pictures that explain the steps of the rescue. Then share your drawings with your classmates. Which part of the selection was the most fun to visualize?