A new story has arrived in A Little Big World, and this one begins with a soft morning breeze, a grassy hill, and a little sheep who notices something the others do not.
The Hill in a Hurry is Book 10 in the series and introduces Mabel the sheep, a gentle new character with a quiet kind of courage. Mabel is not the loudest in the flock. She is not the fastest, and she is not the first to rush ahead. But she pays attention. She listens. She notices when something does not feel quite right.
This new story is a warm, thoughtful adventure about slowing down, looking carefully, and learning that it is okay to choose a different path.
In The Hill in a Hurry, the morning begins peacefully. Mabel is standing near the top of the hill, listening to the breeze move through the grass. Below her, the rest of the flock has already begun to move.
One sheep trots.
Then two.
Then many more besides.
Before long, everyone seems to be hurrying toward the far side of the hill. Pip calls out for Mabel to come along, and Mabel follows, even though she is not quite sure what they are hurrying toward.
That small moment is at the heart of the story. Mabel feels the pull of the flock. Everyone is going one way, so it would be easy to simply go with them. But as the hill grows uneven beneath her hooves, Mabel begins to slow down.
She notices the wind.
She notices the ground.
She notices that the fast way down might not be the safest way down.
Mabel is a soft, thoughtful character who brings something new to A Little Big World.
She is careful without being afraid. She is unsure without giving up. She is gentle, but she is not passive. Mabel’s bravery is not about racing ahead or proving herself. It is about pausing long enough to understand what is happening.
For young readers, Mabel offers a reassuring kind of courage. She shows that bravery can be quiet. It can look like stopping when everyone else is rushing. It can sound like a small voice saying, “That doesn’t look safe.”
And sometimes, that small voice is exactly what is needed.
Although The Hill in a Hurry follows Mabel and her flock down a grassy hillside, the story is really about something many children experience in everyday life: the feeling of being swept along.
Children often find themselves in moments where everyone else seems to know what to do. Everyone runs. Everyone joins in. Everyone follows. But not every path is right for every child, and not every hurry is helpful.
This story gently explores the idea that children are allowed to pause, think, and choose.
Mabel does not ignore the flock because she wants to be different. She does not take the longer path to make a point. She simply notices that the ground ahead is loose and crumbly, and she chooses the safer way around.
By the time she reaches the bottom of the hill, the others are bunched together and unsure where to step next. Mabel does not scold them. She does not make a fuss. She gives a small bleat and shows them another way.
“Come with me,” she says. “Slowly now.”
One by one, the others follow.
Like many A Little Big World stories, The Hill in a Hurry is designed to feel calm, warm, and easy to share. It can be read as a simple hillside adventure, but it also offers space for small conversations between children and grown-ups.
Parents and carers might find it opens the door to questions like:
Have you ever followed others even though you were not sure why?
What helps you know when to slow down?
Is it okay to choose a different way if something does not feel right?
Can being careful also be brave?
The story does not push a heavy message. Instead, it gives children a soft example of thoughtful decision-making through a character they can understand and care about.
Mabel learns that she does not have to go the way everyone is going just because they are going.
Sometimes it is all right to stop, look, and choose your own way.
The Hill in a Hurry marks Book 10 in the A Little Big World series.
Each story in the app is created to offer children a small, meaningful adventure with gentle characters, warm illustrations, and a calm reading experience for families. The stories are designed for bedtime, quiet time, or any moment where a child and grown-up can slow down together.
Mabel’s story fits beautifully into that world. It is playful enough for young readers, but thoughtful enough to leave behind a small idea worth carrying.
Not every adventure needs to be loud.
Not every hero needs to be fast.
Sometimes the most important thing a character can do is notice.
Alongside the release of The Hill in a Hurry, the latest version of A Little Big World also includes optional notifications.
These are designed to help parents and carers stay connected with the app in a simple, flexible way. Families can choose to receive reading reminders, alerts when a new story is released, or important app news.
The feature is completely optional, so it can be used in whatever way best suits your family’s routine.
For some families, that might mean a gentle reminder to enjoy a story before bed. For others, it might simply mean hearing when a new adventure has arrived.
The Hill in a Hurry is now available in A Little Big World.
Come and meet Mabel the sheep, follow the flock down the hill, and discover why sometimes the best way forward begins with slowing down.
A Little Big World is a growing library of short, meaningful children’s stories designed for ages 2–7.
Each story focuses on emotional growth, social understanding, and gentle life lessons — told in a simple way young children can understand.
We believe small stories can hold big meaning.
