The Meerkat and the Warthog

On a sunlit savanna, a small meerkat named Milo begins each morning standing upright to watch over the golden plains. When a quiet, hardworking warthog called Walter settles into a burrow under a shady acacia tree, the two cross paths on the dusty route to the same watering hole. Their first exchange is easy and kind, and before they reach the water they have become neighbors and companions.

The road brings difficulties. A dense patch of thorny brush stands in their way, and Walter uses his broad snout and curved tusks to force a narrow trail through it. Milo, with his keen eyes and dark eye patches, serves as lookout, scanning the horizon and reporting what he notices. Near a rocky ridge, loose stones block the way, and the pair rely on their different abilities to keep moving toward the cool blue water. Written by Jane MEADOW in warm, simple language, this story for early primary readers and read-aloud sessions can be found on Kids Tale Book.