Racing Around the Perimeter Read Aloud

Today we are reading racing around a story about perimeter, written by Stuart J Murphy, illustrated by Mike Reid. I've already done the race twice bragged Justin. It's on perimeter path. That's all the way around the park. When I finish this year, I'll have three medals. Well, I'm going to do it this year, said Marissa. I've already done a ten mile race, and this is a little shorter. I want to try two, said their little brother, Mike. Even bingo look like he wanted to race. You'll never make it, said Justin with a laugh, you'd better wait a few years, Marissa added no way. Mike said, I can do it. Yesterday, I rode my bike all the way around the athletic field. I bet that's almost as long as the race. Oh yeah, said Justin. Remember that odometer I got for my birthday. It measures distance exactly. I'll check and see how far you went. Justin started at the corner of the athletic field and rode all the way down one side. The odometer read one kilometer. Then he rode down the next side, the odometer red three. That meant the second side was two kilometers long. The third side was one kilometer again. The odometer was at four. And the final side was two kilometers. I went all the way around and the perimeter of the field is only 6 kilometers Justin said. That's not even half a 15 said Marissa. But Mike didn't give up. The next day, when Justin and Marissa were out, he got his dad to sign the permission form. I'm going to ride in the race, he announced when his brother and sister came home. Today I rode all the way around the zoo. I bet that's pretty close to 15 kilometers. No way, similar Marissa. I'll check it tomorrow, said Justin. The next morning, Justin wrote his bike to the zoo. He set his odometer to zero. When he got to the monkey house it read too. Then it was one kilometer to the seal pool. The odometer red three. The lion habitat was one kilometer away. Now he had gone four kilometers in all. After two more kilometers, Justin was at the birdcage. That made 6. Then one more, long side, and he was back at the entrance. Marissa Mike and bingo were waiting. How far was it Mike shouted? Just 9 kilometers just an answer. That still a long way from 15 or as a sad. Finally, the day of the race arrived. Justin and Marissa and Mike were at the starting line. You wait right here for us, Mike, Marissa. But while just at amorous, I went to get in line, Mike hurry back to the sign up table. He gave the lady his permission form. This is a long race, she said, are you sure you can make it all the way around? Yes, said Mike. I'm sure. Mike stayed at the back of the line. Justin and Marissa never saw him. Wait right here for me, bingo, said Mike. Racers on your marks shouted a man with a megaphone. Get set, go. All the bikers took off. Mike followed the crowd along the first stretch. This is easy, he yelled. Then he started up a small hill. He pumped hard and soon he was at the top. My coasted down the hill at the bottom was a sign. Okay, shouted Mike. I can do this. But when he turned a corner, there was a long steep hill. He started up and up and up. I'm never going to get to the top, he thought. There were only a few other racers in sight. Mike was the last. Finally, Mike made it up the hill. He had to stop and rest for a few minutes, but he didn't give up. The road lay straight in front of him. Mike started peddling as hard as he could. Ahead, he saw sign that read 12 kilometers. Almost there, Mike panton, but then his bike hit a rock. My bumped and bounced and fell. Mike was tired. He was hot, he was sweaty, and he'd banged his knee. He didn't want to race anymore. They were right, he thought I can't make it all the way around. Just then, Mike heard something in the distance. It sounded like a dog barking. It was bingo. Bingo raced up and gave Mike a great big lick. Mike laughed. Bingo, did you come to find me, he asked? I guess I better finish the race after all. Mike got back on his bike. Justin and Marissa had already made it back to the finish line. Now, where's Mike Marissa asked? He was supposed to wait for us here. And where's bingo, Justin at it? Then they heard the man with the megaphone make an announcement. Let's hear it for our last ride or folks. He's just coming around the bend of perimeter path. Justin and Marissa ran back to the finish line just in time to see bingo comparing a cross it. And right beside him was Mike. Way to go a little brother, Justin yelled, Mike stopped his bike and hopped off. I told you, he said, I knew I could make it all the way around.