An original story for young readers
The first rain of the season arrived late in the forest. The pond was almost dry, the leaves had curled at their edges, and the animals had begun to search farther from their homes for water.
A little sparrow named Chinni found a hollow in an old banyan tree. A few drops of rain had collected inside it. The hollow was small, but there was enough water for her to drink.
Chinni could have kept the place to herself. Instead, she called the squirrel who lived nearby. The squirrel told the rabbits, and the rabbits showed the deer where the tree stood. Soon, the animals had made a small path to the banyan.
The water did not last forever. But the animals began to bring leaves that held rainwater, and together they cleared a shallow depression in the ground. When the next shower arrived, the little hollow overflowed into a pool.
Chinni watched the animals drink and understood something she had not known that morning: a small discovery can become useful to many when it is shared.
A thought to discuss: What did Chinni do that helped the other animals? Can you think of something small that you can share with someone?
Story note: This is an original illustrative story written for the Baalgatha collection.