Age range: 4 to 8 years old
The sun was beginning its farewell on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange, pink, and gold. In the heart of the Great Verdant Forest, the animals were getting ready for a very special day: the Animal Party, which happened only once a year, when the Full Moon shone brighter than all the stars together.
Lino, the little blue bird with shiny feathers and curious eyes, had woken up early to help with the preparations. He flew from branch to branch, delivering colorful invitations made of leaves and petals. Everyone was invited: from Tutu, the enormous elephant, to Nina, the tiny ant.
Lino loved the party, but this year he was especially excited — it would be the first time he had the mission of opening the dance with a special song composed by himself.
As he delivered the last invitation, Lino heard a strange sound coming from the deepest part of the forest. It was a roar… but it didn’t sound like a lion, a tiger, or any animal he knew.
He flew toward the sound and found old Wise Tortoise, who lived near the Mirror River. The tortoise, with his slow and deep voice, explained:
— Lino… that roar is a sign that a magical storm may be on its way. It comes once every hundred years and, if it arrives before the party, it will wipe out all the moonlight and silence our songs.
The little bird’s heart raced.
The Animal Party couldn’t end in silence! It was the most anticipated event of the year.
— What can we do, Tortoise? — Lino asked.
— There is only one way: to find the Song Pearl, kept at the top of Cloud Mountain. It shines so brightly that not even the magical storm can put it out. But… you must get there before the moonrise.
Lino flew as fast as he could to share the news with his friends. Soon, a group of volunteers formed for the mission: Tutu, the dancing elephant; Mila, the playful monkey; and Leo, the lion with the golden mane.
— We’ll go together! — roared Leo. — No one is going to ruin our party!
The journey wouldn’t be easy. First, they had to cross the Vine Bridge, which swayed in the wind. Mila helped Lino fly low so he wouldn’t be carried off by the gusts, while Tutu and Leo moved forward carefully.
Then they arrived at the Swamp of a Thousand Voices, where frogs, crickets, and owls all sang at the same time, confusing the travelers. It was Lino who, with his sharp hearing, found the right path by following the sound of a single cricket singing in tune.
But the worst challenge came when they reached Echo Gorge, a deep valley where every step made the rocks tremble. Tutu, being the heaviest, had to cross first while the others waited in silence so as not to trigger landslides.
When they finally reached the foot of Cloud Mountain, the sky was already growing dark. A shadow moved quickly among the rocks: it was the Magical Storm, which had taken the form of a black serpent made of wind and thunder.
— You will not take the Pearl! — hissed the serpent, surrounding them.
Fear froze Lino for a moment. If they ran away, they wouldn’t arrive in time. If they tried to face the serpent, they risked being swept away by the wind.
Lino took a deep breath.
— I… I have a song — he said, trembling. — And I’m going to sing it now!
The serpent lunged forward, but Lino spread his wings and began to sing. His melody wasn’t just beautiful — it carried the strength of friendship, of shared laughter, of dances around the bonfire.
Tutu joined in, stomping his foot like a drum, Mila swung from the branches making percussion, and Leo roared in rhythm like a great feline double bass.
The music grew so strong that the serpent began to dissolve into soft clouds, and from them fell a rain of light. Among the last flashes, the Song Pearl appeared, shining like a thousand moons.
Lino held it carefully, and together they ran down the mountain.
When they reached the clearing, the moon was already shining high. They placed the Pearl in the center of the party, and its glow lit up every corner of the forest. Animals of all sizes arrived: the frog with his improvised violin, the giraffe with an elegant hat, the rabbit hopping with joy, the owl singing her gentle tune, and even the bear and the snake dancing together.
The party began with Lino’s music, and everyone sang and danced until dawn.
Lino learned that courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the decision to act even when we are afraid — especially when it is to protect what and whom we love. And so, the Animal Party remained the happiest of all, with the promise of never ending.