A Gentle Forest Adventure

Told in English, Telugu.

Far away, near the Nallamala hills, there was a green, green forest. In that forest lived a little squirrel named Bujji. Bujji had a soft, bushy tail and two bright, shiny eyes.

One morning, Amma squirrel gave Bujji a small, sweet mango. "Take this to Ammamma," she said. "She lives in the old banyan tree, on the other side of the stream." Bujji held the mango tight. "I can do it, Amma!" And off he went.

Bujji ran and ran. But soon all the trees looked the same. Which way was the banyan tree? Bujji sat down on a rock. "Oh no," he said softly. "I don't know the way."

Just then, a green parrot flew down. It was Chilakamma. "Why so quiet, little Bujji?" she asked. Bujji told her everything. Chilakamma flapped her wings. "I can see very far from up in the sky. Come, I will show you the way!"

So off they went together, and they sang a little song. Step by step and side by side, friends together, far and wide. Can you sing it with me? Step by step and side by side, friends together, far and wide.

Soon they came to the stream. The water went splish, splash over the stones. Bujji stopped. "The stream is too wide," he said. "My legs are too small to jump." Chilakamma could fly, but she could not carry Bujji and the mango too.

Then a big, slow tortoise poked out his head from the water. It was Tabelu Tatayya. "Climb onto my back, little one," he said kindly. "My shell is strong and flat." Bujji climbed on, holding his mango. Slowly, slowly, Tatayya swam across. Because Tatayya helped, Bujji reached the other side, and the mango did not even get wet!

Now there were three friends, and they all sang together. Step by step and side by side, friends together, far and wide.

Then the sky turned grey. Pitter, patter, little raindrops began to fall. "Oh no, my fur will get all wet!" said Bujji.

Thump, thump, thump. Along came a baby elephant, flapping his big ears. It was Gajju. With his long trunk, Gajju picked a big, wide teak leaf and held it high over everyone, just like an umbrella. Because Gajju shared, everyone stayed warm and dry. Soon the rain stopped, and a rainbow smiled across the sky.

Now there were four friends! Let's sing it one more time. Step by step and side by side, friends together, far and wide.

At last, they saw the old banyan tree, with its long roots hanging down like swings. Out came Ammamma squirrel. "Bujji, my dear! You came all this way!" she said, and gave him a big, warm hug.

"I did not come alone, Ammamma," said Bujji. "My friends helped me find the way, cross the stream, and stay dry in the rain."

Ammamma smiled. She cut the sweet mango into little pieces, one for each friend. Chilakamma took a piece. Tatayya took a piece. Gajju took a piece. And Bujji took a piece too. The juice was so sweet that everyone laughed with sticky faces.

When the sun went down, the friends said goodnight and went home. Bujji curled up in Ammamma's lap, and wrapped his bushy tail around himself like a soft blanket. His eyes grew heavy, and he whispered, "Step by step and side by side."

Now it's your turn, my little one. Snuggle in close, just like Bujji. Goodnight, sweet dreams.