The Bear and the Little Duck

In a bright forest of tall trees and colourful flowers, Bruno the bear moves calmly along the paths near his home, greeting the birds and squirrels and carrying a leaf-green satchel of berries and nuts. One day beside a wide muddy track he hears a small, worried sound and discovers Dottie, a young duckling with fluffy yellow down and a little red ribbon bow, who has strayed from her family and cannot cross the deep, sticky mud on her tiny orange feet.

Bruno kneels and speaks to her in his steady voice, then carries her across in his huge paw, holding her safely above the mud while her family waits on the far side. Their gratitude begins an unlikely friendship of shared berries, stories by the pond and a small flower given in thanks. Written by Jane MEADOW, this gentle tale can be read on Kids Tale Book and follows the pair from that first rescue through the quiet afternoons that grow from it, showing that kindness does not depend on size and that help may come from someone much bigger or much smaller than yourself.