The Boy and the Little Capybara

On a bright Saturday morning, Leo fills his green backpack with a notebook and pencil and sets off with his class to visit a capybara sanctuary. A guide in a khaki ranger shirt greets the children and tells them that capybaras live together in large, caring families. In a grassy meadow near a shallow pond, Leo spots one little capybara standing a bit apart from the others, with a tuft of lighter fur on its head and tiny dark eyes that seem to look right at him.

Kneeling slowly so as not to startle it, Leo discovers that capybaras communicate through soft clicks, low purrs and gentle whistles. The little capybara sniffs his red sneaker and chirps, a sound the guide says means it feels safe with him. Leo watches the mother nudge her young one close and sees how the herd shares food and takes turns keeping watch. This gentle tale by Aysel Banu YAVUZAL introduces young readers to capybara behaviour, and it can be read on Masal İzle.