The Boy and the Little Finch

Leo is a curious boy with warm light brown skin, short curly black hair, freckles, and big round dark brown eyes. Each morning he carries a green cloth-covered nature journal and a pencil into the big green garden of his small house, ready to watch the birds that visit. One sunny day, a plump little finch with soft brown and cream feathers, an orange beak, white wing bars, and tiny black eyes lands on the fence and sings a short, sweet song. Leo freezes, smiles, and writes down what he hears, beginning his careful study of one small bird.

Day after day, the finch returns with new songs: short and sweet like a tiny bell, long and wiggly like a curly ribbon, tunes that go up and down like a roller coaster, fast and fluttery ones, quiet songs like a secret, loud cheeps, and even a bubbly bath song. Leo listens closely, draws the finch beside his notes, sketches curly lines to show each tune, and starts a list of every song. He notices the songs change with the weather and wonders what the finch is saying. His mother sees him sitting quietly with his journal and tells him he is a real nature journal keeper. This tale by Aysel Banu YAVUZAL can be read on Masal İzle.