The Boy and the Secret Forest

On a bright Saturday morning, Finn puts on his mustard-yellow raincoat and red rubber boots, takes his canvas satchel, and follows the needle of his small brass compass toward the whispering trees at the meadow's edge. Through a gap between two old oaks he enters a hidden forest smelling of wet leaves and wild honey, where he meets Oaken, a red squirrel in an acorn-cap hat, and Bramble, a cautious hedgehog in a patchwork leaf cloak.

Returning again and again, Finn learns which mushrooms are safe, how to plant and tend seedlings, and how to move quietly so shy creatures feel at ease. The Old Stag, the forest's silver-grey elder, sets a simple test of friendship, which Finn passes by clearing branches from the stream and climbing a tall oak to rescue Oaken's whistle. When machines and yellow trucks begin cutting trees at the border, Finn and his friends plant a living fence and set out a sign asking people to protect their home. Written by Ebru Mina TOMURCUK, this gentle tale about patience and caring for nature can be read on Onlinemasal Com.Tr.