The Fox and the Little Sparrow

In a magical forest of mossy stones and whispering ferns lives Finn, a gentle fox who wears a collar of woven green leaves and greets every creature with a warm smile. One morning he startles Pip, a little sparrow who scolds him from her branch above the path. Pip is cautious, since her nesting tree stands right there and she has never met a fox before. Finn does not push; he sits down, shows how carefully he can place a paw, and returns day after day with small gifts left on a flat stone, never coming too close.

When a storm rolls in and Pip's tree begins to sway, Finn races to the oak and braces himself against the trunk through the wind until the nest is safe. From then on the two are inseparable, and Pip rides on Finn's shoulder, teaching him the secrets of the forest. This gentle tale by Jane MEADOW is about trust that grows slowly and friendship that runs both ways, suited to young readers and to adults reading aloud. It can be read on Kids Tale Book.