The Girl and the Little Tapir

Maya enjoys exploring the rainforest close to her village, and one day she follows a narrow trail between tall trees in search of something new. There she meets Pip, a shy little tapir with a creamy white patch on his back and a red flower tucked into his vine collar. After the two study each other for a while, Pip trots down a smaller path as though asking her to come along, and Maya follows.

Pip brings Maya to the muddy wallow where he cools off, and there they meet Uncle Tomas, the rainforest ranger in his wide-brimmed straw hat. He explains why tapirs need mud and a large, connected forest for leaves, fruits, roots and shelter. Wanting to help, Maya uses the crayons and paper in her satchel to draw a map of the trails, the stream and the wallow, adding flaps and tabs that reveal monkeys, frogs, snakes, sloths, a toucan, a blue butterfly and a tiny tapir that can move along the path. This tale by Ebru Mina TOMURCUK can be read on Onlinemasal Com.Tr.