Barnaby Bear Big Surprise

Barnaby Bear wasn’t a scary bear. In fact, his tummy only rumbled for blueberries, and his heart only rumbled for a friend. He spent every afternoon watching Funny Bunny hop through the clover.

Funny Bunny was the fastest, wiggiest, and trickiest rabbit in the forest. Every time Barnaby tried to say hello, Funny Bunny would zip behind a tree or disappear down a hole! Barnaby didn’t want to catch him for dinner; he just wanted someone to play tag with.

The Big Plan Today, Barnaby had a plan. He wouldn't chase. He would wait! He found a big, fluffy huckleberry bush near the edge of the path and tucked his round belly behind it. He stayed very, very still. Even his ears stopped twitching.

Crunch, crunch, wiggle, sniff.

There he was! Funny Bunny came hopping along, his long ears flopping in the sunlight. He stopped just a few inches from the bush to nibble on a dandelion. Barnaby’s heart did a happy little dance. This was his chance to finally say, "Let's be friends!"