Little Frog Exploring The World

Barnaby was a tiny frog with a very big heart and even bigger dreams. While the other frogs were happy catching flies, Barnaby spent his days staring at the tall, wavy grass at the edge of the water.

"Mom," Barnaby croaked one afternoon. "I want to explore the world!"

His mother smiled warmly but shook her head. "Oh, Barnaby. This pond is our home. It has everything we need! It's not safe for little frogs to go wandering beyond the reeds."

Barnaby sighed, his little green shoulders drooping. He felt like his world was just one small circle of water.

Then, one afternoon, the sky turned the color of a bruised plum. Boom! A crack of thunder echoed across the marsh, and the clouds opened up. It rained harder than Barnaby had ever seen. The pond began to rise, higher and higher, until the water spilled over the grassy banks.

"Hold on tight!" his mom called out.

Barnaby hopped onto his mom’s back just as a giant, sturdy lotus leaf floated by. They scrambled onto it like it was a tiny green raft. The current caught them, and suddenly, they weren't in the pond anymore. They were gliding past giant oak trees and over clover patches they had only ever seen from a distance.

Barnaby’s eyes went wide. "Look, Mom! The world is huge!"

As they sailed along their accidental adventure, his mom realized that the world was a little less scary when they were exploring it together.

Why do you think Barnaby’s mom wanted him to stay in the pond at first? Do you think she was being mean, or just trying to keep him safe?

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