Once upon a time, there was a magical forest filled with all sorts of trees, both deciduous and coniferous. The old-growth trees were the tallest and strongest, forming a lush canopy above.

One day, a curious little chipmunk named Chuck stumbled upon a strange structure in the middle of the forest. He climbed up to investigate and found that it was a treehouse built by a group of birds. They invited Chuck inside and showed him all the amazing species of birds and animals that lived in the trees.

Chuck was in awe of the diversity of life in the canopy, but he noticed that some of the trees were starting to look sick. The birds explained that the trees needed sunlight to stay healthy, but the old-growth trees were so tall that they blocked out all the sun.

So Chuck came up with a plan. He gathered all the animals in the forest and they worked together to cut down some of the old-growth trees to let more sunlight through. The remaining trees thrived and the forest was filled with new life.

From that day on, Chuck and his friends made sure to keep a balance between the old-growth and younger trees so that all the species in the forest could flourish. And they all lived happily ever after.

Reflections

1. Why did Chuck and his friends cut down the old-growth trees?
2. What was the result of letting more sunlight into the forest?
3. What did Chuck learn about the importance of balancing different species in the forest?
4. Can you think of other ways that animals and plants work together in nature?