Once upon a time in a far-off land,
Where the mountains were high and the oceans were grand,
Lived a group of animals, big and small,
In a world where danger was always a call.

But one day, a shaman came to town,
With words of warning and a serious frown,
He said that extinction was on its way,
And the animals had to triumphantly sway.

The shaman spoke of a supernatural force,
That could be harnessed to keep them on course,
A pigment so rare and powerful too,
That it could save them from what they knew.

The animals listened intently and knew,
They had to act fast or bid adieu,
To their communal home, their longhouse,
And take an ascent to a safer house.

They designated a leader, strong and bold,
To confiscate the pigment, precious like gold,
And with his mighty voice, he did intone,
A call to action, to leave no stone unturned.

With the strait ahead, they set sail,
Their hearts pounding, their spirits not frail,
And with the pigment in their paws,
They were ready to face any claws.

They returned to their longhouse with a smile,
Triumphantly saved from the dangers and the vile,
And with gratitude, they thanked the shaman,
For leading them through the dark and the famine.

From that day on, they cherished the pigment so rare,
And made sure that they took extra care,
To preserve their home and all around,
For the beauty of nature is always profound.

Reflections

Here are a few questions to ask kids to think about the story:

1. Who is the shaman, and why is he important to the animals in the story?
2. What is the supernatural pigment, and how does it help the animals overcome their challenges?
3. Why is it important for the animals to work together and designate a leader in times of crisis?
4. What do you think it means to live in a communal home like the longhouse in the story?
5. How can we learn from the animals in the story and work together to preserve our own world and protect it from dangers like extinction?