Once upon a time in a far-off land, there lived four animal friends named Cougar, Coyote, Crocodile, and Dingo. They lived in a lush forest filled with tall trees, babbling brooks, and colorful flowers.

One day, while they were out exploring, they stumbled upon a vast lake. The lake was surrounded by tall grass and seemed to stretch on forever. Cougar suggested they go for a swim, but Coyote was hesitant. He had heard that there was a giant crocodile that lived in the lake and was known to attack anyone who entered the water.

But Crocodile, who was known for his bravery, reassured Coyote and said, "Don't worry, I'll protect you. I'm friends with the crocodile and he won't hurt us."

So, the four friends jumped into the lake and began to swim. Suddenly, a giant crocodile appeared from the depths of the lake and started to swim towards them. Coyote was terrified, but Crocodile calmly swam over to the crocodile and said, "Hello, my friend. These are my friends Cougar, Coyote, and Dingo. They mean no harm."

The crocodile, who was actually quite friendly, welcomed the four friends and showed them around the lake. They swam, played, and had a picnic on the shore. As they were getting ready to leave, the crocodile thanked them for being such good friends and said, "Please come back and visit me anytime."

And so, the four friends returned to the forest with a new friend and many wonderful memories. They learned that sometimes, the things we fear the most can turn out to be our greatest friends.

The end.

Reflections

1. Who were the four animal friends in the story?
2. What did Coyote initially fear about the lake?
3. Who showed the friends around the lake?
4. What did the friends learn from their adventure at the lake?
5. How did Crocodile prove to be brave in the story?
6. What was the message of the story?
7. Who do you think was the most important character in the story and why?