Growing Malique was a little Explorer. He wore bright green boots and a round yellow hat. Every morning, he walked in the Enchanted Forest. He said, “Hello, trees! Hello, birds!”
One sunny day, Malique heard a tiny cry. “Oh no! Oh no!” It came from behind a soft blue bush.
There sat Toy, a small wooden rabbit with red wheels. Toy had a bell on one ear. Ting! Ting! But Toy looked very sad.
“My shiny star button is gone,” said Toy. “It makes my bell sing. Without it, I feel all quiet.”
“I will help,” said Growing Malique. He was small, but he was brave and kind. “We will look together.”
They followed little sparkles on the moss. The forest was full of magic. Purple flowers blinked. Orange mushrooms went plop, plop. A friendly snail pointed one silver feeler.
“That way,” said the snail.
“Thank you!” said Malique and Toy.
Soon they came to a dark, sandy hill. A big mummy sat by a stone door. The mummy had soft white wraps and golden eyes. It went, “Boo-oo-oo!”
Toy rolled behind Malique. “I am scared,” he whispered.
Malique held Toy’s paw. “It is okay to be scared. We can use kind words.”
Malique took one slow step. “Hello, Mummy. Did you see a shiny star button?”
The mummy stopped saying boo. “Maybe,” it said in a low voice. “A bright button rolled into my little cave. I picked it up. I wanted someone to talk to.”
“Oh,” said Malique. “Were you lonely?”
The mummy nodded. “Everyone runs away when I say boo.”
Toy peeked out. “You can say hello instead.”
The mummy tried. “He... hello?”
“Hello!” said Malique.
“Hello!” said Toy.
The mummy smiled under its wraps. Then it opened the stone door. Inside was a warm cave with glowing wall stars. In the middle, on a velvet leaf, was Toy’s shiny star button.
“There it is!” cried Toy. His wheels spun round and round.
The mummy carefully gave the button to Malique. Malique clicked it onto Toy’s red coat. Ting! Ting! Ting! Toy’s bell sang a happy little song.
But then something wonderful happened. The button sent golden light all around the cave. The wall stars woke up. They floated down like tiny lamps. One star became a star-shaped treasure box.
“For the brave Explorer,” said the mummy. “And for my new friend.”
Malique opened the box. Inside were two silver compass badges, two sweet berry cookies, and a map with a rainbow path.
“One badge for Malique,” said Toy. “One badge for Mummy!”
The mummy put on the badge. “I am not a scary mummy today,” it said. “I am a cave guide.”
They ate the berry cookies. Yum! Then Toy rang his bell. Ting! Ting! The mummy said, “Hello!” to the forest.
The trees waved their branches. The birds sang back. Growing Malique looked at his new compass badge and smiled. He had found Toy’s button, made a new friend, and found a treasure too.
“Ready for our next explore?” asked Malique.
“Ready!” said Toy.
“Hello!” said Mummy.
And through the bright Enchanted Forest, the three friends went: step, roll, shuffle, and ting!