Shelby the sloth was the slowest creature in the rainforest. While monkeys zoomed and birds flitted, Shelby moved…well, very slowly. Sometimes, she wished she could be speedy like the others. She wanted to join the rainforest games, but she worried she’d only slow everyone down.
This year, the rainforest was having a special game: a berry-collecting race! The first to fill their basket with ten sun-ripened berries would win a shiny, smooth river stone. Shelby really wanted that stone, but the thought of racing made her tummy feel fluttery.
Her best friend, a bright blue butterfly named Lumi, noticed Shelby’s worry. “What’s wrong?” Lumi asked, landing gently on a leaf beside her.
“I want to enter the berry race,” Shelby confessed, “but I’m just too slow. I’ll never win!” Lumi smiled. “Shelby, being slow isn’t bad! It means you’re careful and thoughtful. You notice things others miss.”
Shelby thought about that. She *did* notice the tiny dew drops on the flowers, and the colorful patterns on the beetle’s shell. She took a deep breath and decided to try. The race began, and the monkeys and birds shot off like rockets! Shelby started her slow, steady climb.
The other animals quickly gathered berries, but they were so fast, they accidentally knocked over berry bushes and missed the ripest ones. Shelby, moving slowly and carefully, spotted the biggest, juiciest berries hidden amongst the leaves. She gently plucked them and placed them in her basket.
One by one, Shelby filled her basket. It took a long time, but she didn’t give up. She remembered Lumi’s words and focused on being careful and steady. Finally, she had ten perfect berries! She was the last one to finish, but she had done it!
The other animals cheered! They realized that Shelby’s careful approach had helped her find the best berries. The rainforest elder, a wise old tortoise, presented Shelby with the shiny river stone. “Sometimes,” he said, “slow and steady wins the race.”
Shelby held the stone tightly. She learned that day that it’s okay to be different and that her slowness was actually a strength. She also learned that having a good friend like Lumi made everything better. As the sun set, Shelby snuggled into her tree, happy and content, knowing that being herself was the best thing of all. Now close your eyes, little one, and dream sweet dreams, just like Shelby the sloth.