Corvus was a little crow with a very big hobby: collecting shiny things! He loved buttons, bottle caps, sparkly pebbles, and anything that glittered. He kept them all in a cozy nest lined with soft moss. Corvus thought his shiny collection was the best in the whole wide world, and he didn’t like anyone to touch it.
One sunny afternoon, Rosie the robin and Barnaby the bluebird came to visit. “Wow, Corvus!” chirped Rosie. “What a wonderful collection of shiny things!” Barnaby nodded. “They’re so sparkly!” Corvus puffed out his chest, but he held his wings tightly around his nest. “They’re *mine*,” he said.
Rosie and Barnaby looked a little sad. They had brought some bright red berries to share, but Corvus didn’t even notice. They tried to ask if they could just *look* at the shiny things, but Corvus shook his head. “No touching!” he squawked.
Rosie and Barnaby quietly ate their berries and then flew away. Corvus looked at his shiny collection. It *was* sparkly, but suddenly, it didn’t feel quite as fun. He was all alone with his treasures. He remembered how happy Rosie and Barnaby were when they shared their berries.
Corvus took a deep breath. He flew after his friends and found them building a nest together. “Wait!” he called. He landed near them, holding a bright blue bottle cap. “I… I want to share,” he said shyly. “You can have this.”
Rosie and Barnaby’s eyes lit up. “Really, Corvus?” asked Rosie. Corvus nodded. He brought over a sparkly pebble for Barnaby and a shiny button for Rosie. Soon, they were all decorating Barnaby’s nest with the shiny treasures, laughing and chatting.
Corvus realized something wonderful. Sharing his shiny things didn’t make them less special; it made them *more* special! It was much more fun to enjoy them with his friends. From that day on, Corvus still collected shiny things, but he always remembered to share the sparkle with everyone he knew.
As the sun began to set, Corvus, Rosie, and Barnaby snuggled together in Barnaby’s newly decorated nest. Corvus felt warm and happy. He knew that the best treasures weren’t just shiny objects, but the joy of friendship and sharing. Now close your eyes, little one, and dream of sparkly things and wonderful friends.