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Ferdinand's Fantastic Feat

Ferdinand the frog felt far from fantastic. "I'm just a plain green frog," he'd sigh. "Nothing special about me!" He gazed glumly at his reflection in the pond. "Just a regular, ribbiting frog."

A sad green frog looks at his reflection in a pond

One sunny day, Ferdinand hopped by Fiona the firefly. Fiona was famous for her flashy light shows. "Wow!" Ferdinand croaked. "Your lights are dazzling, Fiona! I wish I could shine like that."

A green frog looking up at a firefly with glowing wings

Fiona flickered her lights playfully. "But Ferdinand," she buzzed, "you're a fantastic frog! You can leap long leaps and catch crunchy critters with your tongue. I can't do that!"

A firefly with glowing wings hovering near a green frog's outstretched tongue

Ferdinand tilted his head, pondering Fiona's words. He *could* leap pretty far. And his long, sticky tongue *was* pretty awesome for catching snacks.

A green frog tilting his head in thought, with his tongue sticking out

He hopped over to Harriet the hedgehog, who was known for her beautiful, blossoming garden. "Your flowers are simply stunning, Harriet!" Ferdinand exclaimed. "I wish I could grow something so lovely."

A green frog looking admiringly at a hedgehog tending a garden of colorful flowers

Harriet chuckled softly. "But Ferdinand, you're a fantastic frog! You can swim in the cool, clear water and bask in the warm sunshine. My prickles make that impossible!"

A hedgehog with prickles smiling at a green frog sitting on a lily pad in a pond

Ferdinand dove into the water, feeling the sun warm his back. Harriet was right! Swimming and sunbathing *were* pretty fantastic.

A happy green frog swimming in a pond with lily pads

Later, Ferdinand bumped into Chester the chameleon, a master of disguise. "Your colors are incredible, Chester!" Ferdinand gasped. "I'm always just plain green. I wish I could change my colors too!"

A green frog looking in awe at a chameleon changing colors on a branch

"But Ferdinand, you're a fantastic frog!" Chester chirped, changing from blue to orange to purple. "You have a strong, booming voice that echoes through the forest. I could never make such a loud sound!"

A chameleon changing colors while perched on a tree branch near a green frog

Ferdinand puffed out his chest and let out a mighty "RIBBIT!" His voice echoed through the trees. Chester was right! He did have a powerful ribbit.

A green frog with its mouth wide open, ribbiting loudly

Ferdinand finally understood. He didn't need to be a firefly, a hedgehog, or a chameleon. He was fantastic just the way he was! He was a fantastic frog, full of unique and wonderful talents.

A happy and proud green frog sitting on a lily pad in a pond

From that day on, Ferdinand embraced his froggy self. He leaped with joy, caught crunchy critters with pride, and swam with a happy heart. After all, being Ferdinand the frog was truly fantastic!

A joyful green frog leaping in the air with a big smile

Reflection Questions

  • How did Ferdinand feel about himself at the beginning of the story?
  • What did Ferdinand learn from his friends?
  • How can you celebrate the things that make you special?

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