Bedtime Story | Lisi o La'au ma Fugala'au

Once upon a time, in the warm village of Apia, there was a curious young boy named Tama. Every morning, Tama loved to walk through the gardens and greet the morning sun. I se tasi aso, i le nuu mafanafana o Apia, sa i ai se tama fiailoa e igoa ia Tama. O taeao uma lava, e fiafia lava Tama e savali i totonu o togalaau ma faafeiloai le la o le taeao.

Introduction, Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile in Apia's gardens

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Today, Tama had a special task. His mother asked, 'Can you count all the trees and flowers, Tama?' Tama nodded excitedly and set off on his adventure. O le asō, sa iai se galuega faapitoa a Tama. Na fesili lona tina, 'E mafai ona e faitauina uma laau ma fugala'au Tama?' Na luelue le ulu fiafia o Tama ma alu loa i lana malaga.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile given a task by his mother

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He started with the trees. Tama counted 'tasi, lua, tolu.' Three tall coconut trees swaying in the breeze. Sa ia amata i laau. Na faitau e Tama 'tasi, lua, tolu.' E tolu niu uumi o lo'o fe'au i le savili.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile counting trees in Samoan

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Next, he found four frangipani trees. 'Fa, lima, ono, fitu,' he counted. Their sweet scent filled the air. Ona sosoo ai lea ma le mauaina o ni laau frangipani se fa. 'Fa, lima, ono, fitu,' o lana faitau lea. Sa faatumulia le ea i lo latou manogi manogi.

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Tama wondered, 'How many trees did I count?' As he pondered, a butterfly fluttered by. Na mafaufau Tama, 'E fia ni laau na ou faitauina?' A o ia mafaufau loloto, sa lele mai se pepe.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile reflects on count, sees butterfly

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Tama knew! 'Three plus four is seven! I counted fitu trees!' he exclaimed. Na iloa e Tama! 'Tolu fa'atasi ma le fa o le fitu! Na ou faitauina laau fitu!' sa ia alaga.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile solves the math problem

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It was time for flowers. 'One, two, three,' Tama murmured as tou'lou'lou flowers danced in the wind. Ua oo i le taimi mo fugalaau. 'Tasi, lua, tolu,' o le tomumu lea a Tama a'o siva fuga tou'lou'lou i le matagi.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile starting to count flowers

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Then he spotted la'au'ula flowers. 'Fa, lima,' he counted two red hibiscuses. Ona ia iloa atu lea o fugala'au la'au'ula. 'Fa, lima,' na ia faitauina ni hibiscus mumu se lua.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile counts hibiscus flowers

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Tama traced his path back in his mind. 'Five flowers! Can you count them with me? Tasi, lua, tolu, fa, lima!' Na toe su’e e Tama lona ala i lona mafaufau. 'E lima fugala'au! E mafai ona e faitauina faatasi ma aʻu? Tasi, lua, tolu, fa, lima!'

Recap and counting with reader inclusion

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Suddenly, Tama had an idea. He brought together the number of trees and flowers and counted them all up. Na faafuasei ona maua se manatu o Tama. Na ia aumaia faatasi le aofaʻi o laau ma fugālaau ma faitau i latou uma.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile has an idea to combine counts

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With a smile, Tama shouted, 'Seven trees and five flowers make twelve! Tasi, lua...all the way to lua sefulu ma lua!' Ma le ataata, na alaga Tama, 'E fitu laau ma fuga e lima e maua ai le sefululua! Tasi, lua...ia o'o i le lua sefulu ma lua!'

Total count of trees and flowers in Samoan

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Tama hurried home to tell his mother about the plants and numbers. 'Very good, Tama,' she said with a proud smile. 'You counted just like a true explorer!' Na fa’anatinati atu Tama i le fale e ta’u i lona tina la’au ma fuainumera. ‘Ua lelei lava Tama,’ o lana tala lea ma le ‘ata mimita. 'Ua e faitaulia e pei o se tagata su'esu'e moni!'

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile reporting back to mother

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Lisi o La'au ma Fugala'au

Lisi o La'au ma Fugala'au

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