Once upon a time, in a patch of soft, fuzzy moss, lived a little dragon named Zog. Zog was bright green, like a fresh lime. He had two tiny wings that went flip-flap, flip-flap, and a very big satchel over his shoulder. Today was a big day! Zog was going on a treasure hunt. Can you guess what he was looking for? Not gold, and not toys. Zog was looking for the magic of the forest.
Crunch, crunch, crunch went Zog’s feet on the grass. He looked down. Oh! Sparkle, sparkle! A tiny dew drop sat on a leaf like a crystal bead. Zog carefully picked it up and put it in his bag. Then he found a bumpy brown acorn. Plop! Into the bag it went. Zog felt very proud. He wanted to collect all the forest jewelry to make a beautiful picture. He hopped and he skipped. Hop, skip, hop!
But wait. Zog looked inside his satchel. Where did the sparkles go? The dew drops were melting and sliding away! Drip, drip, drop. Oh no! And then—Whoosh!—a big wind blew past. The acorns rolled out of the bag and bounced away. Spin, spin, roll! Zog felt very small. His eyes got a little bit watery. He wanted to make something special for the Earth, but his treasures wouldn't stay still.
Just then, a little tail popped up. It was Pip the Squeaky Squirrel! Pip went 'Chit-chat-chee!' Pip showed Zog that the forest likes to keep its treasures right where they belong. The dew belongs to the leaves, and the acorns belong to the soil. Zog blinked his big eyes. He had an idea! He didn't need to take the forest home; he could make his art right here on the ground.
Zog found a big, flat rock that was warm from the sun. He gathered the acorns again. He wanted them to stay in a pretty circle, but they kept rolling. Zog felt a tickle in his nose. A big, dragon tickle. Wriggle, wriggle... A-tishoo! Out came a sticky dragon sneeze! It wasn't messy; it was like magic glue. Zog giggled. He used his sticky sneezes to help the acorns stay in a perfect, happy ring on the rock.
He placed a shiny leaf in the middle and watched as the sun hit the remaining dew. Sparkle, sparkle! It was the most beautiful collage in the whole world. Zog didn't need to put it in a bag. He smiled a big dragon smile and curled his tail around the warm stone. The forest was his home, and his art was right where it was meant to be. High above, the trees whispered, 'Shhh, shhh,' as Zog closed his eyes for a happy nap. And that’s how it all turned out just right.