CHILD NATURE STORY OF PLANTSMOON BIRD'S DANDY LIONThis is a child nature story about plants. It comes from our newest book The Young Naturalist. We hope you enjoy this condensed version of Dandy Lion. Join us as Moon Bird attempts to learn the "personality" of a plant. When Moon Bird looks at a meadow or forest, he sees a big green wall. It’s too much for him to take in all at once. One day he went to Running Deer for help. “Running Deer,” said Moon Bird, “I can’t seem to make any progress on knowing the plants. Can you help me?” “I would be glad to, Moon Bird. Let’s walk out to the edge of the meadow. There is a large variety to choose from there. I know you can do this. The secret is to learn only one plant at a time. Forget about all the others.” “I would like to forget about all of them, Running Deer.” “Please don’t give up yet, Moon Bird. Try this. Sit down next to one plant and get to know it, almost like a friend.” “Get to know it? You have got to be kidding. Hello plant. My name is Moon Bird. What is your name? Do you come here often? I’m going to be like a plant and leave now. Get it? That’s a plant joke. Ha, ha, ha!” “That’s not what I meant, Moon Bird.” “I know, but it was fun.” “Try this, Moon Bird. Sit next to a plant that makes you feel good inside. Don’t think about it. Let the plant draw you to it.” “I know what you mean. I like the plants called dandelion because they are fun to play with. But I already know that one.” “Are you sure, Moon Bird? What do you know about dandelion?” “Well, its dandelion. Everyone knows that plant.” “OK, so tell me something about it.” “Well, like I said its dandelion. It just--is. Oh, and it has those things that you can blow away.” "Moon Bird, try this. Sit next to dandelion and get to know it better. Knowing the name of a plant does not mean you know much about it at all. 
If you had a friend named Dandy Lion, wouldn’t you want to know more about him than just his name? To know Dandy well you would need to know where he lives, how tall he was, what he looked like, how old he was, and things like that.”“I see what you mean, Running Deer. I’ll give it a try.” Moon Bird sat down next to dandelion. He looked at it, touched it, and he even smelled it. Running Deer smiled. She knew Moon Bird was on his way to knowing the plants. “What do you think?” she said. “Do you know your friend a little better?” “I sure do, Running Deer. For the first time I noticed the leaves and how they grow. Then I saw all the tiny petals. I even think I have a clue to where it likes to live. Thank you, Running Deer. Can we do all the plants like this now?” “One at a time, Moon Bird, one at a time. That is all it takes.”
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