In a hot, dry land, an elephant named Tavi found a blue umbrella. It was small for him, but he carried it everywhere.

The other animals laughed. "An umbrella in this heat?" they said. Tavi only smiled. He was a kind elephant, and he liked the umbrella's quiet shade.

One afternoon, the sun grew very strong. The water in the river became warm. The animals had nowhere to hide.

Tavi opened the blue umbrella under a tall tree. "Come here," he said. "There is room."

The birds came. The rabbits came. The little fox came too. Tavi held the umbrella high, even when his arm grew tired.

"You are generous," said the fox. "This umbrella is not big enough for you, and still you share it."

Tavi looked at his friends in the shade. "I do not need a big umbrella," he said. "I need a big heart." And from that day, nobody laughed at the elephant with the blue umbrella.

A thought to keep

A big heart can make a small shade enough for everyone.