Leo's Squeaky Roar

Leo was a little lion with a tiny squeak instead of a roar. When his cousins roared, the trees shook. When Leo squeaked, the leaves giggled.

One day a giant elephant blocked the path to the watering hole. The other lion cubs roared but the elephant did not move. Leo felt scared, but he stepped forward.

He took a deep, deep breath. He thought of his mother's strong purr, his father's mighty roar, and the whole big sun above him. Then he opened his mouth and out came... a ROAR! A real, rumbly, golden roar.

The elephant was so surprised he stepped aside. "Excuse me!" the elephant trumpeted, smiling. The cubs cheered. Leo grinned. He did not have a big body, but he had a big heart, and now he had a roar to match.