The Little Duckling Who Was Different
Once upon a time, on a sunny farm pond, a mother duck watched her eggs hatch one by one. Out popped five fluffy yellow ducklings, and then one more that looked quite different - he was bigger, with grey feathers instead of yellow. The other ducklings did not want to play with him because he looked different. The little duckling felt sad, so he swam away to explore the wide, wide world. He met friendly frogs by the reeds and gentle fish in the cool water, and traveled through meadows and over hills as the seasons changed. One cold winter, he found a beautiful lake covered in soft white snow. In spring, he saw a group of graceful white swans gliding across the water. He swam over shyly, unsure if they would want to be his friends. When he looked down at his reflection, he gasped with surprise and joy - he had grown into a beautiful swan himself, with long elegant feathers. The other swans welcomed him warmly, and he swam among them, happy at last. He learned that everyone grows and changes in their own special time, and that he was loved for exactly who he was, both before and after he changed.