L’heure des histoires

Jojo and the Jungle of Stars.

Welcome, little miracle.

Every day... was a new adventure.

Jojo was turning two today. But tonight... something magical was waiting for him.

A shooting star lit up the sky... then fell deep into the forest. Jojo watched in wonder, and followed where it landed.

"Come on, Biko! Let's go on an adventure," Jojo said. And off they ran into the night jungle...

Jojo took one step... then another. And another. Big journeys start with small steps.

Jojo followed the light. He wasn't afraid... he was curious.

Jojo walked on. The jungle... was not empty. Something moved in the bushes. Then suddenly...

Jojo saw Noru the lion... and he stopped. He did not run. He did not hide. He took a deep breath... and stood still. Noru smiled. "You are brave," said Noru the lion.

Jojo looked at Noru. "I was scared," he said. Noru nodded gently. "That's okay," he said softly. "Being brave doesn't mean you're not afraid... it means you keep going anyway."

When your heart feels small and unsure... stand up strong. You are more.

Jojo smiled at Noru the lion... and took one small step forward. The jungle grew softer... and something big moved ahead.

And out came Naya the elephant. She was very happy to see Jojo.

Naya touched Jojo gently. "Shhh," she said. "Stay calm. When you are calm... you can see clearly." Jojo stood still... and the jungle felt quiet again.

When the world feels loud and unclear... slow down. The way is near.

Jojo waved goodbye to Naya the elephant... and followed the glowing path. The trees began to sway... and something fast came dancing through!

She looked at Jojo... and tilted her head. "Hi," she said softly. "I'm Zizi." Jojo blinked. "You're... fast!" he giggled. Zizi gave a little bounce. "And I like to move!" she said.

Jojo blinked... then smiled. "Why are you spinning?" he asked. Zizi laughed. "Because it makes me happy!" She twirled again. "You don't have to be like anyone else," she said. "Just be you."

Zizi did a little spin. "You are special just the way you are." Spin, laugh, and just be you... no one shines the way you do.

They said goodbye... and Jojo continued his adventure.

Biko stayed close by Jojo's side, as they walked deeper into the jungle. Then from above... a quiet voice whispered, "Think before you step."

Jojo looked up. Sitting on a branch... was a little monkey. "Hi," he said with a smile. "I'm Kito."

Pause a moment, take your time... good choices help your light to shine.

Kito stepped back into the light. "Now go, brave one. You're almost there."

Jojo walked slowly. He remembered... Be brave. Stay calm. Be yourself. Think first.

The star lay on the ground... quiet and still. It seemed hurt from the fall, and its light was beginning to fade.

Jojo knelt beside the star. Its light flickered softly. "You need help," he said. He remembered... Be brave. Stay calm. Be yourself. Think first. Jojo smiled. "I know what to do."

And Jojo sang... Twinkle, twinkle, little star, oh, I wonder how you are. Lying quiet on the ground, not a single sparkle found. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, I will help you shine afar.

He was brave. He was calm. He was himself. And he thought... "The star needs help."

Jojo reached out slowly. His hand trembled... but he stayed calm. "It's okay," he whispered. He touched the star.

For a moment... nothing happened.

Then... it flickered. Then it glowed. Soft light spread through the water... then into the trees... then into the sky. The jungle held its breath. And the star... began to shine again.

All across the jungle... something changed.

Kito paused, and smiled. Zizi twirled in the glowing light, her laughter soft and free. Naya closed her eyes gently, feeling peace all around her. Noru lifted his head with quiet pride, watching over the moment. And Biko stayed close... tail wagging, heart full.

"Jojo!" they cheered, running with joy. They laughed and leaped all the way to him.

He picked up the star.

And as he lifted it, it began to rise... higher and higher, back into the sky.

The jungle had changed... because Jojo had found his light.

"Awesome, Jojo," Naya whispered. "You're a star." Jojo shook his head gently and smiled. "No... we all are. We are all special. We are all stars."

And Jojo's best friend, Biko, was with him all along.

Above them, the moon and the stars shone bright again. And Jojo smiled... because he knew he was never alone.

The end... or just the beginning. Goodnight, little star.

Noru Counts the Stars.

The sun had gone to sleep, and the Jungle of Stars was turning blue and quiet.

Jojo and Biko climbed up the soft green hill, where Noru the lion liked to rest. Noru's golden mane glowed in the moonlight.

"Hello, little friends," said Noru, in his deep, gentle voice. "The sky is waking up. Shall we count the stars together?"

"Yes!" said Jojo. Biko wagged his tail, the little white tip going swish, swish, swish.

They lay down in the cool grass and looked up.

"Look," said Noru. "There is the first star. One."

One... said Jojo, pointing his little finger. One bright star.

Then another star peeked out, right beside it. "Two," said Noru. Two stars, side by side, like Jojo and Biko.

Three, came a star over the tall palm tree. Three.

Four, twinkled a star above the waterfall. Four.

Five... Jojo held up his hand and spread his fingers wide. "Five fingers! Five stars!" Noru chuckled softly. "That's right. Five."

Six. A tiny star blinked by the moon. Six.

Seven. Seven stars, shining like fireflies that had floated up very, very high.

Eight. Biko gave a sleepy little yawn. Eight.

Nine. "Nine," whispered Jojo. His eyes were getting heavy.

And ten... the last star glowed softly, right above Noru's big kind head. Ten.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten," said Noru slowly. "Ten little stars, watching over you."

"Noru," said Jojo, "are there more?"

Noru smiled. "More than anyone can count. Every night, they come back. Every night, they shine. Just like you."

Jojo snuggled close to Noru's warm, fluffy mane. Biko curled up by his feet.

Can you count with us, one more time? Nice and slow...

One... two... three... four... five...

six... seven... eight... nine...

ten.

Goodnight, little stars. Goodnight, Noru. Goodnight, Jojo. Goodnight, Biko.

And goodnight... to you.

Naya's Sleepy Breaths.

It was the end of a big, busy day in the Jungle of Stars. Jojo had run, and jumped, and laughed, and played. Now his feet felt wiggly, and his mind felt busy, busy, busy.

"Naya," said Jojo, "I can't fall asleep."

Naya the little elephant walked over slowly, her big ears swaying, her two small tusks shining in the moonlight. "That's okay," she said softly. "When I can't sleep, I do my sleepy breaths. Do you want to try?"

Jojo nodded. Biko nodded too.

"First," said Naya, "we get cozy. Lie down... and let your arms and legs feel heavy. Heavy like warm sand."

Jojo lay down. Biko lay down. Maybe you can lie down too.

"Now," said Naya, "we smell the flower." She lifted her trunk. "Breathe in through your nose... slowly... like you are smelling a sweet jungle flower."

Breathe in... two... three... four.

"And now we blow the candle," said Naya. "Breathe out through your mouth... slowly... so the little flame just wiggles."

Breathe out... two... three... four.

"Let's do it again," whispered Naya.

Smell the flower... in... two... three... four.

Blow the candle... out... two... three... four.

Jojo felt his tummy go up, like a balloon... and down, like a balloon getting smaller.

"Now," said Naya, "let's be a sleepy elephant." She lifted her trunk very high. "Breathe in... up, up, up..." And she let it fall, slow and soft. "And breathe out... down, down, down."

Up, up, up... and down, down, down.

The fireflies were blinking slower now. The waterfall was humming its quiet song. The leaves were whispering, shhh... shhh...

"Naya," Jojo yawned, "my feet are not wiggly anymore."

"That's the magic of calm," said Naya. "When you are calm, your body can rest. And when your body rests, you can dream."

One more time, together...

Smell the flower... in...

Blow the candle... out...

Biko was already snoring a tiny puppy snore. Jojo's eyes were closing, slowly, slowly.

Naya rested her trunk gently beside him. "Goodnight, Jojo," she whispered. "Stay calm, little one. The stars are watching over you."

And the whole Jungle of Stars... breathed in... and breathed out... and fell asleep.

Goodnight.

Kito's Shape Hunt.

One bright morning, Kito the monkey swung down from a branch, his red cap tipped just right.

"Jojo! Biko!" he called. "Do you want to go on a shape hunt?"

"What's a shape hunt?" asked Jojo.

"Shapes are hiding all over the jungle," said Kito. "We just have to stop... look... and think. Ready?"

"Ready!" said Jojo. "Woof!" said Biko.

They walked along the path. Kito pointed up. "Look at the sun. What shape is it?"

Jojo looked. The sun was round, round, round, with no corners at all. "A circle!" said Jojo.

"Yes! A circle," said Kito. "A circle goes round and round, and never stops."

Can you draw a circle in the air with your finger? Round and round...

Next they came to a big leaf, pointing up to the sky. Kito counted its sides. "One, two, three. Three sides, and three pointy corners."

"A triangle!" said Jojo.

"Good job!" said Kito. "A triangle, like a little mountain."

Then Biko sniffed something on the ground. It was a flat stone, with four sides, all the same size.

"Four sides that are all the same," said Kito. "That is a..."

"Square!" said Jojo.

"Well done!" Kito did a happy flip.

They walked to the river, where a long wooden log lay across the water. "This one has four sides too," said Kito, "but two are long and two are short. What could it be?"

Jojo thought... and thought... "A rectangle!"

"Way to go, Jojo!" said Kito. "A rectangle, like a door, or a book."

Soon the sky turned purple, and the first little light came out. It had five points, shining and bright.

"A star!" said Jojo, before Kito could even ask.

Kito laughed. "You're getting so good at this!"

And then Biko ran up to Jojo, and licked his cheek, and Jojo hugged him close. Kito made a shape with his two hands, round at the top, and pointy at the bottom.

"What's that?" asked Jojo.

"A heart," said Kito softly. "That's the shape of friends who love each other."

Let's remember all our shapes. A circle, like the sun. A triangle, like the leaf. A square, like the stone. A rectangle, like the log. A star, in the sky. And a heart, for friends.

"Shapes are everywhere," said Kito, "when you stop, and look, and think."

Next time you go outside, can you find a circle? Can you find a square? Kito knows you can.

Happy shape hunting!

Zizi's Rainbow Dance.

After a soft jungle rain, the sun came peeking out, and everything sparkled.

"Jojo! Jojo, look!" Zizi the little zebra came bouncing down the path, her mohawk bouncing too. "A rainbow! Let's do the rainbow dance!"

"What's the rainbow dance?" asked Jojo.

"Every color gets a move!" said Zizi. "Copy me!"

Zizi pointed to the top of the rainbow. "The first color is red. Red like a juicy strawberry. Red like Kito's cap! For red... we stomp! Stomp, stomp, stomp!"

Jojo stomped. Biko stomped his little paws. Can you stomp too? Stomp, stomp, stomp!

"Next is orange," said Zizi. "Orange like a mango, and the setting sun. For orange... we wiggle! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!"

Jojo wiggled and giggled.

"Then comes yellow," said Zizi. "Yellow like a banana, and the lantern's glow. For yellow... we jump! Jump, jump, jump!"

Up and down, up and down!

"Now green," said Zizi. "Green like the leaves, and the grass, and a little frog. For green... we hop like a frog! Hop, hop, hop!"

Ribbit! said Jojo.

"Next is blue," said Zizi. "Blue like the river, and the big sky. For blue... we sway like the water. Swaaay... and swaaay."

Jojo swayed his arms, slow and smooth, like a river.

"And last of all, purple," said Zizi. "Purple like the jungle flowers at night. For purple... we spin! Spin, spin, spin!"

Jojo spun around and around, until he plopped down on the soft grass, laughing.

"Let's do the whole rainbow!" said Zizi.

Red, stomp! Orange, wiggle! Yellow, jump! Green, hop! Blue, sway! Purple, spin!

"Zizi," said Jojo, still giggling, "why do you love colors so much?"

Zizi smiled. "Because every color is different, and every color is beautiful. Just like my stripes. Just like you. You don't have to be like anyone else. Just be you!"

The rainbow shimmered across the sky, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

Now take a big breath, and wave goodbye to the rainbow.

Bye-bye, rainbow! See you after the next rain.

Tiko Brushes His Beak.

The moon was rising over the Jungle of Stars, and it was almost bedtime.

Jojo and Biko were walking home, when they heard a happy song from the big tree.

"Brush, brush, brush, up and down, brush, brush, brush, all around!"

It was Tiko the toucan, sitting on his branch, holding a tiny brush in his feet.

"Tiko, what are you doing?" asked Jojo.

"I'm brushing my beak!" said Tiko proudly. His big beak was orange and yellow, with a blue-green tip. "Every night before bed, I make my beak shiny and clean. Do you brush your teeth, Jojo?"

Jojo thought. "Sometimes I forget."

"Then let's do it together!" said Tiko. "Here's how."

"First, we wash our hands," said Tiko. "Water on... a little soap... rub, rub, rub, the fronts, the backs, and in between the fingers. Then rinse them clean!"

Jojo rubbed his hands. Rub, rub, rub. Can you pretend to wash your hands too?

"Next, a tiny bit of toothpaste," said Tiko. "Just a little dot, as small as a pea."

"Now we brush," said Tiko. "Brush the top teeth... gently... up and down."

Brush, brush, brush.

"Brush the bottom teeth... round and round."

Brush, brush, brush.

"Brush the front, where we smile, and the back, where we chew."

Brush, brush, brush, all around.

"And don't forget your tongue," said Tiko, "a little tickle brush!"

Jojo giggled. "It tickles!"

"Then we spit, and rinse," said Tiko. "And now... show me your smile!"

Jojo smiled a big, sparkly smile. Biko barked. "Woof!" He wanted a turn too.

"Clean teeth, clean hands, and now pajamas on," said Tiko. "That's how we get ready for sweet dreams."

"Thank you, Tiko," said Jojo.

"You're welcome!" said Tiko. And he sang his song one more time, softer now, because it was almost sleepy time.

"Brush, brush, brush, up and down... brush, brush, brush, all around..."

Did you brush your teeth tonight? Tiko is so proud of you.

Goodnight, shiny smile.

Goodnight, Jungle of Stars.

The day was done. The sky turned soft and deep and blue, and one by one, the stars came out to play.

Jojo was cozy in his pajamas. Biko was cozy in his little bed, his white-tipped tail curled around his nose.

"Biko," whispered Jojo, "let's say goodnight to everyone."

So they looked out at the jungle, all silver in the moonlight.

Goodnight, Noru, up on your hill. Thank you for helping me be brave.

Far away, Noru the lion gave a soft, sleepy rumble, and closed his golden eyes.

Goodnight, Naya, by the quiet pond. Thank you for helping me stay calm.

Naya the little elephant swayed her ears, and lay down in the cool grass.

Goodnight, Zizi, in the meadow. Thank you for helping me be me.

Zizi did one last tiny spin... and settled down, her mohawk resting on her soft stripes.

Goodnight, Kito, up in your tree. Thank you for helping me think first.

Kito pulled his red cap over his eyes, and hugged his branch.

Goodnight, Tiko, in your cozy nest. Thank you for teaching me to brush my teeth.

Tiko tucked his big, bright beak under his wing.

Goodnight, Kujo, by the sleepy sea. Thank you for teaching me to wait, and be patient.

Old Kujo the sea turtle blinked slowly, and pulled his head into his shell, while the little waves sang shhh... shhh...

Goodnight, Neno, little friend, snug in my backpack.

And from the backpack came the tiniest yawn.

Goodnight, fireflies. Goodnight, waterfall. Goodnight, moon.

The moon smiled down, round and bright, like a night-light for the whole jungle.

And then Jojo looked up, at the brightest star of all. The star he had helped to shine again.

Goodnight, little star.

The star twinkled, as if to say... goodnight, Jojo.

Jojo snuggled under his blanket. Biko gave a little sigh. The jungle was quiet. The jungle was calm. Everyone was safe, and everyone was loved.

Now it's your turn. Close your eyes... take a slow, sleepy breath in...

and a slow, sleepy breath out...

You were brave today. You were kind today. You were you.

Goodnight... sweet dreams... little star.