Lena Lion was small at first. Her voice was small too. Smaller than all the other animals.

She wanted to find her voice, but when she opened her mouth, all that came out was a tiny Meow. Meow.


She liked to meow–it was gentle and it came easily. But she knew there was more inside of her. So she set out to find her true voice.


Lena Lion came to a cricket and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the cricket said, “Of course.”

The cricket chirped. Chirp-chirp. Chirp-chirp.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Chirp-chirp. Chirp-chirp.

But it was not her true voice.


So Lena Lion came to a cow and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the cow said, “Of course.”

The cow mooed. Moooo. Moooo.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Moooo. Moooo.

But it was not her true voice.


So Lena Lion came to a bluebird and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the bluebird said, “Of course.”

The bluebird peeped. Peep-peep. Peep-peep.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Peep-peep. Peep-peep.

But it was not her true voice.


So Lena Lion came to a dog and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the dog said, “Of course.”

The dog barked. Bark-woof. Woof-bark.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Bark-woof. Woof-bark.

But it was not her true voice.


So Lena Lion came to a hyena and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the hyena said, “Of course.”

The hyena laughed. Haha-hehe. Hehe-haha.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Haha-hehe. Hehe-haha.

But it was not her true voice.


So Lena Lion came to a goose and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the goose said, “Of course.”

The goose honked. Honk-honk. Honk-honk.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Honk-honk. Honk-honk.

But it was not her true voice.


So Lena Lion came to a frog and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the frog said, “Of course.”

The frog croaked. Croooaaak. Croooaaak.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Croooaaak. Croooaaak.

But it was not her true voice.


So Lena Lion came to a duck and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the duck said, “Of course.”

The duck quacked. Quack-quack. Quack-quack.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Quack-quack. Quack-quack.

But it was not her true voice.


So Lena Lion came to a monkey and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the monkey said, “Of course.”

The monkey chattered. Ooh-ooh. Ooh-aah.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Ooh-ooh. Ooh-aah.

But it was not her true voice.


So Lena Lion came to an owl and said, “Can you help me find my true voice?”

And the owl said, “Of course.”

The owl hooted. Hooot-hooot. Hooot-hooot.

And Lena Lion tried it out. Hooot-hooot. Hooot-hooot.

But it was not her true voice.


And when it seemed Lena Lion might never find her true voice, she came to her mother with a tear in her eye. Her mother said, “You don’t need to be sad, my dear. I will help you find your true voice.”

Her mother opened her mouth wide and roared. Raaawr! Raaawr!

And Lena Lion tried it out. Raaawr! Raaawr!


She roared so loudly the last of her tears shook off her nose.


Lena Lion smiled. She found her true voice.

It was there all along.

And she roared with joy.

Posted by Griffin Paul Jackson

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