1.THE HAPPY HORNBILL
(Being grateful for what one has, looking on the bright side, and sharing)
Early one morning Hornbill left his nesting-hole in the old acacia tree, and went in search of breakfast. He loved insects, nuts, seeds, and berries, but best of all he loved beetle larvae, which he dug from elephant dung with his long yellow bill.
The sun was just rising, casting a warm pink glow over the bushveld, and the doves began their curr-curr, curr-curr song, calling everyone to wake up and begin the day. The morning felt fresh and cool, and everything was silvery-white with dew. Later the sun would burn it all away, and the bush would become hot and crackly.
Hornbill was just about to explore a fresh pile of dung when he saw that Dung Beetle had got there first.
“I was just going to look there for my breakfast”, said Hornbill, his crest literally fallen. “But I see that you have beaten me to it.”
Dung Beetle had just formed a perfect ball of dung, and, crawling backwards, was already pushing it away to her nest.
“Don’t worry”, said Dung Beetle. “There’s plenty more where this came from. Help yourself!”
Hornbill was happy to share the dung with his friend, and soon discovered some tasty morsels inside: lovely plump grubs and lots of crunchy seeds.
Then he flew in a long arc – whoosh! – up into a Mopani tree. He cocked his head and turned his beady eye to the ground, hoping to spot a juicy spider or scorpion that might have been foolish enough to venture out.
The day was now warmer, and the cicadas began their all-day song: Eeeeeeee! Eeeeeeee!
Then hornbill saw Mopani Worm creeping along a branch – and she noticed him.
“Please don’t eat me!” Mopani Worm begged, “I am just about to lay my eggs on this leaf!”
“Don’t worry,” said Hornbill, “I’ll leave you alone to lay your eggs. But I can’t be sure that my friends won’t eat you, so you had better hide as soon as you’re finished. Luckily your skin is the same colour as these branches, and you’re not likely to be seen.”
“Oh thank you Hornbill. I really must lay more eggs. The people from the village keep eating us. We can’t help it if we’re so delicious!”
So Hornbill left Mopani Worm in peace to lay her eggs.
Then he spotted Antlion, quietly hiding in his cone of soft sand, waiting to trap his breakfast.
“Have you had any luck yet Antlion?” asked Hornbill.
“Not really,” said Antlion sadly. “It’s been a terribly dull morning. Just a few ants. I’m so bored eating the same food day after day.”
“Well at least you have a new you to look forward to,” said Hornbill. “Once you’ve made a cocoon and the rains begin, you will change into a long slender fly with lovely lacy wings.”
“That’s true Hornbill,” said Antlion. “At least my appearance will change, if not my diet!”
Now it was very hot, and the grasshoppers added their sounds to the bush music: tick-tick crrrrr, tick-tick crrrrr.
Then Songololo came crawling out of her hole, and began to cross the dusty path.
“Hello Songololo”, called Hornbill, “How are you this bright and sunny morning?” He thought about eating Songololo too, but decided that Songololo’s coat was too hard, and that he looked too sad.
“I’m so unhappy,” said Songololo.
“Oh? And why is that?” asked Hornbill. “Dung Beetle is happy with her dung ball, Mopani Worm is laying her eggs, and Antlion will soon change into a beautiful new insect – as if by magic!”
“It’s all right for you, who is always so cheerful”, said Songololo, “But I am sad because I can’t turn into a beautiful moth or butterfly like other worms, and have to stay the same, all the year round.”
“But you have a beautiful coat of black shiny armour to protect you,” said Hornbill. “And you can curl up into a ring if danger approaches. Nobody else can do that.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right Hornbill,” said Songololo happily, and promptly rolled into a tight coil to prove the point.
Hornbill thought that although Songololo had to wear the same coat all the year round, he was lucky to be able to protect himself like that.
He flew into another tall dead tree, glad to have a view from which he could look out over the whole wide bushveld.
Suddenly he felt something tickle his woolly socks, just above his clawed feet. 
“Hello Caterpillar! You tickled my foot!”, said Hornbill, wondering how he might eat such a plump juicy morsel, but deciding against the idea when he thought about Caterpillar’s spiky protective covering, which might just sting him.
“What are you doing in this dead old tree? There can’t be anything interesting for you here.”
“I’m looking for somewhere to spin my cocoon,” said Caterpillar, “I’ve had quite enough of this nasty spiky coat, which makes all my friends avoid me. In fact, it’s been quite a lonely time, and now I am feeling very sad indeed!”
“But you have nothing to worry about!” exclaimed Hornbill, “Once you have spun your cocoon, and spent a little time inside, you will emerge as a butterfly – the most beautiful insect in the world!”
“I suppose you’re right, Hornbill. It’s just that when I am ugly and prickly like this, everyone avoids me!”
“You just have to be patient, Caterpillar. You know you won’t always look like that.” 
All in all, Hornbill decided that his friends had plenty to be grateful for, even if they didn’t always think so.
Then he flew up into the branches of a fever tree, and joined his Hornbill family.
ADDITIONAL LEARNING: about the smaller creatures of the bush, their diet, identity, and habits, and the sounds they make.
