By Bill Conley
Moral
of the Story:
Your body was made to move, stretch,
jump, and grow strong. Sitting too long can slow you down, but playing, dancing,
climbing, and running keep your heart happy and your mind sharp. Staying active
and eating healthy are choices you make each day to take care of your amazing
body. Fitness isn’t about being perfect—it’s about having fun and making
movement a joyful part of your life forever.
In the heart of Bouncy Branch Jungle
lived a little monkey named Mia.
Mia wasn’t just any monkey—she was
fast, fearless, and full of energy. She loved swinging on vines, racing up
trees, and doing flips off mossy logs.
“Last one to the waterfall is a
rotten banana!” she’d shout, already halfway there.
But one rainy week, things changed.
The rain came down for days and
days, turning the forest paths to puddles and making the vines too slippery to
swing.
Mia stayed inside. At first, it was
cozy.
She watched silly jungle videos,
nibbled on banana chips, and wrapped herself in her leafy blanket.
“I’ll play tomorrow,” she said.
But tomorrow came… and it rained
again.
Then the next day… and the next.
Mia started saying, “Maybe later,”
every time her mom suggested stretching or dancing indoors.
By the fifth day, Mia felt
different.
Her tail didn’t want to twirl. Her
legs didn’t feel jumpy. Her arms were sore from lying around.
She looked at herself in the mirror
and said, “What’s going on with me?”
Her mom peeked in and gave her a
gentle smile. “Sweetie, your body misses moving.”
“I guess I miss it too,” Mia
mumbled.
Her mom handed her a little note. It
read:
“Strong body, happy heart, move a
little, make a start!”
Mia tucked it into her banana pouch.
The next morning, Mia made a
promise.
“I’m getting up. I’m going to MOVE!”
She started with five silly monkey
jumps in her room. Then ten stretches. Then a jog in place until her tail
wagged with joy.
Soon, she was leaping around the
house like her old self.
“I forgot how fun this is!” she
cheered.
She even danced while brushing her
teeth.
After breakfast, she visited her
friends to invite them to play.
“Come outside!” she said to Benny
the Beetle.
“It’s still muddy,” Benny grumbled.
“I’m too cozy.”
“Let’s play inside!” Mia suggested.
“Moving can happen anywhere!”
So they turned the living room into
a jungle gym.
They made a pillow path to hop
across, a box tunnel to crawl through, and a balancing beam from rolled towels.
Clio the Clam clapped along while
Mia did ten hula-hoop turns in a row.
“Mia’s got her bounce back!” Clio
said with a giggle.
“I’m not stopping again!” Mia
beamed.
At school the next day, Mia told her
teacher, Miss Parrot, about her indoor adventures.
Miss Parrot smiled and nodded. “Mia,
you’ve discovered something very important—being active isn’t about having
perfect weather. It’s about having the will to move.”
She gave Mia a gold star with the
words “Mighty Monkey” on it.
Mia wore it proudly on her vest.
As the days warmed, Mia’s activity
soared.
She jumped rope with jungle vines.
She climbed the tallest trees again
and did flips into the pond with her friends.
She helped her mom carry baskets and
even ran errands through the forest paths.
One afternoon, she noticed Benny out
of breath after running just a little.
“Are you okay?” Mia asked.
“I don’t move much,” Benny said
sadly. “I guess I got used to being lazy.”
Mia smiled and handed him a jump
rope.
“Start small,” she said. “One jump
today. Two tomorrow. You’ll feel stronger every day.”
Benny tried—and tripped!
But Mia helped him up. “That’s okay!
Just don’t stop.”
She encouraged all her friends:
“Climb trees with me!”
“Dance while we wait in line!”
“Let’s stretch before class!”
They groaned at first… then giggled…
then cheered.
Miss Parrot announced, “Mia has
started a movement!”
Everyone laughed and clapped.
That weekend, Mia helped organize
the first-ever Jungle Fit Festival.
They set up stations around the
clearing:
- Banana Ball Toss
- Log Jump Challenge
- Fruit-and-Veggie Relay
- Leaf Dance-Off
- Healthy Snack Tent
Mia made sure to thank every animal
who participated.
“Whether you moved a little or a
lot, you made your body happy!” she said.
That night, Mia sat on her branch
swing under the stars.
She looked at the note from her mom
again:
“Strong body, happy heart, move a
little, make a start!”
She smiled. “Every day is a chance
to move, feel good, and try my best.”
She curled up in her hammock,
feeling proud—and just the right kind of tired.
From that day on, Mia never let a
rainy day or a lazy feeling keep her from moving again.
Because she knew the truth:
Your body is a gift, and moving it is
one of the best ways to say thank you.
Moral
Poem to End the Story:
Play inside or run outside,
Climb or stretch or dance with pride.
A moving body, strong and free—
Is the best that you can be!
About the Author
Bill Conley is a dedicated storyteller, life coach, and faith-filled guide whose heartfelt children’s stories have brought smiles and timeless lessons to families everywhere. As the author of hundreds of moral-rich tales, Bill believes in planting seeds of kindness, gratitude, responsibility, and faith in the hearts of children while they’re young. His signature style weaves simple yet powerful truths into colorful adventures with animal heroes, each story crafted to teach values that last a lifetime.
Bill’s passion for writing comes from his own journey, years of experience as a father, grandfather, mentor, and devoted husband. He understands that children need stories that do more than entertain; they need stories that shape character, spark imagination, and open conversations between parents and kids.
Whether he’s writing about a brave little beaver, a wise turtle, a fast cheetah, or a gentle cloud that forgets how to rain, Bill pours his love for faith, family, and old-fashioned values into every word. He knows that small lessons today become big strengths tomorrow.
In addition to his books, Bill is a certified life coach who has helped countless people build stronger relationships, grow in faith, and navigate life’s storms with confidence and hope. His words encourage children and grown-ups alike to be kind, stay positive, honor commitments, and always believe they are enough.
When he’s not writing, Bill enjoys spending time with his three daughters and two grandchildren, sharing laughter and lessons across generations. He also finds joy in serving his church and community, living out the very values he writes about so passionately.
Bill Conley’s greatest hope is that every story will help families build warm memories together—reading aloud, asking questions, and inspiring children to grow into caring, courageous, and thoughtful adults.
He invites you to keep reading, keep talking, and keep believing that the smallest good things we do can change the world for the better.
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