Bella the Bunny Braves the Storm
By Bill Conley, America’s Favorite
Children’s Storyteller
Moral
to the Story:
Storms can feel scary with loud
thunder and bright lightning, but they are not here to hurt you. When children hear the booms and crashes, it is normal to feel afraid, but fear
can be replaced with courage. Mom and Dad will always protect you and keep you safe inside. Thunder is only the sound of clouds bumping together, and lightning is just a
bright flash of light in the sky. Rain waters the earth, helping flowers, trees, and animals grow. When you learn what storms really are, they become less frightening and more
amazing. Being brave during a storm helps you grow strong and confident inside. And soon, storms that once brought fear can bring wonder, peace, and joy.
In the meadow, Bella the Bunny
was hopping happily when dark clouds began to roll in. The wind picked up, the
sky rumbled, and a flash of lightning lit the sky.
Bella froze. “Oh no!” she whispered,
her ears trembling. “What is happening?”
A giant BOOM of thunder
followed, and Bella dashed into her burrow, shaking. She pulled a blanket over
her head. “I don’t like storms! They’re too loud, too scary!”
Mama Bunny hopped over and wrapped
Bella in her soft arms. “Oh, sweetheart, I know storms sound scary. But you
don’t need to be afraid. You are safe here with me.”
“But Mama,” Bella whimpered, “what
if the thunder breaks our house? What if the lightning comes inside?”
Mama smiled gently. “Thunder is just
clouds bumping together, making a big noise. And lightning is just a flash of
light in the sky; it cannot come into our safe burrow. And see? Our home is
strong and warm. We are safe.”
Papa Bunny came in, carrying a
lantern. “Bella, let me tell you a secret: storms are nature’s way of watering
the earth. The rain helps the grass grow tall, the flowers bloom, and the
carrots we love so much to sprout.”
Bella peeked out from her blanket.
“Really?”
“Really,” Papa nodded. “Without
storms, we wouldn’t have fresh food or beautiful flowers.”
The thunder boomed again. Bella’s
ears flattened, but Mama whispered, “When you feel afraid, try three things.”
“First, take three deep breaths,”
Mama said, breathing in slowly and out gently. Bella copied her. One. Two.
Three. Her heart slowed.
“Second, hold my paw or Papa’s paw.
Remember, you are never alone.” Bella grabbed both their paws and felt safer.
“And third, listen to the storm like
it’s a song. Each raindrop is a drum, each thunder is a beat, and the wind is a
whistle.”
Bella tilted her head. She listened.
Raindrops tapped on the roof. Boom-boom went the thunder. Whoosh sang the wind.
“It’s… kind of like music,” Bella
admitted.
To help, Papa lit the lantern and
read Bella a story while the storm played its background song. Bella began to
relax.
When another loud boom came, Bella
still jumped, but this time she whispered to herself, “It’s just clouds bumping.
I am safe.”
After a while, Bella grew curious.
She peeked outside. The rain poured down, splashing the flowers. The trees
danced in the wind. Lightning lit up the sky like fireworks.
“It’s… beautiful,” Bella whispered.
Mama hugged her close. “See, my
brave bunny? When we understand what storms are, we don’t have to fear them.”
From then on, whenever the clouds
gathered and thunder rumbled, Bella remembered: storms weren’t here to scare
her, they were here to help the earth grow. And most of all, she knew she was
safe, loved, and brave.
Moral
to the story poem:
Thunder booms and lightning shines,
But safe at home, our hearts align.
Rain brings life to grass and trees,
It feeds the flowers, birds, and bees.
Fear can fade when the truth we know,
Storms help the earth to bloom and grow.
With love and courage, we stand tall,
Safe in our home, through it all.
Discussion
Questions:
1.
Why was Bella afraid of the thunder
and lightning at first?
2.
What did Mama and Papa Bunny teach
Bella about storms that helped her feel safe?
3.
What can you do the next time you
feel afraid during a storm?
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