Leo the Lizard Learns to Share - A Children's Story

 Leo the Lizard Learns to Share

By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral of the Story:
Sharing spreads joy, builds friendship, and fills hearts with happiness. When we share what we have, we give others a piece of our kindness. True friendship grows when we care more about giving than getting. A generous heart always has enough because love multiplies when shared. The smallest act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s day. We don’t lose anything by sharing; instead, we gain smiles, laughter, and love. When we share, we remind others that they are special and not forgotten. Giving makes life brighter—for everyone.

In the sunny desert valley where the cacti stood tall and the sand shimmered gold, lived Leo the Lizard, a bright green fellow with quick feet and a cheerful grin. Leo loved the desert sunshine, loved chasing beetles, and most of all, loved his collection of shiny pebbles.

He had gathered them from all over the desert: smooth red ones from the canyon, tiny white ones from the riverbed, and glittering gold ones that sparkled in the sun. Leo kept them neatly in a hollow log outside his burrow and called it Leo’s Treasure Chest.

One morning, Leo’s friends, Tara the Tortoise, Benny the Bunny, and Sally the Snake, came by to play. “Hi, Leo!” Tara called. “We’re going to build sandcastles by the big rock. Want to come?”

Leo peeked out from behind his treasure chest. “Maybe later,” he said. “I’m polishing my pebbles today. They’re too special to leave.”

Benny hopped closer and gasped. “Wow, Leo! You have so many shiny pebbles! Can I hold one?”
Leo frowned. “No, Benny. They’re mine. What if you drop it?”

Sally slithered up beside him. “Can I borrow just one to decorate my nest? I’ll bring it right back!”
Leo shook his head firmly. “No, sorry. I collected everyone myself. I don’t share my treasures.”

The friends looked disappointed. “That’s okay,” Tara said gently. “We’ll see you later.” And off they went, leaving Leo alone with his log of pebbles.

At first, he felt proud. “They’re my collection,” he told himself. “I worked hard for these.” But as the day went on, the desert felt unusually quiet. He could hear his friends laughing in the distance. He peeked toward the big rock; they were building a huge sandcastle together.

Leo sighed. “It does look fun,” he admitted.

The next day, something unexpected happened. A big wind swept through the valley, scattering sand and dust everywhere. When it settled, Leo hurried outside, only to find that half of his pebbles were gone! The wind had blown them far across the dunes.

“Oh no!” he cried, running from one end of the valley to the other, searching under every cactus and behind every rock. But he could only find a few. His heart sank. “My collection… It’s ruined.”

Tired and sad, he sat by his log, staring at the few pebbles left. Just then, he heard a familiar voice. “Hey Leo!”

It was Tara, Benny, and Sally. They were carrying something shiny. “We found some of your pebbles!” Benny said excitedly. “They blew into our sandcastle, and we thought you’d want them back.”

Leo blinked in surprise. “You… you found them for me?”
“Of course,” said Tara. “That’s what friends do.”

Leo’s eyes softened. “Thank you. I was so worried about losing them.”

Sally smiled. “We know how much they mean to you.”

Leo looked at the pebbles in their hands, then at the laughter in their eyes. Something warm filled his heart. “You know what?” he said softly. “These aren’t as special when I keep them all to myself. You helped me today. Would you like to share my collection?”

Benny’s ears perked up. “Really?”
Leo nodded. “You can each take some home. And maybe we can make something together!”

The friends cheered. They sat around the log and picked out their favorites. Tara chose smooth, round ones to decorate her shell. Sally picked shiny white pebbles for her nest. Benny used small golden ones to line the path to his burrow.

When they finished, Leo smiled. “Let’s use the rest to build something together.”

So they built a big circle of stones in the sand, shaping it into a gleaming heart. The sun caught the pebbles and made them sparkle like stars.

“Look at that,” said Tara. “A friendship heart.”
Benny grinned. “It’s the most beautiful thing in the desert.”

Leo felt happier than he had in a long time. His treasure was no longer hidden; it was shared. And that made it shine brighter than ever before.

From that day on, Leo still collected pebbles, but not to keep. He shared them with anyone who needed a smile. When a friend felt sad, he would say, “Here, take one of my treasures. It’s better when we enjoy it together.”

The desert animals began calling him Leo the Sharing Lizard, and every evening, when the sun turned the sand gold, Leo would look at the heart-shaped circle of pebbles and smile. He finally understood that real treasure isn’t what you keep—it’s what you give.

Poem:
Sharing joy makes hearts take flight,
And turns the dark to golden light.
When treasures small are freely shared,
It shows the world you truly cared.
A gift of kindness starts a chain.
Of love that circles back again.
For giving makes the spirit grow,
And fills the heart with warmth and glow.

Discussion Questions:

1.     Why was it hard for Leo to share his pebbles at first, and how did he change by the end of the story?

2.     What did Leo learn about friendship and giving?

3.     How can we share kindness and joy with others, even if we have only a little to give?