The Story of Tasoo

Long ago, a tiny bird flew through an enormous forest. The little bird’s name was Tasoo. As he flew his bright eyes saw monkeys jumping in the trees and his little ears heard butterflies on the wing.

In the sky above Tasoo the sun was blazing down fiery and hot. Below him on the forest floor the dry grass was beginning to smoulder. Wind blew onto the grass and soon the glowing grasses burst into fire. Before long the whole forest was ablaze. All the animals from the largest elephant to the tiniest mouse ran and galloped away to save their skins. Above them the birds soared high into the air to save their feathers.

All except Tasoo. His little eyes went red with determination and he flew down through the flames to the river. Filling his tiny beak with water, he flew, back and forth, back and forth, and drops of water dripped onto the roaring furnace. On and on he flew, until his tiny wings were burnt and singed again and again. It seemed impossible that he had the strength to keep flying, yet he did.

High above, sitting on their silver clouds, all the gods peered down on him. Rubbing their eyes in disbelief, they saw this tiny heart of courage. Drop by drop all the gods began to cry. From their tears the rain poured as if gigantic buckets were being emptied down onto the forest and the fire was quenched.

Little Tasoo sat on a branch, dripping wet. Around him the animals and birds returned to the forest. Tasoo felt so happy he did what birds do. He began to sing.

This is an excerpt from The Natural Storyteller by Georgiana Keable.

‘The book is life affirming. All of its stories are about taking delight in creation. It is a journey into storytelling as well as story.’ —Hugh Lupton, award-winning Storyteller