The Sloth Who Woke Up Just in Time – A Gentle Jungle Hero Story for Kids
Large text for little eyes.
High in the rainforest treetops lived a sloth named Simón. He loved three things: leaves, naps, and more naps. While the parrots squawked and monkeys leapt through the branches, Simón dozed peacefully, usually upside down.
Simón wasn’t lazy—just slow and thoughtful. He believed most things could wait until after a good nap. But the other animals sometimes laughed kindly and said,
“Simón will sleep right through the seasons!” One morning, while stretching his paws and blinking slowly at the sun, Simón heard something odd: a distant rumble and the sound of rustling leaves in the wrong direction.
A Warning on the Wind
The toucans flew by in a flurry. “The beaver dam’s breaking!” one cried. “The river’s rising!”
Simón’s eyes widened. His friends—Capy the capybara, Lana the jaguar cub, and the little frogs- lived down in the valley.
He looked at the water trickling down the branches. It wasn’t just a drip. It was a sign. He could nap later. Now, he had to move. Fast (well… fast for a sloth).
The Climb and the Call
Simón clambered down the trees as quickly as he could. It wasn’t graceful, and it wasn’t speedy, but it was determined.
He called out to every creature he saw:
“Get to high ground! The river’s coming!”
The animals paused. If Simón-the slowest sleeper in the jungle—was rushing, then something had to be wrong.
Capy herded the smaller animals to a rocky ledge. Lana pulled the frogs onto her back. Birds flapped up into the canopy. And just as the muddy waters surged through the valley, all the animals were safe—because Simón had woken up just in time.
A Hero in No Hurry
When the flood passed and the sun returned, the animals gathered around Simón.
“You saved us!” Capy squeaked. Simón blushed. “I just… woke up early.”
They all laughed and cheered. From that day on, Simón wasn’t just the sleepy sloth in the trees; he was the watchful one, the quiet hero who listened to the forest.
He still loved naps (a lot), but every now and then, he’d blink one eye open and make sure the world was still safe and dry. Because sometimes, the gentlest heroes move slowly…but right on time.
The End !
