Read Along: Sammy Squirrel and the Lost Acorn

Sammy the red squirrel was usually the happiest jumper in the forest canopy. But on this cool twilight evening, Sammy was racing up and down tree trunks in a dizzying whirlwind of panic.

"It's gone! It's completely gone!" chatter-squeaked Sammy, clutching his paws to his cheeks. "My giant golden acorn—the smoothest, shiniest acorn in the whole valley! I put it somewhere safe, but now I can't remember where!"

He dashed under roots, kicked through pine needles, spun around five times, and darted right into Barnaby Bear's big, furry foot.

Barnaby gently reached down and scooped up the trembling little squirrel. "Easy there, little friend. If you keep running in circles, your feet will get tired and your head will keep spinning like a top."

"But Barnaby, I have to find it right this second before bedtime!" cried Sammy, his bushy tail twitching with worry.

High on the branch above, Oliver Owl blinked his wise amber eyes. "Sammy, when you throw pebbles into the creek, does the water look clear, or does it become muddy with ripples?"

"It gets muddy and cloudy," sniffled Sammy.

"Exactly," said Oliver softly. "Your mind is like that water right now. You are splashing around in such a hurry that you cannot see the pebbles at the bottom. Sit down with us in the soft moss, close your eyes, and let the water become still."

Barnaby held Sammy close, and together the three friends took three slow, deep, gentle breaths. In through the nose... and out through the mouth. With each breath, the cool evening air calmed Sammy's racing heart.

In the peaceful stillness, Sammy's mind cleared like a sparkling glass of spring water. Suddenly, a clear, sweet picture popped into his head!

"I remember!" whispered Sammy with a happy grin. "I didn't bury it in the dirt—I tucked it inside the hollow knots of the birch tree beside the bluebell patch!"

Sammy scampered calmly to the birch tree, and sure enough, there was his smooth golden acorn, resting safely in the bark. Sammy tucked it under his arm, climbed into his nest of moss, and gave a joyful little sigh of relief.

With a still, peaceful mind, Sammy curled his bushy tail around his nose and drifted into the sweetest, calmest sleep.