So Say The Little Monkeys

A Brazilian Folktale Retold by Gale Sypher.

- Gale Sypher Jacob

Deep in the rain forest, little squirrel monkeys live in the palm trees along the Amazon River. When the sun shines, the monkeys chee-chee-chatter away. Using their long tails for balance, they leap from tree to tree. The palms sparkle with flashes of the monkeys’ olive, white, and orange fur.

When the sun shines, the monkeys pick acai and guava fruits and eat until juice drips from their little mouths. Young and old, the monkeys spend a warm, happy day playing.

But when the sun goes down and— whisk-whirr—a cool wind blows, the monkeys huddle together in the trees with their long tails wrapped around their arms for warmth.

And when —splattery-splash—the rain falls, the monkeys huddle closer and talk about tomorrow.

“Tomorrow we can build houses,” says one.

“Walls will keep the wind out,” says a second.