### The Healing Power of Reaching for Leaves: A Coloring Story for Toddlers
Once upon a time, in a bright and bustling garden, there lived a little tree named Toby. Toby loved to stretch his branches towards the sun, reaching for the sky with all his might. But what Toby loved most was when his friends, the children, came to visit.
One sunny day, a little girl named Lily came into the garden. Lily felt sad and her smile was lost. She saw Toby and his beautiful green leaves shimmering in the sunlight. Toby wanted to help Lily find her smile again.
Toby whispered to Lily, “Hello, dear friend! Why don’t you reach for my leaves? They have a special power to make you feel happy!”
Lily looked up, her eyes wide with wonder. She reached up as high as she could, her fingers gently touching a bright green leaf. As she touched the leaf, she felt a warm, tingling sensation, like a hug from the sun.
Feeling brave and joyful, Lily picked up her crayons and began to draw and color the leaves. She used greens, yellows, and even some sparkly colors to make them shine. As she colored, her heart felt lighter, and a big, bright smile spread across her face.
Lily learned that day that reaching for leaves and coloring can heal your heart and bring happiness. The leaves had a magical way of making worries seem smaller and smiles grow bigger.
And from that day on, Lily would often visit Toby, reaching for leaves and coloring them with love and joy. She even shared her colorful leaves with her friends, spreading happiness and laughter throughout the garden.
### Coloring Activity
Now, it’s your turn to experience the magic! On the next page, you’ll find a picture of Toby the tree with lots of leaves. Reach out with your crayons and color the leaves any way you like. Remember, each leaf holds a little bit of magic to make you feel happy and peaceful.
As you color, think about how reaching for leaves and coloring them can be a special kind of healing, just like it was for Lily. Let your worries float away with each stroke of color and feel your heart fill with joy.
Happy coloring, little friends!
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This simple story introduces the concept of finding healing and happiness in nature and creative expression, tailored for the understanding and engagement of toddlers. The coloring activity encourages them to interact with the story and experience the healing power of nature and art in their own lives.