A Very Curious Tiger
In the middle of the bright green jungle lived a young tiger named Tommy. Tommy had soft orange fur, white whiskers that wiggled when he laughed, and round golden eyes full of wonder.
Unlike other tigers, Tommy didn’t care much for chasing or pouncing. He loved something else entirely – balloons!
He’d seen his very first balloon at the jungle fair. It had been red and shiny, floating gently above a cart of sweet jungle fruit. The moment Tommy saw it bobbing in the breeze, his heart lifted too.
From that day on, Tommy dreamed about balloons – big ones, tiny ones, balloons shaped like stars, and even ones shaped like elephants.
The Balloon Hunt
Every morning, Tommy trotted through the jungle, hoping to find a stray balloon caught in the trees. Sometimes he found leaves shaped like ovals and pretended they were balloons.
One sunny day, he found a crinkled bit of string tangled on a vine. He sniffed it hopefully. “Hmm. No balloon. Just string.”
The monkeys swung by overhead. “What are you doing, Tommy?” they chattered.
“Looking for balloons,” he said, gazing at the sky.
The monkeys giggled. “Balloons don’t grow in the jungle!”
Tommy just smiled. “Maybe not yet.”
The Birthday Surprise
One afternoon, Tommy heard drumming and laughter echoing through the trees. Curious, he padded toward the sound and found all his jungle friends gathered in a clearing.
It was Ella the Elephant’s birthday party! There were fruit cakes, dancing parrots, and a band of drumming frogs.
And best of all… balloons!
Dozens of them floated from vines – yellow, pink, blue, and gold. They shimmered like bubbles in the sun.
Tommy’s whiskers twitched with delight. He bounded over. “They’re beautiful!”
Ella smiled. “Would you like one?”
“Oh yes, please,” Tommy breathed.
She handed him a bright blue balloon. Tommy held the string gently between his teeth and stared in wonder as it bobbed above his head.
A Flying Adventure
Tommy played with the balloon all afternoon. He ran in happy circles as it bounced behind him. He even tried to teach it to roar. (It squeaked instead, which made him giggle.)
But as the party ended and the sun sank low, a breeze whooshed through the clearing. Tommy’s balloon tugged hard on its string – whoosh! – and lifted him right off the ground!
“Whoa!” cried Tommy as his paws dangled. The monkeys squealed, the parrots cheered, and Ella lifted her trunk in surprise.
Up, up, up floated Tommy, the balloon carrying him high above the jungle trees.
The wind rushed past his ears, but he wasn’t scared. He gazed down at the sparkling river, the glowing flowers, and his friends waving far below.
“This is the best balloon of all,” he whispered.
Back to Earth
At last, the breeze softened. The balloon drifted lower and lower until Tommy’s paws brushed the soft grass near his favorite mango tree.
With a gentle pop, the balloon finally burst. The pieces fluttered down like confetti. Tommy blinked, then rolled onto his back and laughed until his whiskers tickled the sky.
His friends hurried over. “Tommy! That was amazing!”
“It was,” Tommy grinned. “I think balloons are made of happiness.”
Balloons for Everyone
The next morning, Tommy trotted to the jungle fair with a pouch of shiny river stones. He traded them for a bundle of colorful balloons.
He carried them carefully back to the clearing and tied them to the trees, one for each of his friends.
The monkeys got purple ones, the parrots got yellow, Ella got a giant pink balloon shaped like a heart – and Tommy, of course, kept a bright blue one for himself.
As the balloons danced in the breeze, everyone laughed and played. The jungle had never felt so bright.
From that day on, whenever a breeze rustled the leaves, the balloons would bob and bounce – and Tommy’s heart would bounce right along with them.
The End.
If your little one loves learning about real tigers, visit National Geographic Kids: Tiger Facts.
Want another joyful jungle tale? Try The Panda Who Loved Noodles, a sweet story about curiosity and friendship.
✨ Make bedtime feel extra cozy — visit our Bedtime Shop for glowing nightlights, cuddly plush friends, and enchanting storybooks that help little dreamers drift off with a smile.
