Why Acorns Ring Softly — Under the oak, a tap-tap-tap tickled Tovie’s shell. She wanted to answer it, but the crack was narrow and the nest smelled of green grass and muddy twigs. Read the full story →
Under the oak, a tap-tap-tap tickled Tovie’s shell. She wanted to answer it, but the crack was narrow and the nest smelled of green grass and muddy twigs. Tovie pushed once. The shell squeaked. She pushed again. A cool breeze slipped in, carrying buttercup smell and a whisper from above.
“Who’s tapping?” Tovie peeped.
No bird answered. Tovie looked up and saw two acorns swinging where nobody had thought to look. Inside the smallest cap was a silver seed-bell, no bigger than a raindrop. Tovie tapped her beak to the shell: tink! The bell rang back: tink! Ever since that first brave peck, oak acorns have rung softly in spring wind, if you listen under the flowers.
