A Friendship Forever

Written by Jeannine Bernardi

Il lustrated by Rob Hay

The morning sun is rising high,

lighting up the African sky.

The forest welcomes a brand new day,

inviting its creatures to wake up and play.

Among the trees

are lots of nests,

where chimpanzees sleep

to get their rest.

A chimp

named Ayo

does not

delay—he

springs to his

feet, ready

to play.

A chimp

named Ayo

does not

delay—he

springs to his

feet, ready

to play.

He scampers to a nearby tree,

where his best friend, Neo,

is still catching zzz’s.

Poking, patting, bending an ear—

it’s Ayo’s way of saying, “Wake up, I’m here!”

Neo opens his big, brown eyes,

ready for the day’s surprise.