Some think he is nosy, but really, he is ina state of utter amazement at the world. He suggests new designs for the beavers’ dams, imitates the blue herons’ one-legged stance as they spear minnows, and squawks in glee at the sight of the bears emerging from hibernation. When he sees an eagle soaring high in the sky, he tries to soar just as high, in order to earn the other animals’ respect—only to learn that respect is not something one earns, but something one carries.