Ziggy the Zebra was trotting through the tall, green grass of the savanna. The sun was warm on his back. Suddenly, he spotted something bright and round hiding in the clover.

“What is this?” Ziggy wondered. He lowered his head and gave the yellow ball a tiny nudge with his nose. The ball moved just a little bit.

Ziggy giggled and pushed the ball again with his front hoof. On the flat grass, the ball moved slowly and steadily. It was fun to watch it go!

Ziggy rolled the ball toward a big, grassy hill. “I want to see what is at the very top!” he said. He positioned the ball at the bottom of the slope.

Ziggy began to push the ball up the hill. He huffed and he puffed, pressing his weight against the ball. Pushing the ball up the slope was very hard work!

Finally, Ziggy reached the very top of the hill. He took a deep breath and looked out over the savanna. “I did it!” he cheered, feeling very proud of his hard work.

Just then, his friend Gilly the Giraffe walked over. “Hello, Ziggy!” she called out with a smile. “What a wonderful, bright ball you have found!”

“Watch this, Gilly!” Ziggy said. He gave the ball a tiny tap with his hoof. Suddenly, the ball started to roll away from them, down the other side of the hill.

“Wheee!” the friends cried together. The ball rolled faster and faster down the hill. Rolling down the slope was much easier and much faster than pushing it up!

When the ball reached the bottom, it slowed down on the flat ground. Ziggy and Gilly took turns passing the ball back and forth. They loved how it moved so smoothly.

The sky began to turn shades of orange and pink. The sun was going down behind the acacia trees. Ziggy and Gilly were tired but very happy after their long day.

They tucked the yellow ball safely into a patch of soft, tall grass so it wouldn't roll away. “Goodnight, ball,” they whispered. “We will play with you again tomorrow!”