If you could be an animal, which would you choose? Would you like to be a cheeky dusky leaf monkey swinging through the trees in a Malaysian rainforest? Or how about a dolphin, swimming happily in the sea?
There are so many different types of animals, and each one has its own special traits.
Bees, for example, are tiny but mighty creatures that work hard to make honey. Cows give us fresh milk, while fireflies light up the night with their magical glow.
Slow and steady, tortoise teaches us that taking our time can still get us to the finish line... and even win the race!
Now imagine this – what if you could pick an animal that matches your personality?
If you love climbing and exploring, maybe you’re like a monkey, always curious and full of energy.
If you enjoy helping others and working in a team, perhaps you're more like a bee, busy and hardworking.
Or if you're calm and love the water, you might be a dolphin, gliding smoothly through the waves.
In Malaysia, we are lucky to have amazing wildlife all around us – from colourful birds in the trees to playful animals in the jungle. Each one plays an important role in nature, just like each of us has our own strengths.
So, which animal would you be? Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, If I were an animal.
"I want to be a cheetah that gets to run and be a carnivore that eats only meat all day. I would be the fastest animal on land," says Jacob Lau, eight.
"If I were an animal, I want to be a crab because my name starts with the letter C and crab starts with the letter C. As a crab, I will play on the sand all day long," says Calum Lau, six.
"I move around by jumping and hopping on the grass. I sleep in small burrows near tall grass," says Ayra Nur Diandra, 11.
"If I were an animal, I want to be a seal. I eat fish, shellfish and also seaweed. My favourite food is shellfish. I like to swim around in the sea," writes Edith Yap Yu Ting, eight.
"I want to be a bee. The garden is full of colours – bright red roses, sunny yellow sunflowers and purple bougainvillea. I fly from flower to flower, gently landing and sipping sweet nectar.
"Mmm... delicious! As I collect it, I also help the flowers grow by spreading pollen. I feel proud knowing I’m helping nature," says Nur Ameera Mohd Khairul Nizam, 12.
Nine-year-old Fendi Yu Fei Ng writes: "If I were an animal, I would be a dog. I don't like to sleep. I like to play in the house and I am an active dog. I also like to play with my friend or strangers."
Kya Loo Qing Xin, 10, wants to be a furry cat. "I like to catch mice or other small animals. Sometimes, I eat cat food. I know about the herbs that can heal cats. My role in my cat clan is the leader. The leader can control the whole clan!"
Ariel Li Xin Yue, 10, wants to be a cat too. "I like to eat cat food. I also like to catch mice. I sleep during daytime, but I wake up in the evening."
"If I were an animal, I want to be a panda. I usually wake up in the morning. Sometimes, I wake up at night. I enjoy eating a lot of bamboo. I crawl around in the bamboo forest. I also like to roll around," says Tan Yu Xing, 10.
ITEM: If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Would you choose a sunny beach, a snowy mountain or a big exciting city? Write a few sentences about your dream place, what you would do there, and who would you go there with.
Email your contributions to lifestyle@thestar.com.my by May 15. Please put "STARCHILD: My favourite destination" in the subject line of your email.
Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.
Starchild: If I were an animal drawings
Nur Ameera Mohd Khairul Nizam, 12
Edith Yap Yu Ting, 10
Ariel Li Xin Xue, 10
Jacob Lau, 8
Tan Yu Xing, 10
Calum Lau, 6
Ayra Nur Diandra, 11
Kya Loo Qing Xin, 10
Fendi Yu Fei Ng, 9
Liang Fu, 11
