1. The Lion And The Mouse
Once upon a time, in a vast jungle, a mighty lion was taking a nap under a big tree. A tiny mouse, scurrying around in search of food, accidentally ran across the lion’s paw. The lion woke up with a roar and trapped the mouse with his huge paw. “Please let me go,” squeaked the mouse. “Someday I will help you in return.” The lion laughed at the idea of the tiny mouse helping him but decided to let it go.
A few days later, the lion got caught in a hunter’s net. He roared and roared, trying to free himself. The little mouse heard the lion’s roars and rushed to help. The mouse started gnawing at the ropes with its sharp teeth, and soon, the lion was free. The lion realized that even a small friend can be a great help and thanked the mouse. From that day on, they became the best of friends.
Moral: Even small acts of kindness can be rewarding.
2. The Tortoise And The Hare
In a lush green forest, a speedy hare was always boasting about his swiftness. “I am the fastest animal in the forest,” he would say. Tired of his arrogance, a slow-moving tortoise challenged the hare to a race. The hare, thinking it was a joke, agreed and laughed, “This will be the easiest race ever.”
On the day of the race, all the forest animals gathered to watch. As soon as the race started, the hare zoomed ahead, leaving the tortoise far behind. Confident of his victory, the hare decided to take a nap under a tree. Meanwhile, the tortoise kept walking slowly but steadily, passing the sleeping hare. When the hare woke up, he saw the tortoise near the finish line. The hare dashed as fast as he could, but it was too late. The tortoise crossed the finish line first. All the animals cheered, and the hare learned an important lesson.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.
3. The Thirsty Crow
On a hot summer day, a thirsty crow was flying around in search of water. After a long search, the crow spotted a pitcher with a little bit of water at the bottom. The crow tried to reach the water but couldn’t because the pitcher was too tall. The clever crow then thought of a plan. It started picking up small pebbles and dropping them into the pitcher. With each pebble, the water level rose a little higher. Soon, the water was high enough for the crow to drink. The crow happily drank the water and flew away, feeling refreshed.
Moral: Necessity is the mother of invention.
4. The Fox And The Grapes
One day, a hungry fox was wandering through a vineyard. He saw a bunch of juicy grapes hanging from a high vine. His mouth watered, and he jumped to reach the grapes, but they were too high. He tried again and again, but he just couldn’t reach them. Finally, the fox gave up and walked away, muttering, “Those grapes are probably sour anyway.” The fox consoled himself by believing the grapes were not worth the effort.
Moral: It’s easy to despise what you cannot have.
5. The Goose That Laid The Golden Eggs
A poor farmer had a goose that laid a golden egg every day. The farmer and his wife were very happy, but they became greedy. They thought that if the goose could lay golden eggs, it must have a lot of gold inside. They decided to kill the goose to get all the gold at once. But when they cut the goose open, they found it was just like any other goose. They had lost the goose that gave them golden eggs every day.
Moral: Greed can lead to loss.
6. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
A young shepherd boy was bored watching his flock of sheep on the hillside. To amuse himself, he cried out, “Wolf! Wolf!” The villagers came running to help, only to find the boy laughing at them. He did this several times, and the villagers grew tired of his tricks. One day, a real wolf came, and the boy cried out for help. But the villagers thought he was playing another trick and didn’t come. The wolf attacked the flock, and the boy learned a hard lesson.
Moral: Liars are not believed even when they tell the truth.
7. The Ant And The Grasshopper
In a field one summer’s day, a grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An ant passed by, carrying an ear of corn to its nest. “Why not come and chat with me,” said the grasshopper, “instead of working so hard?” “I am storing food for the winter,” said the ant, “and I recommend you do the same.” The grasshopper ignored the advice and continued to sing. When winter came, the grasshopper had no food and was starving, while the ant had plenty.
Moral: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
8. The Town Mouse And The Country Mouse
A town mouse visited his cousin in the country. The country mouse offered him a simple meal of barley and roots, but the town mouse boasted of the fine dining in the city. The country mouse visited the town and saw the splendid food but also the dangers, like traps and cats. Frightened, the country mouse decided he preferred his simple, safe life in the countryside.
Moral: Better a simple life in peace than a luxurious life in constant danger.
9. The Three Little Pigs
Three little pigs set out to build their homes. The first pig built his house out of straw, the second out of sticks, and the third out of bricks. A big bad wolf came along and blew down the straw and stick houses, but he couldn’t blow down the brick house. The third pig’s strong house saved them all.
Moral: Hard work and perseverance pay off.
10. The Ugly Duckling
A duckling was born in a barnyard and looked different from his siblings. They mocked him for being ugly. Feeling lonely, he wandered away and grew up in a swamp. One day, he saw a group of beautiful swans and wished to join them. To his surprise, he realized he had grown into a beautiful swan. He joined the swans and lived happily ever after.
Moral: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and true beauty comes from within.