The Monkeys and Their Mother

A Monkey Mother favored one baby while neglecting the other, resulting in the pampered one's demise and the neglected one's growth and success.

Once upon a time in a deep, green forest, there lived a Monkey Mother with her two baby monkeys. She loved both her babies, but she gave more hugs and attention to one of them. This baby got all the best fruits and was always by the mother's side.

The other little monkey spent a lot of time alone. It learned to climb trees by itself, find yummy fruits to eat, and stay safe in the big forest.

As time went by, the baby monkey that was always cuddled and fed by the mother didn’t learn to do things by itself. It wasn’t strong enough to climb trees or find food. Sadly, it became very weak.

But the other monkey, who had to take care of itself, became very strong and smart. It could swing from branch to branch, find the sweetest fruits, and knew how to keep away from danger. This little monkey grew up to be very clever and brave because it learned to face challenges on its own.

A mother monkey cradling one baby close while the other clings on behind, neglected
Text Version
Levels B1

Audio available for B1 version

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Word Finder
  1. Mother

    A female parent who cares for children.
  2. Cuddled

    Held close in a warm, loving way.
  3. Alone

    Being by yourself without anyone else.
  4. Climb

    To go up or rise using hands and feet.
  5. Fruits

    Sweet and tasty foods that grow on trees.
  6. Weak

    Not strong; easily hurt or broken.
  7. Strong

    Having power or ability to do things.
  8. Smart

    Able to think quickly and solve problems.
  9. Swing

    To move back and forth or side to side.
  10. Challenges

    Difficult tasks that require effort to overcome.
Understanding Questions
  1. Why did the mother monkey give more attention to one of her babies?
  2. How did the other little monkey learn to climb trees and find food?
  3. What happened to the baby monkey that was always by the mother's side?
  4. How did the monkey that spent time alone become strong and smart?
  5. In what ways did the stronger monkey learn to keep away from danger in the forest?
Reflection Questions
  1. How did the two monkeys' lives differ because of the way their mother treated them?
  2. Why do you think the pampered monkey became weak despite having all the care?
  3. What skills did the neglected monkey learn because it had to take care of itself?
  4. What does this story tell us about the importance of facing challenges?
  5. Can you think of a time when you learned something important by doing it on your own, just like the neglected monkey did?
Fable Quotes

Adaptability is the key to survival and growth amidst life's challenges.

Challenges are but stepping stones on the path to growth.

Thriving requires taking charge of your own journey, even when others fail to fulfill their duty.

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