The Two Rats, the Fox, and the Egg
Two rats outsmart a sly fox and safely enjoy a large egg by working together creatively.
Once upon a time, on a busy farm, two rats were looking for food. They were excited when they found a big, shiny egg in the straw. It looked like a perfect meal for them!
The two friends were very happy. They danced around the egg, thinking about the delicious food they would eat. Just as they were about to crack the egg open, they saw someone coming. It was Sir Pullet, the clever fox, known for stealing food.
The rats were scared. How could they keep their egg safe from the sly fox? They couldn't carry the egg because it was too big and heavy. And there was no place to hide it quickly.
One rat had an idea. "Quick," he said, "lie on your back and hold the egg on your belly!" The other rat did as he was told, lying down and balancing the egg carefully.
Then, the first rat grabbed his friend's tail and started to pull. It was hard work. The ground was rough, and every bump made the egg wobble. But the rat kept pulling, dragging his friend and the egg across the field, away from the fox.
Sir Pullet watched, confused. He slowed down to see what was happening. The sight of the rats pulling the egg was so strange and funny that he started to laugh, forgetting to chase them.
By the time the fox stopped laughing, the rats had escaped into a burrow with their egg. Sir Pullet shook his head and laughed again. "Those clever rats," he said, "they know how to work together."
The two rats enjoyed their egg without any more trouble, thanks to their smart idea and teamwork.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, on a busy farm, two rats were looking for food.
They were excited when they found a big, shiny egg in the straw.
It looked like a perfect meal for them!
The two friends were very happy.
They danced around the egg, thinking about the delicious food they would eat.
Just as they were about to crack the egg open, they saw someone coming.
It was Sir Pullet, the clever fox, known for stealing food.
The rats were scared.
How could they keep their egg safe from the sly fox?
They couldn't carry the egg because it was too big and heavy.
And there was no place to hide it quickly.
One rat had an idea.
"Quick," he said, "lie on your back and hold the egg on your belly!"
The other rat did as he was told, lying down and balancing the egg carefully.
Then, the first rat grabbed his friend's tail and started to pull.
It was hard work.
The ground was rough, and every bump made the egg wobble.
But the rat kept pulling, dragging his friend and the egg across the field, away from the fox.
Sir Pullet watched, confused.
He slowed down to see what was happening.
The sight of the rats pulling the egg was so strange and funny that he started to laugh, forgetting to chase them.
By the time the fox stopped laughing, the rats had escaped into a burrow with their egg.
Sir Pullet shook his head and laughed again.
"Those clever rats," he said, "they know how to work together."
The two rats enjoyed their egg without any more trouble, thanks to their smart idea and teamwork.
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Word Finder
Excited
Feeling very happy and enthusiastic.Delicious
Tasting very good or yummy.Crack
Break something open into pieces.Sly
Clever in a tricky, sneaky way.Balancing
Keeping something steady, not falling.Wobble
Move from side to side unsteadily.Dragging
Pulling something with effort.Burrow
A hole or tunnel made by an animal.Escaped
Got away from danger or something bad.Teamwork
Working together to achieve a goal.
Understanding Questions
- What did the rats find in the straw on the farm?
- Why did the rats become scared when they saw the fox?
- What idea did one of the rats come up with to save the egg from the fox?
- How did the rats manage to carry the egg across the field?
- What was the fox’s reaction when he saw the rats pulling the egg, and what happened as a result?
Reflection Questions
- How did the rats feel when they first found the big, shiny egg?
- What clever idea did one of the rats come up with to keep the egg safe from the fox?
- How did the rats use teamwork to keep the egg safe from the fox?
- Can you think of a time when working together with someone helped you solve a problem?
- What does this story teach us about the importance of cooperation and quick thinking?
Fable Quotes
"Many hands make light work."
"A clever mind solves difficult problems with simple solutions."
"Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance."
Just One More Fable
- Appreciation
- Survival
The Stag and His Antlers
A deer admired his antlers and disliked his legs, but legs saved him while antlers trapped him, leading to his demise.
- Patience
- Greed
Anansi Goes Fishing
Anansi, a mischievous spider, tricks Brother Turtle to catch fish for him but learns the value of hard work in the end.
- Responsibility
- Problem-Solving
The Farmer and The Fox
A farmer catches a fox that destroyed his crops, but in his anger, he sets it on fire, leading to disastrous consequences and regret.
- Perseverance
- Consequences
The Little Red Hen
A little red hen makes bread alone after her friends refuse to help, then eats it without them.