The Elephants and the Mice
Mice ask elephants to avoid trampling their homes, and later rescue them from the hunters' trap.
Once upon a time, in a village next to a bright lake, there was a group of happy mice. Every day, a group of big elephants came to the lake to drink and wash. When the elephants walked through the village, their big feet would sometimes break the homes of the small mice, causing a lot of damage.
One day, the smart leader of the mice decided to talk to the leader of the elephants about the problem. He asked the elephants to change their path so they wouldn't step on the mice's homes, and he promised to help the elephants if they ever needed it in the future. The elephant leader and his friends thought it was funny that such small animals could help them, but they agreed to change their path to be kind to the mice.
But soon, trouble came. The elephants got caught in a trap set by hunters while walking through the village. One elephant managed to get away and quickly went to ask the mouse leader for help.
The mouse leader quickly gathered all the mice, and they rushed to help the elephants. They worked hard, biting through the ropes of the trap with their sharp teeth. It was a tough job, but they didn't give up until all the elephants were free.
The leader of the elephants and his group were very surprised and thankful for the help they received from the small mice. They thanked the mouse leader for saving them.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, in a village next to a bright lake, there was a group of happy mice.
Every day, a group of big elephants came to the lake to drink and wash.
When the elephants walked through the village, their big feet would sometimes break the homes of the small mice, causing a lot of damage.
One day, the smart leader of the mice decided to talk to the leader of the elephants about the problem.
He asked the elephants to change their path so they wouldn't step on the mice's homes, and he promised to help the elephants if they ever needed it in the future.
The elephant leader and his friends thought it was funny that such small animals could help them, but they agreed to change their path to be kind to the mice.
But soon, trouble came.
The elephants got caught in a trap set by hunters while walking through the village.
One elephant managed to get away and quickly went to ask the mouse leader for help.
The mouse leader quickly gathered all the mice, and they rushed to help the elephants.
They worked hard, biting through the ropes of the trap with their sharp teeth.
It was a tough job, but they didn't give up until all the elephants were free.
The leader of the elephants and his group were very surprised and thankful for the help they received from the small mice.
They thanked the mouse leader for saving them.
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Word Finder
Village
A small group of houses and buildings.Elephants
Large, gray animals with big ears.Damage
Harm that makes something broken or unusable.Path
A way or track made for walking or moving.Promised
Said that you will definitely do something.Agreed
Said yes to a suggestion or idea.Hunters
People who catch or kill animals.Trap
A device for catching animals.Ropes
Strong, thick cords used for tying things.Thankful
Feeling or showing thanks or gratitude.
Understanding Questions
- What problem did the elephants cause when they walked through the village?
- What solution did the mouse leader suggest to the elephant leader?
- Why did the elephants agree to change their path despite finding the idea funny?
- What happened to the elephants while they were walking through the village one day?
- How did the mice help the elephants when they were caught in the trap?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the elephant king and his herd initially laughed at the idea of needing help from the mice?
- How did the mouse king feel when their homes were being destroyed, and what action did he take?
- What does the story tell us about judging others based on their size or appearance?
- Can you recall a time when you underestimated someone or something, and they surprised you with their abilities, just like the mice did with the elephants?
- The mice and elephants learned to cooperate and help each other despite their differences. How can we apply this lesson in our daily lives?
Fable Quotes
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the will to act in the face of it.
United in purpose, even the smallest creatures can achieve greatness through the power of teamwork.
Empathy bridges the gaps between species, allowing even the smallest to lend a helping hand.
Just One More Fable
- Equality
- Greed
The Wild Donkey and The Lion
Powerful lion proposes alliance to wild donkey, fox, and wolf for shared food, but lion takes all portions, leaving others empty-handed.
- Responsibility
- Consequences
The Dancing Monkeys
A group of talented monkeys in a forest village delighted people with their dancing, but their obsession with nuts ruined their performance.
- Authenticity
- Identity
The Painted Jackal
A jackal dyed blue pretends to be a peacock, but his failure to mimic one leads to rejection by his friends.
- Perception
- Adaptability
The One-Eyed Doe
A doe with one good eye stayed close to a cliff, feeling safe from harm, but was ultimately shot from an unexpected direction.