The Raven and the Goose
A stubborn raven upset a goose while being painted, leading the goose to cover the raven entirely in black.
A long time ago, all the birds were getting their colors and patterns. Back then, the raven and the goose were both plain and gray. One day, they met and decided to help each other.
“Let’s paint each other,” said the raven. “That way, we’ll both look beautiful!”
The raven started first. He carefully painted the goose black but left lovely white spots and patterns. When the goose looked at herself, she was delighted.
“Wow! This looks amazing! Thank you, Raven!” she said.
Now it was the goose’s turn. She began painting the raven with the same beautiful pattern she had. But as she painted, the raven frowned.
“This is ugly!” he shouted. “I don’t like it at all! Make me look different!”
The goose paused and took a deep breath. “If you don’t like what I’m doing, then fine,” she said. And with one big splash, she painted the raven all black, from head to toe.
The raven looked in surprise. The goose said, “Sometimes, if you’re too picky or ungrateful, you might miss out on something wonderful.”
And that’s why the raven is all black to this day.
Audio available for B1 version
A long time ago, all the birds were getting their colors and patterns.
Back then, the raven and the goose were both plain and gray.
One day, they met and decided to help each other.
“Let’s paint each other,” said the raven.
“That way, we’ll both look beautiful!”
The raven started first.
He carefully painted the goose black but left lovely white spots and patterns.
When the goose looked at herself, she was delighted.
“Wow!
This looks amazing!
Thank you, Raven!” she said.
Now it was the goose’s turn.
She began painting the raven with the same beautiful pattern she had.
But as she painted, the raven frowned.
“This is ugly!” he shouted.
“I don’t like it at all!
Make me look different!”
The goose paused and took a deep breath.
“If you don’t like what I’m doing, then fine,” she said.
And with one big splash, she painted the raven all black, from head to toe.
The raven looked in surprise.
The goose said, “Sometimes, if you’re too picky or ungrateful, you might miss out on something wonderful.”
And that’s why the raven is all black to this day.
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Word Finder
Patterns:
Shapes or designs that repeat in a special way.Carefully:
Doing something slowly and with much attention.Delighted:
Feeling very happy or excited about something.Ugly:
Not pretty; something that looks bad or unpleasant.Shouted:
Spoke very loudly because of anger or excitement.Different:
Not the same; something that is unlike another.Paused:
Stopped for a short time before continuing again.Picky:
Hard to please and wanting things a certain way.Ungrateful:
Not showing thanks for what someone gives or does.Wonderful:
Very good, amazing, or something that brings joy.
Understanding Questions
- What did the raven and the goose decide to do to make themselves look beautiful?
- How did the goose feel when she saw the patterns the raven painted on her?
- Why did the raven not like the pattern the goose was painting on him?
- What did the goose do after the raven complained about her painting?
- Why is the raven all black at the end of the story?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the raven didn’t like the pattern the goose was painting on him?
- How do you think the goose felt when the raven complained about her work?
- What lesson can we learn from the goose’s words: “If you’re too picky or ungrateful, you might miss out on something wonderful”?
- Can you think of a time when being too picky or ungrateful made you miss out on something nice?
- Why is it important to appreciate what others do for us, even if it’s not exactly what we expect?
Fable Quotes
The more you appreciate, the more beauty you see.
Gratitude turns what we have into enough.
To respect another's effort is to enrich your own soul.
Just One More Fable
- Trust
- Wisdom
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- Strength
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The Geese and The Cranes
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