The Lion and the Mouse

About This Story

"The Lion and the Mouse" is one of Aesop's most famous fables. It teaches children that kindness is never wasted and that even the smallest creatures can be of great help to those much bigger and stronger.

The Lion and the Mouse Story Illustration

Main Characters

The Lion

A mighty and powerful king of the jungle who initially believes his size and strength make him superior to smaller creatures.

The Mouse

A small but clever creature who proves that size doesn't determine one's ability to help others.

The Story

Scene 1: The Lion's Nap

Narrator: One hot day, a mighty lion was sleeping peacefully in the shade of a large tree. He was the king of the jungle, and all the animals respected and feared him.

Narrator: While the lion slept, a little mouse accidentally ran across his nose. The lion woke up with a start and caught the tiny mouse in his huge paw.

Lion:

"How dare you disturb my sleep! I am the king of the jungle, and you are just a tiny mouse. I shall eat you for this!"

Mouse:

"Please, Your Majesty, I did not mean to wake you. I was just passing by. Please spare my life! If you let me go, I promise I will help you someday."

Lion:

"You? Help me? How could a tiny creature like you ever help the king of the jungle? That's the funniest thing I've ever heard!"

The Lion's Decision

Narrator: But the lion was in a good mood, and the mouse's promise amused him.

Lion:

"Very well. I will let you go. But remember your promise."

Freedom

Narrator: The lion opened his paw, setting the mouse free. The mouse thanked the lion and quickly scurried away.

Scene 2: The Hunter's Trap

Narrator: A few days later, while the lion was hunting in the forest, he became caught in a hunter's net. The more he struggled, the more tangled he became. He roared in frustration, but couldn't free himself.

Narrator: The little mouse heard the lion's roars and recognized his voice. Remembering her promise, she hurried to where the lion was trapped.

Mouse:

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will help you!"

Lion:

"How can you possibly help me? You're so small."

The Rescue

Narrator: Without another word, the mouse began to gnaw at the ropes of the net with her sharp teeth. She worked tirelessly, chewing through one rope after another. Soon, she had made a hole big enough for the lion to escape.

Lion:

"Thank you, little mouse. You were right — even the smallest creatures can be of great help. I was wrong to laugh at you."

Friendship

Narrator: From that day on, the lion and the mouse became good friends, and the lion never again underestimated anyone because of their size.

Moral of the Story

No one is too small to help someone. Kindness is never wasted, and even the smallest act of compassion can make a big difference. We should never judge others by their appearance or size.

Discussion Points

Talk with your child about times when they felt too small to help someone, and discuss how even small acts of kindness can be important. Ask them if they've ever been helped by someone they didn't expect could help them.

Comprehension Questions

The lion was sleeping under the tree because it was a hot day, and the tree provided shade where he could rest comfortably.

The mouse accidentally ran across the lion's nose while he was sleeping, which woke him up.

The lion planned to eat the mouse for disturbing his sleep.

The mouse promised that if the lion spared his life, he would help the lion someday.

The lion laughed because he couldn't imagine how such a tiny creature could ever help the mighty king of the jungle.

The lion got caught in a hunter's net and couldn't free himself no matter how hard he struggled.

The mouse used his sharp teeth to gnaw through the ropes of the net, creating a hole big enough for the lion to escape.

The lion felt amazed, grateful, and humble. He realized he had been wrong to underestimate the mouse.

The main lesson is that no one is too small to help someone, and we should never judge others by their size or appearance.

They became good friends, and the lion learned to respect even the smallest creatures.