The Lion and the Little Mouse: A Tale of Friendship

The Lion and the Mouse: A Tale of Friendship and Trust


Once upon a time, in a big, green jungle, there lived a strong lion. The lion was very proud of his strength. He could roar so loudly that all the animals would stop and listen. Everyone in the jungle was afraid of him.

One sunny day, the lion was taking a nap under a tall tree. He was resting after hunting all morning. Suddenly, he felt a tiny tickle on his paw. He opened one big eye and saw a little mouse running across it.

“Hey! What are you doing on my paw?” roared the lion.

The mouse jumped back, shaking with fear. “I… I am sorry, Mr. Lion! I did not mean to wake you,” said the mouse in a small voice.

The lion laughed a little. “You are very small, but you are very brave to walk on me,” he said. Then he yawned and closed his eyes again.

A few days later, something amazing happened. The lion was walking through the jungle when he got caught in a hunter’s net. The ropes were strong, and no matter how hard he pulled, he could not get free. He roared as loudly as he could, but nobody came to help.

The little mouse heard the roar. “Oh no! The lion is in trouble!” squeaked the mouse. Without thinking, he ran as fast as he could to the lion.

When the mouse reached the lion, he looked at the thick ropes. “Don’t worry, Mr. Lion,” said the mouse. “I will help you.”

The lion was surprised. “You? How can a tiny mouse help me?”

“Watch me,” said the mouse bravely. He started nibbling the ropes with his tiny teeth. It took a long time, and the mouse worked very hard, but finally, the ropes broke, and the lion was free!

The lion could not believe it. “Wow! You really saved my life, little mouse. How can I ever thank you?”

The mouse shook his head. “You do not have to thank me, my friend. I only did what was right. But if you ever need help in the future, just call for me, and I will come.”

From that day, the lion and the little mouse became the best of friends. They played together, explored the jungle, and looked after each other. The lion kept the mouse safe from danger, and the mouse helped the lion with small things that the lion could not do alone.

One year, the jungle had a big problem. The rain stopped falling, and the rivers and streams dried up. All the animals were very thirsty. They did not have enough water to drink or eat. The lion and the mouse were also thirsty.

“We need to find water, or we will be in trouble,” said the lion.

“I think I know where we can go,” said the mouse. “There are mountains nearby. Maybe we can find a river there that still has water.”

The lion looked at the mountains. They were very far and very tall. “I don’t know… it is too far. It will be dangerous,” said the lion.

The mouse smiled. “We can do it together! I will not leave your side, and you will not leave mine. Please, let’s try.”

The lion thought for a moment. Then he nodded. “Okay, little friend. Let’s go.”

So the lion and the mouse started their journey. They walked through the hot jungle, climbed over rocks, and crossed dry land. The lion carried the mouse on his back when the way was too hard. The mouse helped the lion by pointing out safe paths and small fruits to eat.

After several days, they finally reached the mountains. They climbed higher and higher. It was hard work, but they did not give up. Finally, they saw a small, sparkling stream of water running through the rocks.

“We found water!” shouted the mouse. “Hurry, drink before it dries up!”

The lion drank happily. “Thank you, little mouse. I could not have found this water without you,” said the lion.

The mouse smiled. “See, Mr. Lion? Even small creatures can do big things!”

From that day on, the lion and the mouse were never apart. They continued to roam the jungle together, helping each other whenever there was danger or a problem. The mouse showed the lion that even tiny friends can make a difference, and the lion showed the mouse that even the strongest animals can be kind and gentle.

Other animals in the jungle heard about the lion and the mouse. They were amazed. They learned that size and strength do not always decide who can help whom. Even the smallest animal can be very brave, and even the strongest animal can be very kind.

One day, a young rabbit came to the lion and asked, “Mr. Lion, is it true that a little mouse saved your life?”

The lion nodded and smiled. “Yes, it is true. And that mouse is my very best friend.”

The rabbit’s eyes grew wide. “Wow! That is amazing! I never thought a tiny mouse could help a big lion.”

The lion laughed. “It just shows that everyone, no matter how small, can make a big difference. Friendship and trust are more important than size or strength.”

The mouse climbed onto a rock and shouted, “And that’s why we should always help each other, even if someone is bigger or smaller than us. Together, we can do anything!”

From then on, the story of the lion and the mouse spread all over the jungle. Every animal remembered it and shared it with their families. The jungle became a place where animals helped each other, no matter their size.

And the lion and the little mouse? They lived happily ever after, exploring, playing, and caring for each other every single day.

THE END

Moral of the story: Even the smallest and weakest creature can make a big difference. True friendship and trust can come from the most unlikely places. Never underestimate someone because of their size or strength—they may help in ways you cannot imagine.


Comprehension Questions (Story Facts)

  1. Question: Who were the main characters in the story?
    Answer: The main characters were the lion and the little mouse.

  2. Question: How did the mouse save the lion?
    Answer: The mouse saved the lion by biting the ropes that trapped him in the hunter’s net.

  3. Question: Why did the lion and the mouse go to the mountains?
    Answer: They went to the mountains to find water during a drought.

  4. Question: How did the mouse help the lion on their journey to the mountains?
    Answer: The mouse helped the lion by pointing out safe paths and finding food for both of them.

  5. Question: Did the lion ever need the mouse’s help before?
    Answer: Yes, the lion did not need help before, but the mouse helped him when he was trapped in the net.

Thinking and Reasoning Questions

  1. Question: Why do you think the lion didn’t eat the mouse when he first saw him?
    Answer: Because the mouse was small and brave, and maybe the lion was curious and kind.

  2. Question: How did the lion feel when the mouse saved him?
    Answer: The lion felt surprised, grateful, and happy.

  3. Question: What does the story show about being small or big?
    Answer: The story shows that even small creatures can do big, important things, and big creatures can be kind.

  4. Question: How did the friendship between the lion and the mouse help them?
    Answer: Their friendship helped them stay safe, find water, and solve problems together.

  5. Question: If you were the lion, would you have trusted the mouse? Why or why not?
    Answer: (Open-ended, children’s personal answer.) Example: “Yes, because the mouse was kind and brave.”

Moral and Life Lessons Questions

  1. Question: What can we learn from the mouse’s actions?
    Answer: We can learn to be brave and helpful, even if we are small.

  2. Question: What can we learn from the lion’s actions?
    Answer: We can learn to be kind and appreciate friends, no matter their size.

  3. Question: Why is it important to help friends when they are in trouble?
    Answer: Because helping friends builds trust and can make a big difference in their lives.

  4. Question: Can you think of a time when a small act of help made a big difference in your life?
    Answer: (Open-ended for children to relate personally.)

  5. Question: What is the main moral of the story?
    Answer: Even the smallest and weakest can make a big difference, and true friendship is about trust and helping each other.

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