The Brave Crow and the Sly Serpent

The Brave Crow and the Sly Serpent


Once upon a time, in the middle of a deep and green jungle, there stood a very big banyan tree. The tree was old and strong. Its long branches spread out in all directions like giant arms. Thick green leaves covered the branches and made a wide blanket of cool shade on the ground below. When the wind blew, the leaves danced and made a soft rustling sound. The banyan tree looked like a perfect home for birds and animals.

One hot summer day, a black crow named Sunny flew through the jungle. The sun was bright, and the heat made Sunny tired. He looked for a place to rest. Soon, he saw the huge banyan tree and landed on one of its strong branches.

“Ahh, this feels so nice,” Sunny said happily. “This cool breeze is perfect on such a hot day.”

Sunny looked around with joy, but soon he felt confused. The tree was very quiet. There were no bird nests anywhere. He could not hear sparrows chirping, mynahs calling, or squirrels chattering.

“This is strange,” Sunny thought. “Such a big and beautiful tree, but no one lives here.”

Even though it felt odd, Sunny liked the tree. The next day, he brought his fiancée, a gentle crow named Mia, to see it.

“Look at this tree, Mia,” Sunny said proudly. “It is strong and safe. We can build our home here.”

Mia looked around carefully. “It is very quiet,” she said softly. “But it does look nice.”

Together, Sunny and Mia worked hard. They picked up twigs and leaves and built a nest on one of the highest branches. Soon, the nest was ready, and the two crows felt very happy living there.

After a few months, Mia laid four beautiful eggs.

“I am so excited,” Mia said with a smile.
“So am I,” Sunny replied. “We will soon be parents.”

After some days, the eggs cracked open, and four tiny crow chicks came out. Sunny and Mia were full of joy.

“Our babies are here!” Sunny cried happily.

The next morning, Sunny and Mia flew out to find worms and insects for their hungry chicks. When they returned in the evening, their happiness turned into sadness. The nest was empty.

“Our babies are gone!” Mia cried.
Sunny flew around the tree again and again. “Did anyone see our chicks?” he called. But there was no answer.

Later, Sunny noticed a dark hole near the roots of the banyan tree. It looked deep and scary. When Sunny peeped inside, he thought he saw two thin, shining eyes. He blinked, and they were gone.

“I must be tired,” Sunny said to himself. He did not tell Mia because he did not want to scare her.

After some time, Mia laid eggs again. Once more, baby chicks were born. Sunny and Mia tried their best to protect them. Still, they had to leave to find food.

When they returned, the nest was empty again.

Sunny felt angry and afraid. He flew straight to the hole near the tree. This time, he saw a black feather near the opening. Suddenly, there was a loud hiss. A big black cobra came out.

“Hisssss!”

Sunny flew back quickly.

When Sunny told Mia everything, she said sadly, “Now I understand why no birds live here. The snake eats baby birds. We should leave this tree.”

Sunny thought for a moment. “No, Mia. We cannot leave our home. I will find a way.”

Sunny went to his clever friend, the jackal.

After hearing everything, the jackal smiled. “I have an idea,” he said and whispered a plan into Sunny’s ear.

The next day, Sunny flew to the river. A king and queen were resting there. The queen had placed her gold necklace on a mat. Sunny quickly picked it up and flew slowly toward the banyan tree. The guards chased him.

Sunny dropped the necklace into the snake’s hole. When the guards reached there, they found the cobra. They killed the snake and took back the necklace.

Sunny and Mia watched from above.

Soon, Mia’s eggs cracked open. This time, all the chicks grew safely.

THE END

Moral of the story: Clever thinking and courage can solve even the biggest problems.


Comprehension Questions and Answers for Kids

1. Where did the story take place?

Answer: The story took place in a deep jungle where there was a big banyan tree.

2. What was the name of the crow in the story?

Answer: The crow’s name was Sunny.

3. Who was Sunny’s fiancée?

Answer: Sunny’s fiancée was Mia.

4. Why did Sunny like the banyan tree?

Answer: Sunny liked the banyan tree because it was big, cool, and gave shade on a hot day.

5. Why was the banyan tree quiet?

Answer: The banyan tree was quiet because no birds lived there due to a dangerous snake.

6. How many eggs did Mia lay?

Answer: Mia laid four eggs.

7. What happened to the baby chicks?

Answer: The baby chicks were eaten by a black cobra that lived in a hole near the tree.

8. What animal was living inside the hole near the banyan tree?

Answer: A big black cobra was living inside the hole.

9. Who helped Sunny make a plan?

Answer: Sunny’s friend, the jackal, helped him make a plan.

10. What did Sunny steal from the queen?

Answer: Sunny stole the queen’s gold necklace.

11. Why did Sunny steal the necklace?

Answer: Sunny stole the necklace to make the soldiers come and remove the snake.

12. What happened to the snake in the end?

Answer: The soldiers found the snake and killed it to save the necklace.

13. Were Sunny and Mia happy at the end?

Answer: Yes, Sunny and Mia were happy because their chicks were safe.

14. Did Sunny and Mia leave the banyan tree?

Answer: No, they stayed and lived happily after the snake was gone.

Moral and Thinking Questions for Children

15. What is the moral of the story?

Answer: The moral of the story is that clever thinking and courage can solve big problems.

16. Was Sunny a brave crow? Why?

Answer: Yes, Sunny was brave because he did not give up and found a smart solution.

17. What would you do if you were Sunny?

Answer: I would think carefully and ask for help to protect my family.

18. Why is it important to ask friends for help?

Answer: Friends can give good ideas and help solve problems.

19. What did the story teach us about danger?

Answer: The story teaches us to be careful and smart when facing danger.

20. Do you think Mia was a caring mother? Why?

Answer: Yes, Mia was caring because she worried about her babies and wanted them safe.

Bonus Activity Questions

21. Name two characters from the story.

Answer: Sunny and Mia.

22. Name one good quality of Sunny.

Answer: Sunny was clever and brave.

23. What animal helped Sunny?

Answer: A jackal helped Sunny.

24. Was the snake good or bad in the story?

Answer: The snake was bad because it ate baby birds.

25. Would you recommend this story to a friend? Why?

Answer: Yes, because it is interesting and teaches a good lesson.



The Crow and the Serpent - A Kids Story



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