stories

Little Red Riding Hood Once upon a time, in a small village near a green forest, there lived a sweet little girl. Everyone loved her because she was kind, polite, and always ready to help others. Her grandmother loved her the most and gave her a beautiful red hooded cloak.  The girl liked it so much that she wore it every day. Soon, people started calling her   Little Red Riding Hood . One day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother baked some fresh bread and made a basket of food. She said, “Your grandmother is sick. Please take this basket to her. Walk carefully, do not talk to strangers, and do not leave the forest path.” Little Red Riding Hood promised her mother that she would obey. She put on her red cloak, picked up the basket, and happily walked toward her grandmother’s house, which was deep inside the forest. The forest was beautiful. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming, and sunlight came through the tall trees. As Little Red Riding Hood walked, she forgot her mother’s...

The Farmer, the Mongoose, and the Snake In a quiet village surrounded by green fields and tall banyan trees, there lived a humble farmer named Raghav.  He was known throughout the village as a hardworking and kind man. Raghav lived with his wife, Meera, and their infant son in a small mud house near the edge of the fields. Though their life was simple, their home was filled with love and contentment. One day, while working in his fields, Raghav found a small injured mongoose trapped near a bush. The little creature looked weak and frightened. Feeling pity, Raghav gently picked it up and brought it home. Meera looked surprised. “Why did you bring this animal home?” she asked. Raghav smiled and replied, “Don’t worry. Mongooses are known to protect homes from snakes. We live close to the fields, and snakes often come near the house. This little one may become our guardian.” Over time, the mongoose recovered and grew healthy. It became extremely loyal to the family and especially loved...

Why the Dog Hates the Cat Long, long ago, in a small village in China, there lived a poor widow. She had no children and very little money, but she had two faithful animals to keep her company. One was a   dog , strong and brave, named   Blackfoot . The other was a   cat , quiet and clever, named   Whitehead . The widow loved both animals dearly. Blackfoot guarded the house and kept thieves away. Whitehead caught mice and kept the home clean. Together, the dog and the cat lived peacefully. They ate from the same bowl, slept near the same fire, and worked together every day. At that time, dogs and cats were good friends. One day, while walking near the river, Blackfoot found something shining in the grass. It was a   small golden beetle . The beetle was not ordinary. When the widow touched it, something wonderful happened. That very evening, a kind stranger came to her door and gave her food. The next day, neighbors offered her help. Slowly, her life began to cha...

The Little Red Tortoise Long, long ago, in a warm and sunny land in South Africa, there lived a large family of tortoises. They walked slowly, ate green leaves, and spent their days resting under trees. Life was peaceful for them. One very special day, something amazing happened. A baby tortoise was born with a   bright red shell . All the other tortoises stopped and stared. They had never seen anything like it before. “This is no ordinary tortoise,” the elders whispered. “A red tortoise is born only   once every thousand years .” Soon, tortoises came from far and wide to look at the little red tortoise. Some touched his shell. Some praised him. Others gave him advice. “You must always do what we do,” said one tortoise. “You must walk where we walk,” said another. “Never be different,” warned the elders. As the little tortoise grew, his red shell grew brighter and brighter. But inside, he felt confused. Everyone wanted him to be special — but only in   their   way. S...

  The Flying Lion (Oom Leeuw) – A South African Folktale Long, long ago, when the earth was still young and animals spoke like people, there lived a lion named   Oom Leeuw , which means   Uncle Lion . He was not an ordinary lion. No, this lion was special, and everyone knew it. Oom Leeuw had   wings . His wings were wide and powerful, shining like gold in the sunlight. With one strong leap, he could rise into the sky. He flew over rivers, trees, and mountains. From above, he watched all the animals below. Because of this, Oom Leeuw was feared and respected. People said, “He is king of the land.” Others said, “He is king of the sky.” Oom Leeuw himself said, “I am king of everything.” And this was where the trouble began. Oom Leeuw became very proud. He walked slowly, with his chest pushed forward. He spoke loudly so everyone could hear him. When other animals talked, he did not listen. When they warned him, he laughed. “My wings make me greater than all of you,” he sa...