Short children stories with morals
20 Best Short Moral Stories for Kids (Valuable Lessons)
Want to expand your children’s vocabulary? Read to them. That’s all it takes — and there are other benefits to reading aloud to young children as well.
Reading to older children offers a great method to teach them life lessons in a way that they’ll understand. And it’s easier than ever to find these moral stories to read.
There is a large selection of short moral stories for kids online. They range from the classics like The Boy Who Cried Wolf, to somber ones talking about greed. To help you out, we’ve gathered a selection of the most 20 popular stories.
Table of Contents
- 20 Short Moral Stories For Kids
- How Moral Stories Benefit Children
- The Takeaway
20 Short Moral Stories For Kids
1. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Moral
Lying breaks trust — even if you’re telling the truth, no one believes a liar.
Once, there was a boy who became bored when he watched over the village sheep grazing on the hillside. To entertain himself, he sang out, “Wolf! Wolf! The wolf is chasing the sheep!”
When the villagers heard the cry, they came running up the hill to drive the wolf away. But, when they arrived, they saw no wolf. The boy was amused when seeing their angry faces.
“Don’t scream wolf, boy,” warned the villagers, “when there is no wolf!” They angrily went back down the hill.
Later, the shepherd boy cried out once again, “Wolf! Wolf! The wolf is chasing the sheep!” To his amusement, he looked on as the villagers came running up the hill to scare the wolf away.
As they saw there was no wolf, they said strictly, “Save your frightened cry for when there really is a wolf! Don’t cry ‘wolf’ when there is no wolf!” But the boy grinned at their words while they walked grumbling down the hill once more.
Later, the boy saw a real wolf sneaking around his flock. Alarmed, he jumped on his feet and cried out as loud as he could, “Wolf! Wolf!” But the villagers thought he was fooling them again, and so they didn’t come to help.
At sunset, the villagers went looking for the boy who hadn’t returned with their sheep. When they went up the hill, they found him weeping.
“There really was a wolf here! The flock is gone! I cried out, ‘Wolf!’ but you didn’t come,” he wailed.
An old man went to comfort the boy. As he put his arm around him, he said, “Nobody believes a liar, even when he is telling the truth!”
2. The Golden Touch
The Moral
Greed will always lead to downfall.
There once was a king named Midas who did a good deed for a Satyr. And he was then granted a wish by Dionysus, the god of wine.
For his wish, Midas asked that whatever he touched would turn to gold. Despite Dionysus’ efforts to prevent it, Midas pleaded that this was a fantastic wish, and so, it was bestowed.
Excited about his newly-earned powers, Midas started touching all kinds of things, turning each item into pure gold.
But soon, Midas became hungry. As he picked up a piece of food, he found he couldn’t eat it. It had turned to gold in his hand.
Hungry, Midas groaned, “I’ll starve! Perhaps this was not such an excellent wish after all!”
Seeing his dismay, Midas’ beloved daughter threw her arms around him to comfort him, and she, too, turned to gold. “The golden touch is no blessing,” Midas cried.
3. The Fox and the Grapes
The Moral
Never despise what we can’t have; nothing comes easy.
One day, a fox became very hungry as he went to search for some food. He searched high and low, but couldn’t find something that he could eat.
Finally, as his stomach rumbled, he stumbled upon a farmer’s wall. At the top of the wall, he saw the biggest, juiciest grapes he’d ever seen. They had a rich, purple color, telling the fox they were ready to be eaten.
To reach the grapes, the fox had to jump high in the air. As he jumped, he opened his mouth to catch the grapes, but he missed. The fox tried again but missed yet again.
He tried a few more times but kept failing.
Finally, the fox decided it was time to give up and go home. While he walked away, he muttered, “I’m sure the grapes were sour anyway.”
4. The Proud Rose
The Moral
Never judge anyone by the way they look.
Once upon a time, in a desert far away, there was a rose who was so proud of her beautiful looks. Her only complaint was growing next to an ugly cactus.
Every day, the beautiful rose would insult and mock the cactus on his looks, all while the cactus remained quiet. All the other plants nearby tried to make the rose see sense, but she was too swayed by her own looks.
One scorching summer, the desert became dry, and there was no water left for the plants. The rose quickly began to wilt. Her beautiful petals dried up, losing their lush color.
Looking to the cactus, she saw a sparrow dip his beak into the cactus to drink some water. Though ashamed, the rose asked the cactus if she could have some water. The kind cactus readily agreed, helping them both through the tough summer, as friends.
5. The Milkmaid and Her Pail
The Moral
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
One day, Molly the milkmaid had filled her pails with milk. Her job was to milk the cows, and then bring the milk to the market to sell. Molly loved to think about what to spend her money on.
As she filled the pails with milk and went to market, she again thought of all the things she wanted to buy. As she walked along the road, she thought of buying a cake and a basket full of fresh strawberries.
A little further down the road, she spotted a chicken. She thought, “With the money I get from today, I’m going to buy a chicken of my own. That chicken will lay eggs, then I will be able to sell milk and eggs and get more money!”
She continued, “With more money, I will be able to buy a fancy dress and make all the other milkmaids jealous.” Out of excitement, Molly started skipping, forgetting about the milk in her pails. Soon, the milk started spilling over the edges, covering Molly.
Drenched, Molly said to herself, “Oh no! I will never have enough money to buy a chicken now.” She went home with her empty pails.
“Oh, my goodness! What happened to you?” Molly’s mother asked.
“I was too busy dreaming about all the things I wanted to buy that I forgot about the pails,” she answered.
“Oh, Molly, my dear. How many times do I need to say, ‘Don’t count your chickens until they hatch?’”
6. A Wise Old Owl
The Moral
Be more observant. Talk less and listen more. This will make us wise.
There was an old owl who lived in an oak tree. Every day, he observed incidents that occurred around him.
Yesterday, he watched as a young boy helped an old man carry a heavy basket. Today, he saw a young girl shouting at her mother. The more he saw, the less he spoke.
As the days went on, he spoke less but heard more. The old owl heard people talking and telling stories.
He heard a woman saying an elephant jumped over a fence. He heard a man saying that he had never made a mistake.
The old owl had seen and heard what happened to people. There were some who became better, some who became worse. But the old owl in the tree had become wiser, each and every day.
7. The Golden Egg
The Moral
Never act before you think.
Once upon a time, a farmer had a goose that laid one golden egg every day. The egg provided enough money for the farmer and his wife to support their daily needs. The farmer and his wife continued to be happy for a long time.
But, one day, the farmer thought to himself, “Why should we take just one egg a day? Why can’t we take them all at once and make a lot of money?” The farmer told his wife his idea, and she foolishly agreed.
Then, the next day, as the goose laid its golden egg, the farmer was quick with a sharp knife. He killed the goose and cut its stomach open, in the hopes of finding all its golden eggs. But, as he opened the stomach, the only thing he found was guts and blood.
The farmer quickly realized his foolish mistake and proceeded to cry over his lost resource. As the days went on, the farmer and his wife became poorer and poorer. How jinxed and how foolish they were.
8. The Farmer and the Well
The Moral
Cheating will not get you anything. If you cheat, you’ll pay soon enough.
One day, a farmer was looking for a water source for his farm, when he bought a well from his neighbor. The neighbor, however, was cunning. The next day, as the farmer came to draw water from his well, the neighbor refused to let him take any water.
When the farmer asked why, the neighbor replied, “I sold you the well, not the water,” and walked away. Distraught, the farmer went to the emperor to ask for justice. He explained what had happened.
The emperor called on Birbal, one of his nine, and wisest, courtiers. Birbal proceeded to question the neighbor, “Why don’t you let the farmer take water from the well? You did sell the well to the farmer?”
The neighbor replied, “Birbal, I did sell the well to the farmer but not the water within it. He has no right to draw water from the well.”
Birbal said, “Look, since you sold the well, you have no right to keep the water in the farmer’s well. Either you pay rent to the farmer, or take it out immediately.” Realizing that his scheme had failed, the neighbor apologized and went home.
9. Elephant and Friends
The Moral
Friends come in every shape and size.
A lone elephant walked through the forest, looking for friends. She soon saw a monkey and proceeded to ask, ‘Can we be friends, monkey?’
The monkey quickly replied, ‘You are big and can’t swing on trees like I do, so I cannot be your friend.’
Defeated, the elephant continued to search when it stumbled across a rabbit. She proceeded to ask him, ‘Can we be friends, rabbit?’
The rabbit looked at the elephant and replied, “You are too big to fit inside my burrow. You cannot be my friend.”
Then, the elephant continued until she met a frog. She asked, “Will you be my friend, frog?”
The frog replied, “You are too big and heavy; you cannot jump like me. I am sorry, but you can’t be my friend.”
The elephant continued to ask the animals she met on her way, but always received the same reply. The following day, the elephant saw all the forest animals run in fear. She stopped a bear to ask what was happening and was told the tiger was attacking all the small animals.
The elephant wanted to save the other animals, so she went to the tiger and said, “Please, sir, leave my friends alone. Do not eat them.”
The tiger didn’t listen. He merely told the elephant to mind her own business.
Seeing no other way, the elephant kicked the tiger and scared him away. Upon hearing of the brave tale, the other animals agreed, “You are just the right size to be our friend.”
10. When Adversity Knocks
The Moral
We can choose how to respond in difficult situations.
Asha was getting frustrated and tired of life, so she asked her father what to do. Her father told her to bring an egg, two tea leaves, and a potato. He then brought out three vessels, filled them with water, and placed them on the stove.
Once the water was boiling, he told Asha to place the items into each pot and keep an eye on them. After 10 minutes, he asked Asha to peel the egg, peel the potato, and strain the leaves. Asha was left confused.
Her father explained, “Each item was placed into the same circumstance, boiling water. See how each responded differently?”
He continued, “The egg was soft, but is now hard. The potato was hard, but is now soft. And the tea leaves, they changed the water itself.”
The father then asked, “When adversity calls, we respond in the same manner as they have. Now, are you an egg, a potato, or tea leaves?”
11. The Needle Tree
The Moral
It’s important to be kind, as it will always be rewarded.
Once, there were two brothers who lived at the forest’s edge. The oldest brother was always unkind to his younger brother. The older brother took all the food and snatched all the good clothes.
The oldest brother used to go into the forest in search of firewood to sell in the market. As he walked through the forest, he chopped off the branches of every tree, until he came upon a magical tree.
The tree stopped him before he chopped its branches and said, ‘Oh, kind sir, please spare my branches. If you spare me, I will provide you with golden apples.’
The oldest brother agreed but was feeling disappointed with how many apples the tree gave him.
Overcome by greed, the brother threatened to cut the entire tree if it didn’t provide him with more apples. But, instead of giving more apples, the tree showered him with hundreds of tiny needles. The brother fell to the ground, crying in pain as the sun began to set.
Soon, the younger brother became worried and went to search for his older brother. He searched until he found him at the trunk of the tree, lying in pain with hundreds of needles on his body.
He rushed to him and started to painstakingly remove each needle with love. Once the needles were out, the oldest brother apologized for treating his younger brother so badly. The magical tree saw the change in the older brother’s heart and gifted them with all the golden apples they could need.
12. A Glass of Milk
The Moral
No good deed goes unrewarded.
There once was a poor boy who spent his days going door-to-door selling newspapers to pay for school. One day, as he was walking his route, he started feeling low and weak. The poor boy was starving, so he decided to ask for food when he came to the next door.
The poor boy asked for food but was denied every time, until he reached the door of a girl. He asked for a glass of water, but seeing his poor state, the girl came back with a glass of milk. The boy asked how much he owed her for the milk, but she refused payment.
Years later, the girl, who was now a grown woman, fell sick. She went from doctor to doctor, but no one was able to cure her. Finally, she went to the best doctor in town.
The doctor spent months treating her until she was finally cured. Despite her happiness, she was afraid she couldn’t afford to pay the bill. But, when the hospital handed her the bill, it read, ‘Paid in full, with a glass of milk.’
13. The Ants and the Grasshopper
The Moral
There’s a time for work and a time for play.
One bright autumn day, a family of ants was busy working in the warm sunshine. They were drying out the grain they had stored up during the summer when a starving grasshopper came up. With his fiddle under his arm, the grasshopper humbly begged for a bite to eat.
“What!” cried the ants, “Haven’t you stored any food away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all summer?”
“I didn’t have time to store any food before winter,” the grasshopper whined. “I was too busy making music that the summer flew by.”
The ants simply shrugged their shoulders and said, “Making music, were you? Very well, now dance!” The ants then turned their backs on the grasshopper and returned to work.
14. The Bundle of Sticks
The Moral
There’s strength in unity.
Once upon a time, there was an old man who lived in a village with his three sons. Although his three sons were hard workers, they quarreled all the time. The old man tried to unite them but failed.
Months passed by, and the old man became sick. He asked his sons to remain united, but they failed to listen to him. At that moment, the old man decided to teach them a lesson — to forget their differences and come together in unity.
The old man summoned his sons, then proceeded to tell them, “I will provide you with a bundle of sticks. Separate each stick, and then break each into two. The one who finishes first will be rewarded more than the others.”
And so, the sons agreed. The old man provided them with a bundle of ten sticks each, and then asked the sons to break each stick into pieces. The sons broke the sticks within minutes, then proceeded to quarrel among themselves again.
The old man said, “My dear sons, the game is not yet over. I will now give you another bundle of sticks. Only this time, you will have to break them together as a bundle, not separately.”
The sons readily agreed and then tried to break the bundle. Despite trying their best, they could not break the sticks. The sons told their father of their failure.
The old man said, “My dear sons, see! Breaking every single stick individually was easy for you, but breaking them in a bundle, you could not do. By staying united, nobody can harm you. If you continue to quarrel, then anyone can quickly defeat you.”
The old man continued, “I ask that you stay united.” Then, the three sons understood there’s power in unity, and promised their father they would all stay together.
15. The Bear and the Two Friends
The Moral
A true friend will always support and stand by you in any situation.
One day, two friends were walking through the forest. They knew the forest was a dangerous place and that anything could happen. So, they promised to remain close to each other in case of any danger.
All of a sudden, a big bear was approaching them. One of the friends quickly climbed a nearby tree, leaving the other friend behind.
The other friend did not know how to climb, and instead, followed common sense. He laid down on the ground and remained there, breathless, pretending to be dead.
The bear approached the friend lying on the ground. The animal started to smell his ear before slowly wandering off again because bears never touch those who are dead.
Soon, the friend who hid in the tree came down. He asked his friend, “My dear friend, what secret did the bear whisper to you?” The friend replied, “The bear simply advised me never to believe a false friend.”
16. The Miser and His Gold
The Moral
A possession is as important as what it’s used for.
There once was an old miser who lived in a house with a garden. The old miser used to hide all his gold coins under stones in his garden.
Every night, before he went to bed, the miser went out into his garden to count his coins. He continued the same routine every day, but he never spent a single, golden coin.
One day, a thief saw the old miser hiding his coins. Once the old miser went back into his house, the thief went to the hiding place and took all the gold.
The following day, as the old man came out to count his coins, he found it was gone and started wailing loudly. His neighbor heard the cries and came running, asking what had happened. Upon learning what had occurred, the neighbor asked, “Why didn’t you just save the money inside your house where it would’ve been safe?”
The neighbor continued, “Having it inside the house would make it easier to access when you need to buy something.” “Buy something?” answered the miser, “I was never going to spend my gold.”
When hearing this, the neighbor picked up a stone and threw it. Then, he said, “If that’s the case, then save the stone. It’s as worthless as the gold you’ve lost. ”
17. The Dog At the Well
The Moral
Always listen to what elders say and don’t defy them.
A mother dog and her pups lived on a farm. On the farm, there was a well. The mother dog always told her pups never to go near or play around it.
One day, one of the pups was overcome by curiosity and wondered why they weren’t allowed to go near the well. So, he decided he wanted to explore it.
He went down to the well and climbed up the wall to peek inside. In the well, he saw his reflection in the water but thought it was another dog. The little pup got angry when his reflection was imitating him, so he decided to fight it.
The little pup jumped into the well, only to find there was no dog. He began to bark and bark until the farmer came to rescue him. The pup had learned his lesson and never went back to the well again.
18. Controlling Anger
The Moral
Anger is like a knife — one of the most dangerous weapons. When you use it, the wounds will heal, but the scars remain.
Once, there was a young boy. This boy had problems controlling his anger. When he got angry, he would say the first thing that came to mind, even if it affected people.
One day, his father gifted him a hammer and a bundle of nails, then said, “Whenever you get mad, hammer a nail into the backyard fence.”
In the first days, the boy used up half of the nails. Over the next weeks, he used up fewer nails, until his temper was under control. Then, his father asked the young boy to remove a nail for each day he didn’t lose his temper.
On the day when the boy removed his last nail, his father told him, “You have done good, boy. But, can you see the holes in the wall? The fence is never going to be the same. Likewise, when you say mean things in anger, you’ll leave a scar.”
19. The Leap at Rhodes
The Moral
It’s the deeds that count, not the boasting words.
Once, there was a man who visited foreign lands. When he returned, all he could talk about was the wonderful adventures he had and the great deeds he had done.
One of the feats he told was about a leap he made in a city called Rhodes.
“The leap was so great,” the man said. “No other man can make such a leap. Many persons in Rhodes saw me and can prove I am telling the truth.”
“No need for witnesses,” said one who was listening. “Suppose that this city is Rhodes, now show how far you can jump.”
20. The Wolf and the Sheep
The Moral
A person’s ulterior motives are easy to spot if someone is paying attention.
A wolf had gotten seriously hurt during a fight with a bear. He wasn’t able to move, and so, could not satisfy his thirst or hunger.
One day, a sheep passed by his hiding place, and so the wolf decided to call out to him. “Please fetch me some water,” said the wolf. “That might give me some strength to get some solid food.”
“Solid food!” the sheep said. “I suppose that means me. If I brought you something to drink, it would merely be to wash me down. Don’t speak to me about fetching a drink.”
How Moral Stories Benefit Children
Moral stories offer several benefits for children of all ages. They work to engage your child’s imagination, are entertaining, and can make your little one smile. Short moral stories work well at getting your child’s attention, keeping them focused during the length of the story.
However, the best moral stories will also teach a truth to your child. Children, especially younger ones, love repetition, and with moral stories, that’s the whole point. The more you read the same moral stories, the more your child will familiarize with the story and the moral lesson (1).
Reading Tip
When you read the story, remember to discuss the situations and events that occur, if your child is old enough. This is an excellent teachable moment, as well as providing an opportunity for bonding (2).
The Takeaway
Short moral stories for kids are fantastic for teaching valuable life lessons in a fun way children can understand. Short stories work well as they’re just long enough for your child to concentrate.
There’s a large selection of great stories online, and here you have 20 examples to get you started. When reading the story, try to discuss the content afterward with your child.
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10 Lines Short Stories With Moral Lessons for Kids
Published February 4, 2021
When trying to impart an important moral lesson to kids, short stories are often the go-to for most parents. It not only tickles their imagination, but it also teaches them about life.
Short stories have a way of teaching lessons that makes them more relatable and interesting. Rather than just telling your kid not to lie, relating a short story about it helps them understand what happens when they lie. It helps them become more aware of their actions and their consequences. The moral lessons from these stories also help shape their character and moral compass as they grow old.
Here are 10 short stories with moral lessons that your kids (and even some adults) will learn a thing or two from:
1. The Hare and the TortoiseThere was once a hare who was friends with a tortoise. One day, he challenged the tortoise to a race. Seeing how slow the tortoise was going, the hare thought he’ll win this easily. So he took a nap while the tortoise kept on going. When the hare woke up, he saw that the tortoise was already at the finish line. Much to his chagrin, the tortoise won the race while he was busy sleeping.
Moral of the story:
There are actually a couple of moral lessons we can learn from this story. The hare teaches that overconfidence can sometimes ruin you. While the tortoise teaches us about the power of perseverance. Even if all the odds are stacked against you, never give up. Sometimes life is not about who’s the fastest or the strongest, it’s about who is the most consistent.
2. The Dog and the BoneOnce there was a dog who wandered the streets night and day in search of food. One day, he found a big juicy bone and he immediately grabbed it between his mouth and took it home. On his way home, he crossed a river and saw another dog who also had a bone in its mouth. He wanted that bone for himself too. But as he opened his mouth, the bone he was biting fell into the river and sank. That night, he went home hungry.
Moral of the story:
If we always envy what others have, we’ll end up losing what we already have, just like the greedy dog.
3. The Thirsty CrowAfter flying a long distance, a thirsty crow was wandering the forest in search of water. Finally, he saw a pot half-filled with water. He tried to drink from it but his beak wasn’t long enough to reach the water inside. He then saw pebbles on the ground and one by one, he put them in the pot until the water rose to the brim. The crow then hastily drank from it and quenched his thirst.
Moral of the story:
If there’s a will, there’s a way. Every problem has a solution if we just look hard enough and don’t give up.
4. Lazy JohnThere was a boy named John who was so lazy, he couldn’t even bother to change his clothes. One day, he saw that the apple tree in their yard was full of fruits. He wanted to eat some apples but he was too lazy to climb the tree and take the fruits. So he lay down underneath the tree and waited for the fruits to fall off. John waited and waited until he was very hungry but the apples never fell.
Moral of the story:
Laziness can get you nowhere. If you want something, you need to work hard for it.
5. The Fox and The GrapesOnce there was a hungry fox who stumbled upon a vineyard. After seeing the round, juicy grapes hanging in a bunch, the fox drooled. But no matter how high he jumped, he couldn’t reach for it. So he told himself that it was probably sour and left. That night, he had to sleep on an empty stomach.
Moral of the Story:
Most of us have the tendency to act like the fox. When we want something but think it’s too hard to attain, we make up excuses. We tell ourselves that it’s probably not that great instead of working hard for it.
6. The Ant and The GrasshopperThe ant and the grasshopper were good friends. In the summer, the ant works hard to fill his storage with food. While the grasshopper was enjoying the fine weather and playing all day. When winter came, the ant was lying cozily in his home surrounded by the food he stored during the summer. While the grasshopper was in his home, hungry and freezing. He asked the ant for food and the ant gave him some. But it wasn’t enough to last the entire winter. When he tried to ask the ant again, the latter replied: “I’m sorry my friend but my food is just enough for my family to last until the end of winter. If I give you more, we too will starve. We had the entire summer to prepare for the winter but you chose to play instead.”
Moral of the story:
Winter, in this story, represents a time in our life where food and resources are scarce. While summer is that time where everything is abundant. So if you have a lot right now, save some of it for the winter.
7. The Boy Who Cried WolfThere was once a shepherd boy who liked to play tricks. One day, while he was watching over the herd, the boy decided to play a trick and cried “wolf! wolf!”. The people who heard rushed over to help him. But they were disappointed when they saw that there was no wolf and the boy was laughing at them. The next day, he did it again and people rushed to his aid only to be disappointed once again. On the third day, the boy saw a wolf devouring one of his sheep and cried for help. But the people who heard him thought this is just another of the boy’s pranks so no one came to help him. That day, the boy lost some of his sheep to the wolf.
Moral of the story:
If you always lie and cheat on other people, there will come a time when no one will believe you anymore.
8. The Ugly DucklingMost of us have probably heard of this story as this is one of the most popular fairy tales in the world. The story revolves around a duckling who from the moment of his birth has always felt different from his siblings. He was always picked on because he didn’t look like the rest of them. One day, he had enough and ran away from the pond he grew up in. He wandered near and far looking for a family who would accept him. Months passed and seasons changed but everywhere he went, nobody wanted him because he was such an ugly duck. Then one day, he came upon a family of swans. Upon looking at them, he realized that during the months he spent looking for a family to call his own, he had grown into a beautiful swan. Now he finally understood why he never looked like the rest of his siblings because he isn’t a duck but a swan.
Moral of the story:
We shouldn’t be too quick to judge others based on their physical appearance. Just because someone doesn’t fit societal definitions of beauty doesn’t mean they’re ugly. Each of us is beautiful in our own unique way and it’s time we accept and celebrate that individuality.
9. The Lion and the Poor SlaveThere was once a slave who was treated cruelly by his master. One day, he couldn’t take it anymore and ran away to the forest to escape. There he chanced upon a lion who couldn’t walk because of the thorn in its paw. Although he’s scared, the slave mustered his courage and took out the thorn in the lion’s paw. When the lion was finally free of the thorn, he ran into the forest and didn’t harm the slave. Sometime later, the slave was caught by his master along with some animals in the forest. The master then ordered the slave to be thrown into the lion’s den. When the slave saw the lion, he recognized it as the same lion he helped in the forest. The slave was able to escape the den unharmed and he freed all the other animals.
Moral of the story:
The good you did will always have a way of coming back to you. So do good deeds and be kind to others and the world will be kind to you.
10. The Elephant and the AntsThere was once a proud elephant who always bullied smaller animals. He would go to the anthill near his home and spray water at the ants. The ants, with their size, could do nothing but cry. The elephant just laughed and threatened the ants that he would crush them to death. One day, the ants had enough and decided to teach the elephant a lesson. They went straight into the elephant’s trunk and started biting him. The elephant could only howl in pain. He realized his mistake and apologized to the ants and all the animals he bullied.
Moral of the story:
Be humble and treat everyone with kindness. If you think you’re stronger than others, then use your strength to protect them instead of harming them.
Instructive stories for children. Read online.
This section contains instructive stories for children that teach young readers the norms of behavior, honesty, courage, kindness. The stories expose the usual children's misdeeds: lies, excessive hooliganism, arrogance and others. Reading instructive stories, the child immediately understands what is good and what is bad. Thus, literature becomes an assistant to parents in raising children.
Grade 2A funny story about a boy who didn't want to eat semolina. Mom promised to take him to the Kremlin if he ate all the porridge. Deniska adds sugar, salt, water and even horseradish to the porridge to make it more…
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An instructive story about the blacksmith's son Vasya. The boy was very fond of riding a cart drawn by his father's horse. The blacksmith did not approve of this. Once Vasya took a cart and went to the forest. A branch got into the wheel and started whipping the boy…
Grade 2A story about a boy Bobka, who had wonderful khaki pants. Climbing over the fence, the boy tore his pants, and his mother got angry and did not sew them up. Bobka decided to put the patch himself... The story Patch to read U...
A story about how a teacher witty weaned Fedya Rybkin from laughing in class. The boy was smeared with mascara, the whole class could not look at him without laughing. This made Fred very happy. The teacher, discovering the reason for the fun, said that on ...
Nosov's instructive story, which teaches that it is impossible to take someone else's. Pavlik and Kotka once picked cucumbers in the collective farm garden. Kotka's mother saw cucumbers in her son's pocket and found out how he got them. This is strong for her…
An instructive story about honesty. Minka got an A at school and got so upset that he forgot his diary on a park bench. They brought him a new diary and again put a unit there. In the evening a guest came and brought a forgotten diary...
Grade 2A story about a boy, Kotka, who was sitting at home and did not want to build a hill. However, when the guys built a slide and went home, Kotka went out into the yard to skate. And he wanted to ride from a new mountain. Climb up…
An instructive story about Vitalik, who traded a carp for a whistle. The boy did not immediately tell about his act. And my mother thought that the cat had eaten the fish... Read Karasik's story Mom recently presented Vitalik with an aquarium with a fish. Very good…
4 classZoshchenko's instructive story teaches children that in life you need to be not only brave and strong. It is important to know a lot and constantly learn new things. This story is about a cowardly boy Andryusha who wanted to be brave. And what of…
Grade 1An instructive story about what can happen to someone who offends everyone. Evil and bad deeds do not go unpunished! The worst thing to read Vova grew strong and strong boy. Everyone was afraid of him. Yes, and how not ...
Grade 2A story about a girl Tanya, who herself grew currants from cuttings. To do this, she had to work hard: pull out the mugs, dig up the sod, plant cuttings and take care of them. But the work was not in vain. Already next year…
An instructive story about diligence and respect for nature and other people. Grandfather, with important advice and by his example, brings up the best feelings in Alyosha. Alyosha Khomutov grew up as a diligent, caring and hard-working boy. For…
An informative story about how even the most seemingly inconspicuous plant can be of great benefit. History teaches us to look for a use for the most ordinary things. Tricky rug to read Clever Masha grew up, but did not understand everything. She went ...
A short story about how a little girl Masha wanted to become big and dressed up in adult clothes. But everyone laughed at her. But once Masha swept the floor so cleanly that everyone immediately noticed how Masha had matured! How…
Grade 2A story about a boy Misha who didn't want to admit that he broke his bike and tore his shirt. He said that the wheel itself fell off, and the shirt itself was torn. Did Misha manage to outwit mom? How Misha wanted his mother...
Grade 1An instructive story about what a real feat is. So the boy Syoma Pichugi built a bridge across the river from logs and poles. And they called this bridge Pichugin. Much time has passed since then, the bridge was replaced with a stone one,…
Grade 1An instructive story about boys who couldn't make friends and negotiate. Because of this, they could not assemble and fly a kite. Kite read A good breeze blew. Smooth. In such a wind, a kite flies high. Tight…
An instructive story about a brave boy Andryusha, whom the teacher taught to be caring and understanding. A reliable person to read At the first desk in the first class sat the son of a brave test pilot Andryusha Rudakov. Andryusha was a strong and courageous boy. He…
Zoshchenko's instructive story teaches children not to tease or touch monkeys. Very smart monkeys to read A very interesting case was in the zoological garden. One person began to tease the monkeys that were sitting in the cage. He deliberately pulled out…
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Legend of Arion
Herodotus
This legend was recorded by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who widely used myths and legends in his writings. Arion defeated the greed and greed of people with his art, beauty and charm. "The Legend of Arion" read ... Periander was a tyrant1 of Corinth. S…
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Labors of Hercules. Animal Farm of King Avgiy
Myths of Ancient Greece, Kun N.A.
The feat of Hercules, when in one day he cleared the entire barnyard of Avgius, who had innumerable herds, of manure. "Animal Farm of King Avgiy" read Soon, Eurystheus gave a new assignment to Hercules. He had to clear the whole of manure ...
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Labors of Hercules. Apples of the Hesperides
myths of Ancient Greece, Kun N.A.
The myth about the last, twelfth, feat of Hercules, when he had to get from the gardens of the great titan, who holds the vault of heaven on his shoulders, three golden apples. "Apples of the Hesperides" read The most difficult feat of Hercules in the service of Eurystheus ...
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Colorful tales
In unusual stories, alternating like pieces of glass in a kaleidoscope, Odoevsky depicts the negative qualities of people covered from above with a veil of decency… Retort Retort — cornue — retorte — distillation vessel; type of bottle with a round bottom in the form of a pear with a long ...
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Gifts of the Magi
O. Henry
One of the writer's most tender stories about high love and sacrifice that only a loving person can make. "Gift of the Magi" read One dollar and eighty-seven cents! And it's all! Of these, sixty cents - for ...
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Doll
Nosov E.I.
A story about how heavy a trace war leaves in a person's soul. A former front-line soldier found a doll with gouged out eyes and burned hair. The old man is greatly upset by the cruelty of the children and he decides to bury the doll. "Doll" read Now...
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Trouble
Zoshchenko M.M.
A story about a persistent and purposeful, but very dependent on alcohol, peasant. All his life he dreamed of his own horse, saved up money for a long time, denying himself a lot, but drunkenness prevented his dream from coming true ... "Trouble" read Yegor Ivanych ...
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Yushka
Platonov A. P.
A story about a blacksmith's assistant, nicknamed Yushka, who was sick, looked like an old man, but worked properly. Many in the city mocked him, the children could throw a stone, but Yushka never got angry ... "Yushka" read Long ago, in ...
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Tam Glen
Burns R.
Oh, aunt, I ask for advice! With such a young man, I don’t have to be afraid of the fate of change. I’ll be glad of poverty too, — If only I would be with me…
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Lines about war and love
Burns R. I give my blood In that life-creating battle, What we call love. I glorify the triumph of the world, Contentment and prosperity. It is more pleasant to create one Than to destroy a dozen!
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What's a girl to do
Burns R.
What's a girl to do? What shall I do, little girl? How shall I, little girl, live with my hubby? He is grouchy and sick, always dissatisfied. There is cold in his chest, ice in his hands. He groans, ...
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If my love were lilac would be - a bird that is under the shade In its depths hid. How dejected I would be, When there are no lilacs in winter, But I would sing elated, Only young May will return her color ....
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1 - Kolobok
Russian folk tale
The tale about Kolobok is found in Russian and Ukrainian folklore, and also has analogues in fairy tales of many other nations. Our site presents a version of a folk tale in the processing of A.N. Tolstoy. "Gingerbread Man" read Once upon a time there was an old man with an old woman. Here ...
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2 - Three little pigs
Mikhalkov S.
A fairy tale about three pig brothers who built houses for themselves. One brother built a house out of straw, another out of twigs and twigs, and a third out of bricks. "Three Little Pigs" read Once upon a time there were three little pigs in the world. Three brothers. All…
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3 - Little Red Riding Hood
Charles Perrault
A short story about a trusting girl and a cunning gray wolf. Disobeying her mother, the girl turns off the road and talks to a stranger - a gray wolf ... "Little Red Riding Hood" read Once upon a time there was a little girl. Her mother loved her without memory, and her grandmother…
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4 - Turnip
Russian folk tale
The turnip is a famous fairy tale for the little ones with a lot of repetitions. The child quickly remembers the sequence of presentation and a simple plot. "Turnip" read Grandfather planted a turnip and says: - Grow a turnip, sweet, sweet! Grow big, big! A turnip has grown, sweet and big, big….
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5 - Bremen Town Musicians
Entin Yu.S. and Livanov V.B.
The story of the animals and the young Troubadour who went to the city of Bremen to become street musicians. In the city they stopped in front of the royal castle. The king and the princess came out onto the balcony of the palace, the townspeople came running to the square and it began…
A fairy tale about a girl Zhenya, who was presented with a magic seven-flower flower. It had seven petals and could grant any seven wishes. Zhenya spent the first six wishes, but did not receive any pleasure and only made her last wish ...
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7 - The Snow Queen
Hans Christian Andersen
The Snow Queen is one of Hans Christian Andersen's most famous fairy tales about love that can overcome any trial and melt even an icy heart! "The Snow Queen" read Table of Contents: ♦ The first story, which tells about ...
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8 - A wolf and seven kids
Russian folk tale
The tale tells about an evil wolf who changed his voice, made his way into the goat's house and ate the little ones kids. But the mother goat will be able to save her children and get rid of the wolf. "The Wolf and the Seven Kids" read Once upon a time there was a goat with kids ....
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9 - Three Bears
Russian folk tale
Three Bears is a fairy tale about a girl who got lost in the forest and ended up in the bears' house. There she behaved very rudely: without permission, she ate from every cup, sat on every chair, lay in every bed, ...
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10 - The Tale of Tsar Saltan
The tale of Tsar Saltan, of his son, the glorious and mighty hero Prince Gvidon Saltanovich, and of the beautiful Swan Princess was created on the basis of the folk tale "Wonderful Sons". Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin enriched the folk work with new plot twists, ...
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11 - Geese-swans
Russian folk tale
Geese-swans - a fairy tale about how a boy was carried away by swan geese and his sister went to look for him. The stove, apple tree and river helped the girl save her brother. Read the fairy tale in the processing of A.N. Tolstoy. "Geese-swans" read There lived a man and a woman. At…
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12 - The Frog Princess
Russian folk tale
The Frog Princess is a Russian folk tale where the main character, Ivan Tsarevich, married a frog by the will of fate. Ivan had no idea that his wife was Vasilisa the Wise, turned by Koshchei into a frog. Ivan hurried, burned the frog skin and had to ...
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13 - The Fox and the Crane
Russian folk tale
The Fox and the Crane is a fairy tale about friendship between a cunning fox and a clever crane. The crane could not eat the semolina porridge, which the Fox smeared on a plate. He invited her to his place and treated her to a delicious okroshka, which he put down...
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14 - Masha and the Bear
Russian folk tale
Masha and the Bear is a fairy tale about a girl who got lost in the forest and ended up in a bear's hut. The bear did not let Mashenka go home, however, the girl came up with a way to return to her grandparents. Masha and…
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15 - Wizard of the Emerald City
Volkov A.M.
"The Wizard of the Emerald City" - a fairy tale story by Alexander Volkov written in 1939 based on the fairy tale "The Wise Man of Oz" by American writer Frank Baum with some changes. In 1959, a new edition of the book was published, significantly revised ...
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16 - Winnie the Pooh and all, all, all
Alan Milne
A cheerful and beloved fairy tale about Winnie the Pooh does not obey the laws of the fairy tale genre. The tale is devoid of negative characters, the struggle between good and evil forces. The main characters of the tale are the toys of the boy Christopher, with whom funny situations happen in a magical ...
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17 - Hen Ryaba
Russian folk tale
Hen Ryaba is the first fairy tale that mothers read to their babies. Children quickly grasp a simple plot and remember it by heart. Hen Ryaba read Once upon a time there was a grandfather and a woman. And they had a Ryaba Hen. A chicken laid an egg, yes...
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18 - The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish
Pushkin A.S.
The tale of a poor fisherman who caught a golden fish in his net. The old man took pity on the fish, released it into the sea. For this, the fish promised to fulfill his every desire. The old man didn’t ask for anything, but when he returned home, he told about…
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19 - The Little Mermaid
Hans Christian Andersen
A touching tale of the Little Mermaid's strong love for the prince. The little mermaid is ready to give up everything that is dear to her for the sake of the human soul and the love of the prince ... The fairy tale formed the basis of the plots of many films, cartoons and musicals. The Little Mermaid read In the open…
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20 - Thumbelina
Hans Christian Andersen
The fairy tale about Thumbelina is loved by children all over the world. A tiny girl born from a flower goes through many trials on the way to her happiness. Fate rewards Thumbelina for her kind heart. The swallow she rescued earlier endures...
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21 - Puss in Boots
Charles Perrault
The tale of an unusual cat that was inherited by a younger brother from a miller's father. The young man was not very happy at first with his share of the inheritance, but the cunning and smart cat made him the richest man and son-in-law of the king ... The cat in ...
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22 - Sleeping Beauty
Charles Perrault celebration in honor of his birth. The old fairy predicted the girl's death from a spindle prick, but the good fairy was able to commute the sentence. The girl did not die, but fell asleep on ...
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23 - Ax porridge
Russian folk tale
Ax porridge is a short fairy tale about a witty soldier. The greedy old woman did not want to feed the soldier, but he outwitted her and got porridge with butter ... Read porridge from an ax The old soldier went on a visit. Tired of…
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24 - The Ugly Duckling
Hans Christian Andersen
A fairy tale about the miraculous transformation of an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. The duckling was born unlike his brothers, the inhabitants of the poultry yard disliked him for his dissimilarity to the others. The duckling had to leave the house and go through many trials before he…
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25 - Bean seed
Russian folk tale
The cockerel and the bean seed is a Russian folk tale about a rooster who was always in a hurry when he pecked at the seeds. The hen warned him all the time and asked him to peck more slowly. One day he choked on a bean seed and fell down. But the chicken…
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26 - Fear has big eyes
Russian folk tale
Fear has big eyes — a short fairy tale about the fact that from fear you can see what was not really… (from the collection of M. M. Serova ) Fear has big eyes to read Once upon a time there was an old grandmother, a laughing granddaughter, a hen-klohtushka and a mouse-leaf. Each…
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27 - The Princess and the Pea
Hans Christian Andersen
A short story about how a prince wants to marry a real princess. One day, a girl knocked on the gate, who was soaked to the skin, but assured that she was a real princess. They let her in for the night, and the old queen gave her a check ......
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28 - Sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka
Russian folk tale
Sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka is a fairy tale about how the younger brother hooves and turning into a goat... Sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka read Once upon a time there was an old man and an old woman, they had...
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29 - Sivka Burka
Russian folk tale
Sivka-Burka is a fairy tale about the adventures of Ivan the Fool and his gallant horse. Sivka Burka read The old man had three sons: two smart ones, and the third Ivanushka the Fool; day and night, the fool is lying on the stove. The old man sowed wheat, and it grew ... good cat ... Baba Yaga read Once upon a time there was a husband and wife, and they had a daughter. The wife fell ill and died. Grieved, grieved ...
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31 - Teremok
Russian folk audio tale
Listen to the Russian folk tale "Teremok" online on the Mishkina Books website!
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32 - Twelve months
Samuil Marshak
Do you know how many months there are in a year? - Twelve. And what are their names? — January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. As soon as one month ends, another immediately begins. And…
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33 - The tale of the priest and his worker Balda
Pushkin A.S.
The tale of the stingy priest and resourceful worker Balda. Somehow Balda was hired for the service for three clicks on the forehead of the priest. When the time of reckoning was approaching, the priest decided to give Balda an impossible task in order to get rid of him. But Balda…
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34 - Crocodile Gena and his friends
Uspensky E.N.
Tale about a lonely crocodile Gena. Coming home from work from the zoo, he was left alone and bored. Crocodile Gena decided to make friends with someone. He wrote an ad that he was looking for friends, hung them around the city and ...
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35 - Little Humpbacked Horse
Ershov P.
There was an old man in a village who had three sons. They grew wheat and sold it in the market. But then someone got into the habit of trampling wheat in the field at night ... Table of contents: ♦ Part one. It begins...
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36 - Alice in Wonderland
Carroll L.
A fascinating story about a girl Alice who met a talking White Rabbit and ended up in amazing worlds where she met very unusual characters... Chapter 1. Down the rabbit hole Alice tired of sitting with my sister doing nothing on the shore ...
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37 - The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A fairy tale about how a pilot, who remained a child at heart, met the Little Prince in the desert, who arrived from another planet. Dedication I ask the children to forgive me for dedicating this book to an adult. I will justify it: this one…
Short stories for children 9 years old - Orthodox magazine "Foma"
Approximate reading time: 7 min.
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A nine-year-old child continues to form a cognitive attitude towards the world. He becomes more and more reasonable, observant. A sense of camaraderie and empathy develops. Short stories for children 9 years old will support young readers in good undertakings, show examples of a sane and decent attitude to life.
What to read? What to watch? Where to go? What to play? These questions torment parents all the time during the holidays (and not only). "Foma" decided to help you and collected a cycle of recommendations for different ages and in different directions. You will only have to enjoy communication with the child. See all recommendations here.
1.
Lev Tolstoy. "Girl and Mushrooms"
Leo Tolstoy wrote a huge number of short stories and fairy tales for his "New ABC" and the first books for reading, which can be used as life hacks - useful tips for different occasions.
Two sisters were returning home with mushrooms and began to cross the railway track. The youngest scattered mushrooms right on the rails and began to collect them. Further horror in general: “The driver could not hold the car. She whistled with all her might and ran over the girl. Everyone thinks that the girl is dead, but no! She turned out to be quick-witted and threw herself prone between the rails. In general, she showed an example of how to behave if you find yourself in front of an arriving train and you no longer have time to escape. Just like in the instructions for those who fell on the rails in the subway: "Lie down in the tray between the rails, face down, head towards the train and try not to move."
This is exactly what the girl did, who showed ingenuity and self-control: “When the train passed, everyone saw that the girl was lying between the rails with her head down and not moving.”
The story gives an excellent example of the need not to panic even in the most frightening circumstances, but to act as collectedly and calmly as possible. And everything will end well. “The girl raised her head, jumped to her knees, picked mushrooms and ran to her sister. ” The housekeeping girl also picked mushrooms! Without shock and hysteria ... There is not a single edifying word in the story, everything is fast, short, to the point, and the effect of reading is amazing.
2.
Konstantin Ushinsky. "Forest and Stream"
Konstantin Dmitrievich Ushinsky is not only an outstanding teacher, but also a talented writer, whose parables, fairy tales and stories, included in his famous books for reading in elementary school "Native Word" and "Children's World", have not been lost its relevance today.
In this miniature, a stubborn stream complains that the forest hanging over it with its branches closes the sky from it, does not let in either the rays of the sun or “not a playful breeze”. In his protest, he wishes people to cut down as soon as possible this unbearable forest, which, as it seems to a stream, limits his freedom. The patient forest replies that without its protection, “still weak jets” of a capricious stream would quickly dry up.
A small story-parable in which it is poetically, allegorically, but absolutely understandable for a child, about the need to treat parental care with understanding. Yes, it can sometimes look like overprotectiveness and obsessive control. But until the child has the necessary life experience, he should endure parental care and heed the advice of loving elders. “Wait, first gain strength under my shadow,” the wise forest says to the obstinate stream, “and then you will run out onto the open plain, but not as a weak stream, but as a mighty river. Then, without harm to yourself, you will reflect the brilliant sun and clear sky in your jets, you will safely play with the mighty wind.
3.
Dmitry Mamin-Sibiryak. "Medvedko"
One day the storyteller was offered to take into the house a three-week-old bear cub, which the hunters gave to their neighbors. The narrator gladly takes the cute baby, who was "no bigger than a mitten". It never occurs to him to ask why the neighbors have abandoned him. At first, the funny tricks of the bear cub amuse both the reader and the narrator, his touching appearance touches.
But when the bear cub made a ruckus in the middle of the night, pulling the oilcloth from the table and breaking the dishes, and the next day he killed the chicken, scared the cow, climbed into the chest with flour and performed a number of dubious feats, the people around protested, and the cook was even going to quit for the wild animal. The bear cub had to be given to familiar hunters.
The ending of the story is tragic: a couple of months later the bear cub died. And this makes the child think about the responsibility of a person for an animal taken into the house. The famous saying of Exupery "you are forever responsible for those whom you have tamed" will come in handy here. A wild animal is not a toy. And a thoughtless attitude towards smaller brothers is akin to a crime. The sooner a person thinks about it, the better.
4.
Boris Zhitkov. "Flower"
Girl Nastya loves her flower very much and takes care of it. But my mother does not like it: it looks nasty, some kind of leaves with thorns. Deciding that the flower is poisonous, mother tries to throw it away, but Nastya selflessly defends it. And when the girl fell ill and her mother despaired that her daughter was not getting better, the doctor advised to get the leaves of one plant - “they are like puffed up and with thorns” - and brew them.
It turned out that this is Nastya's favorite flower! Its juice cured Nastya, and my mother, to celebrate, spread a few more of these flowers and successfully treated her daughter with them.
The story is tiny, but it makes you think about a lot. The fact that all living things must live: in nature there is nothing superfluous. About the fact that the good that you did for another, no matter whether it is a person or a flower, will return to you. “I took care of him, my flower, and he saved me,” says Nastya. Well, about the fact that aloe juice - and according to the description, of course, it is Nastya's wonderful flower - it really treats a runny nose, and a sore throat, and bronchitis, and gastritis, and even tuberculosis! And many more diseases. What you will agree is very relevant today.
5.
Vitaly Korzhikov. "Sleeve" Vitaly Korzhikov
As always, in his stories the sailor and writer Vitaly Korzhikov tells about what happened to him in his circumnavigations. This story begins in an ordinary way: well, a sailor, while loading timber, pierced the sleeve of a quilted jacket - a sailor's warm jacket. There was no time to sew up - there was a lot of work. And the ship came to Japan - it's warm there, and the sailor left his quilted jacket on the deck to dry. And forgot about her. Only the whole team is surprised: in whatever port the ship arrives - birds curl over the deck, they carry white fluff in their beaks from somewhere, nests are insulated for chicks. It turns out that the birds liked the torn sleeve: “They are gutting my quilted nests! Cotton wool was torn out of half of the sleeve.
And here comes the ship back home through the same ports. “We came to Indonesia - the chicks are already screaming in the nests. They sailed to Korea - they no longer scream there, they learn to sing. And we went to the hills of Japan - there is an op, the sparrows are noisy. And soon the native coast, already the first snowball appeared. The narrator put on a jacket - chilly in a sewn sleeve! But to the jokes of his friends about the cold sleeve, he confidently answers: “Nothing like that! Warm sleeve. Look how many singers he warmed and raised. They sing in Korea, they sing in Indonesia, they sing in Japan! All songs from my sleeve!
A story about the generosity of the soul of a man who warmed half the world with his kindness. This, by the way, was the author of the story, Vitaly Korzhikov, a kind and generous, faithful comrade, who treated people, animals and birds with tenderness.
6.
Denis Makurin. "System failure"
From the collection of stories "Half a bucket of condensed milk"
The inseparable friends of Vovka and Mishka (from Mishka's face and all the stories of the collection "Half a bucket of condensed milk" are told) made a "supercomputer". With humor, the narrator reports that for this they “collected all the advanced solutions and space technologies from our street, dragged them into one place.”
In general, they constructed their computer from any iron rubbish at hand, as is usual with inquisitive and handy boys. They called their "computing supermachine" VIM - "Vovka and Mishka". The very first question asked to the car was, as they say, on filling. "How many loves do I have? Mishka asks. - Provided that I love dad twice as much as he loves mom, and mom three times more than she loves dad ... "Then the question gets more complicated: Mishka lists everyone he loves, grandparents, older brother and cats .