The Fox And the Grapes
A Fox one day spied a lovely bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox’s mouth watered as he gazed longingly at them.
The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way.
So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again, he tried, but in vain.
Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.
“What a fool I am,” he said. “Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for.”
And off he walked very, very scornfully.
Moral of the story
Don’t pretend to dislike what you can’t have: It’s not wise to belittle things just because they’re hard to obtain.
Be realistic and appreciate what you have: Sometimes, what seems out of reach may not be worth the effort, and it’s better to appreciate what you already have.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Fox pretended not to like the grapes after he couldn’t reach them?
- Can you think of a time when you wanted something but later realized it wasn’t worth the effort?
Post Note: This story is based on Aesop’s fable, written around 600 BC. In this retelling, we’ve used simpler words to make the story easier for young readers to understand.
