The Ant and the Dove

A Bird saw an Ant fall into a brook. The Ant struggled in vain to reach the bank, and in pity, the Bird dropped a blade of straw close beside it.

Clinging to the straw like a shipwrecked sailor to a broken spar, the Ant floated safely to shore.

Soon after, the Ant saw a person getting ready to harm the Bird with a stone.

But just as they cast the stone, the Ant stung them in the heel,

so that the pain made them miss their aim, and the startled Bird flew to safety in a distant wood.

Moral of the story

Help others: Being kind and helping someone in need can lead to good things.
Small actions matter: Even a small act of kindness, like helping a tiny Ant, can make a big difference.

Questions for the children

  1. How did the Dove help the Ant in the story?
  2. Why do you think it’s important to help others, even if they are very small?

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.

Author

  • Aesop

    Aesop (circa 620–564 BC) was an Ancient Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop’s Fables. Although his existence remains uncertain and (if they ever existed) no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages.

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