The Monkey and the Camel
At a big party in honor of King Lion, the Monkey was asked to dance for the group. His dancing was really smart, and the animals were all very happy with his smooth and light moves.
The compliments that were given to the Monkey made the Camel jealous.
He was very sure that he could dance just as well as the Monkey, if not better, so he pushed his way into the crowd that was gathered around the Monkey, and standing on his hind legs, started to dance.
But the big, clumsy Camel made himself look very silly as he kicked out his bumpy legs and twisted his long awkward neck
. Plus, the animals found it hard to keep their toes safe from his heavy hoofs.
Finally, when one of his huge feet came very close to King Lion’s nose, the animals were so disgusted that they attacked the Camel in anger and drove him out into the desert.
Moral of the story
Stay true to yourself: Trying to be someone you’re not can lead to embarrassing situations.
Know your strengths: It’s important to recognize what you’re good at and stick to it.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Camel wanted to dance like the Monkey even though he wasn’t good at it?
- Can you think of a time when you tried to do something just because someone else was doing it, even if you weren’t good at it?
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.
