The Rat and the Elephant
A Mouse was traveling along the King’s road. He was a very proud Mouse, considering his small size and the bad reputation all Mice have. As Mr. Mouse walked along—he kept mostly to the ditch—he noticed a great commotion up the road, and soon a grand procession came into view. It was the King and his group.
The King rode on a huge Elephant adorned with the most gorgeous decorations. With the King in his fancy seat were the royal Dog and Cat. A great crowd of people followed the procession.
They were so taken up with admiration of the Elephant that the Mouse was not noticed. His pride was hurt.
“What fools!” he cried. “Look at me, and you will soon forget that clumsy Elephant! Is it his great size that makes your eyes pop out?
Or is it his wrinkled hide? Why, I have eyes and ears and as many legs as he! I am of just as much importance, and”—
But just then the royal Cat spied him, and the next instant, the Mouse knew he was not quite so important as an Elephant.
Moral of the story
Don’t think you’re better than others just because you resemble something great.
True importance comes from your actions, not just appearances.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Mouse felt hurt when people admired the Elephant?
- What do you think makes someone truly important?
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.
