Aesop's Fables: The Lion And The Mouse Story

One day, the king of the animal kingdom, the mighty and powerful lion was sleeping in his den, his head resting on his massive paws. A little mouse was playing nearby. The cave was huge and dark, and one could only hear the lion snore.

Seeing the lion asleep, the mouse wondered what the king’s den looked like. So, he quietly crawled inside the cave while the lion was sleeping. But suddenly the mouse tripped into the lion’s nose, waking him up from his sleep. Seeing the unexpected guest in his den, the jungle king got angry and pinned the mouse down with his paws.

He roared, “You little mouse, how dare you wake me up from my sleep? I will not spare you today!”

The weak mouse, afraid, begged for mercy before the lion, “Please forgive me, Lord. If you let me go, someday, I will repay you for your kindness. I will do my best to help you!”

The lion was amused at the thought of a little mouse helping the king of all beasts. He said, “A tiny mouse like you can help a lion? I suppose you know I’m the king of the jungle! How can you help me? Ha ha ha!”

The mouse pleaded for compassion, “Please my Lord, save my life. I’m sure life will find a way out when I can be of some help to you!

The lion pitied the mouse and let him go.

One beautiful day, the lion went out for a walk in the jungle. He kept strolling down looking for some animal to hunt.

But suddenly he got trapped in a hunter’s net, and could not escape. The predator himself became a prey. The lion roared and roared all day, asking for help.

“Help me! Someone help me”, cried the king of the jungle! But there was no one around to save him. At last, he became helpless and sad thinking that he was about to die.

Suddenly, an unlikely savior came to his rescue. The mouse, whose life he had once saved, found him in this pitiful condition.

My Lord, don’t worry anymore, I will rescue you from this net. You have once saved my life, today I will save yours,” the mouse expressed his gratitude, and began gnawing at the net with its sharp teeth. Thus, the little mouse freed the lion from the hunter’s net.

Ever since then, the lion and the mouse became the best of friends.

protip_icon Point to consider
After reading Aesop’s fables, you could inspire your child to develop their own narrative and write a story featuring their favorite characters. Who knows!? Your child could be the next JK Rowling or Roald Dahl.


In This Article

So, what is the moral of the story?

What morals do you get from this lion and mouse story? The lion, a big mighty creature, thought that a tiny mouse couldn’t be of any help to him. But life surprises us every day. The mouse, though small, did indeed come to help. So, the moral of the lion and the mouse story is – whoever it be, whatever size, we should help each other, and these kind deeds always get rewarded. Being helpful to others is the most significant virtue, and everyone is unique in their own way. Even the smallest acts of kindness can have a big impact, and we should never underestimate the ability of others to help.

Also, this interesting animal story for kids goes on to explain that even in the toughest of situations, one must not lose courage and use their wisdom to overcome any difficulties just like the mouse saved himself from the lion.

In a few years from now, your tot will grow up and maybe neither of you would be reading bedtime stories.

But, carpe diem! Take out some time from your busy schedule and introduce them to the best moral stories for kids. As a parent, you will be able to communicate ideas with your kids. They will learn a lesson or two from the stories and ask more questions.

Storytelling Tips For Parents

To make storytelling more engaging for your child, try involving them in the activity. You can do this by asking questions about how the characters might be feeling or encouraging your child to predict what might happen next. This interactive approach helps deepen their understanding and comprehension and sparks their imagination and curiosity. You can also create a fun puppet show with household items and indulge in arts and crafts with your child to help them understand the story even better. By making the experience more immersive, you help foster a love for reading. Your child will feel engaged and eager to explore more stories.

Key Pointers

  • The story teaches children that even small acts of kindness can have significant impacts.
  • By showing kindness to others, they may receive kindness in return, as demonstrated when the mouse eventually helps the lion.
  • The mouse displays courage and resourcefulness in helping the lion, showing children that even seemingly insignificant individuals can make a difference through bravery.

Illustration: Aesop&039s Fables: The Lion And The Mouse Story

the lion and the mouse story_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Indulge in the touching short film adaptation of the timeless Aesop’s Fable, “The Lion and the Mouse.” Witness the profound impact a small act of kindness can have, leaving an everlasting impression.

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Sharon Katy
Sharon KatyEducator
Sharon Katy is a teacher, author, blogger, and poet. Her passion for teaching emerged during her undergraduate years, leading her to pursue internships that eventually evolved into a full-time teaching career. Sharon worked as a teacher in various top schools of Hyderabad, India.

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Harshita Makvana
Harshita MakvanaB.Com, PG Dip
Harshita is a graduate in commerce and holds a PG Diploma in Patent and Copyrights Law from NALSAR University. She has also pursued CA and has more than three years of internship experience in auditing. Her love for travelling has taken her to various parts of the world, and writing the travelogues was what brought out her love for content writing.

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Deepa Thomas
Deepa ThomasMA (English)
Deepa Rachel Thomas holds a master’s degree in English from the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. She has done a certification course in Child Development and worked as a mentor for young children at an NGO that focuses on helping children develop their language and soft skills.

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