The Lion and the Mouse

A Big Lion and a Tiny Mouse

One warm day, a big Lion was fast asleep under a tree. Z-z-z-z.

A tiny Mouse ran by. She did not look where she was going. Whoops! She ran right over the Lion's nose!

The Lion woke up. He put one big paw on the Mouse. "Got you!" he said.

"Oh please, let me go!" squeaked the Mouse. "I am only small. One day I may help you."

The Lion laughed. "You? Help me? You are so tiny!" But the Lion was kind that day. He lifted his paw. "Off you go, little Mouse."

The Mouse ran home, very happy.

The Lion Gets Stuck

Many days passed. One morning, the Lion was walking in the woods. Snap! A net caught him! Hunters had hidden it in the grass.

The Lion pulled and pulled. He could not get out. He gave a big, sad roar.

The little Mouse heard him. "That is my friend!" she said. She ran fast, fast, fast.

A Small Friend Saves the Day

The Mouse saw the net. "Do not worry," she said. "I will help you, just like I said!"

Nibble, nibble, nibble. The Mouse chewed the ropes with her sharp little teeth. One rope broke. Then two. Then all of them!

The net fell away. The Lion was free!

"Thank you, little friend," said the Lion. "I laughed at you, but you saved me. You may be small, but you have a big heart."

And the Lion and the Mouse were friends for ever and ever.

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The moral: A small friend can do a big thing. Always be kind.

Want more read-along tales? Try The Little Red Hen next.