It’s November and the forest settles “down to sleep” for the long, cold winter ahead.
Tag: Animals
A Fall Song
Golden and red trees
Nod to the soft breeze,
As it whispers, “Winter is near;”
Shippeitaro
A soldier falls asleep in a dark forest. Find out what he wakes up to!
A Ghost Story
On a dreadful stormy night
My dear Tommy had a fight
With great Peter Snookum Snee,
Cat of fighting pedigree.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
The traditional song about Christmas presents.
On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
What Happened Christmas Eve
A lovely Christmas tale by Oliver Herfold.
Jessie and Fred had gone to bed very early so they might be the first to shout “Merry Christmas!” but their eyes would not stay shut.
.
A Kidnapped Santa Claus
The seven demons are getting lonely because all the children are being so good and don’t need to visit their caves anymore. This Christmas, they have come up with a plan to make the children unhappy so that they will be naughty…
Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse
A short story by Joseph Jacobs.
Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse do everything at the same time, but this time, it is not so. Follow the long series of events that equalisethe balance.
Read more about Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse …
There was and Old Lady
The funny nonsense rhyme.
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don’t know why she swallowed a fly. Perhaps she’ll die.
Read more about There was and Old Lady …
The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids
Mother Goat leaves to collect food and warns her seven kids to be wary. But who should come a-visiting but the Big Bad Wolf, hungry for some lunch. Will the kids recognise him for what he is?
The Wolf and the Lamb
One of Aesop’s fables about animals.
Moral: The Tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.
Read more about The Wolf and the Lamb …
The Willow-Wren and the Bear
A children’s story by the Grimm Brothers.
A bear insults the young of the wren he believes is king and the wren declares war. All four footed animals prepare to fight all winged animals. Find out who are victorious.
Read more about The Willow-Wren and the Bear …
The White Snake
An animal story by the Brothers Grimm.
The king has a secret dish served to him everynight and the servant is so curious that he has a peak. After just one bite, his life is changed forever. Find out why!
Read more about The White Snake …
The Wedding of Mrs Fox
The kids story by the Brothers Grimm.
Mr Fox wants to test Mrs Fox’s loyalty to him and so pretends to be dead and watches as the suitors line up. But one day he really does die and this time Mrs Fox has her pick of all kinds of animals. Will she marry?
Read more about The Wedding of Mrs Fox …
The Walrus and the Carpenter
The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright–
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The Travelling Musicians
A great story for kids by the Brothers Grimm.
Donkey, dog, cat and cock leave home as they are too old to work. They plan to become musicians in the town, but on the way they find a house that takes their fancy.
Read more about The Travelling Musicians …
The Three Sillies
A funny short story by Joseph Jacobs.
The Gentleman had never met such silly people as his fiancee’s family, so he sets off to find some even sillier than them before marrying the daughter.
Read more about The Three Sillies …
The Three Languages
A Brothers Grimm short story.
After three years of studies, his father is angry to find out how little his son has learned and so disowns him. However, these three languages are the key to the young man’s much higher purpose.
Read more about The Three Languages …
The Three Little Pigs
The original story of the famous fairy tale by Joseph Jacobs.
The Big Bad Wolf meets his match with the third little pig who lives in a house of bricks, so he tries to lure him out earlier and earlier each day…
Read more about The Three Little Pigs …
The Three Bears
The original fairy tale by Joseph Jacobs.
Three Bears leave their morining porridge to cool as they take a walk in the forest. Meanwhile a naughty old woman ventures inside and helps herself to whatever she can find. What will the bears do when they get back?
Read more about The Three Bears …
The Spider and the Fly
The cautionary poem by Mary Howitt.
Will you walk into my parlour? said the Spider to the Fly, ‘Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
Read more about The Spider and the Fly …
The Seven Ravens
A short story by the Grimm Brothers.
Having inadvertently turned his seven sons into ravens , the king hides their existence from his new daugther so as not to upset her. But upon hearing of them she leaves the castle in order to find and free them.
Read more about The Seven Ravens …
The Salad
Another Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale.
With the help of a magic cloak and bird heart, this poor huntsman becomes wealthy and sets off to see the world. But when he meets a beautiful woman with a greedy witch mother, things change very quickly. Can he restore his wealth and keep the woman he loves?
Read more about The Salad …
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Into the street the Piper stept, Smiling first a little smile,
As if he knew what magic slept. In his quiet pipe the while;
The Owl & the Pussycat ?
The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Old Woman and Her Pig
This woman goes to great lengths to get her pig home; requesting the help of a host of strangers who all need a little persuasion.
The North Wind ?
The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
The New Vestments ?
There lived an old man in the kingdom of Tess,
Who invented a purely original dress;
And when it was perfectly made and complete,
He opened the door, and walked into the street.
The Mouse, the Cock and the Cat ?
A Silly young Mouse
Ventur’d out of the house,
In spite of his mother’s advice;
And, deaf to regard,
Ran along the farm-yard,
But return’d to the nest in a trice.
The Miser in the Bush
The short story by the Brothers Grimm.
A poor peasant goes on his travels with just three pennies. But he offers them to a bird who rewards him with three wishes. Find out how he makes use of them!
Read more about The Miser in the Bush …
The Lobster-quadrille ?
“Will you walk a little faster?” said a whiting to a snail,
“There’s a porpoise close behind us, and he’s treading on my tail.
The Lion and the Mouse
Another of Aesop’s Fables
Moral: It is possible for even a mouse to confer benefits on a lion.
Read more about The Lion and the Mouse …
The Goose-Girl
Another short story for children by the Brothers Grimm.
Her maid has stolen her horse and clothes and arrives at the prince’s castle looking like the bride. But the poor princess, wearing the maid’s clothes, is offered a job looking after the geese. It is lucky that she has some magic as this alerts the king to his son’s false bride. Find out how.
Read more about The Goose-Girl …
The Happy Prince
A beautiful story about a statue of a prince and the swallow who befriends him.
The Frog Prince
The famous tale by the Brothers Grimm.
A frog fetches a princess’ ball out of the pond, but she doesn’t keep her side of the promise. So he finds her castle and insists on eating and sleeping there for three nights, as agreed.
Read more about The Frog Prince …
The Fox and the Horse
An animal story by Brothers Grimm
Having been sent away by his master for being too old to work, the horse wanders into a wood where he meets a fox…
Read more about The Fox and the Horse …
The Fox and the Cat
A short story by the Brothers Grimm.
Honoured to meet Fox, Cat starts a polite conversation, only to be belittled and embarrassed. But then, fate steps in to make a point.
Read more about The Fox and the Cat …
The Fly-Away Horse ?
Oh, a wonderful horse is the Fly-Away Horse –
Perhaps you have seen him before;
Perhaps, while you slept, his shadow has swept
Through the moonlight that floats on the floor.
The Fisherman and his Wife
A funny lesson from the Brothers Grimm.
When the fisherman tells his wife of the enchanted fish-prince he released, she demands he returns to request a favour in return. Granted her wish, her greed grows and grows.
Read more about The Fisherman and his Wife …
The Duck & the Kangaroo ?
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo,
“Good gracious! how you hop!
Over the fields and the water too,
As if you never would stop!
The Dog and the Sparrow
Another story from the Brothers Grimm.
A sparrow and a dog become good friends, but one day a tragic event leaves the sparrow angry for revenge. This dark tale follows his trail of punishment till the very end.
Read more about The Dog and the Sparrow …
The Dog and the Shadow ?
A hungry dog some meat had seized,
And, with the ample booty pleased,
His neighbour dogs forsook;
In fear for his delightful prize,
He look’d around with eager eyes,
And ran to cross the brook.
The Daddy Long-Legs and the Fly
A funny poem by Edward Lear.
Once Mr. Daddy Long-legs, Dressed in brown and gray,
Walked about upon the sands, Upon a sumer’s day;
Read more about The Daddy Long-Legs and the Fly …
The Cock and the Jewel
Another of Aesop’s Fables.
Moral: The disharmony between needs and possessions.
Read more about The Cock and the Jewel …
The Cat That Walked By Himself
Hear and attend and listen; for this befell and behappened and became and was, O my Best Beloved, when the Tame animals were wild. But the wildest of all the wild animals was the Cat. He walked by himself, and all places were alike to him.
The Boy Hunting Locusts
One of Aesop’s Fables.
Moral: Carelessness has consequences.
Read more about The Boy Hunting Locusts …
The Beginning of the Armadillos
The hedgehog and the tortoise have avoided being ‘lunch’ for the young jaguar as he just can’t tell which is which. Until now. They must learn each others skills if they are to further confuse him and avoid being eaten.
The Bat and the Weasels
An animal fable by Aesop.
Moral: It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.
Read more about The Bat and the Weasels …
The Golden Goose
The fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
Dummling is the youngest son and is not as strong or clever as his brothers. But he is kinder and this trait leads him on a journey his brothers could only dream of.
Read more about The Golden Goose …
Spring ?
Sound the flute!
Now it’s mute!
Bird’s delight,
Day and night…
Robin Redbreast ?
Goodbye, goodbye to Summer!
For Summer’s nearly done;
The garden smiling faintly,
Cool breezes in the sun;
Old Sultan
The wolf helps Old Sultan win the love of his family, only to request help of his own. But Old Sultan cannot help and their friendship takes a knock. Thank goodness the three-legged cat turns up!
Mr & Mrs Spikkey Sparrow ?
On a little piece of wood,
Mr. Spikky Sparrow stood;
Mrs. Sparrow sate close by,
A-making of an insect pie,
Mouse and Mouser
It seems some friendships are never meant to be; as the Mouse and the Cat show here.
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Cap is taking some treats to her grandmother when she meets the hungry wolf. Running late, she arrives at the house to find a nasty surprise.
Lily and the Lion
The daughter fulfills her fathers promise by going to where the lion lives, only to find him an enchanted prince! But the spell on him becomes deeper and her journey begins in earnest.
Lazy Jack
A story about a very lazy boy!
Jorinda and Jorindel ?
There was once an old castle, that stood in the middle of a deep gloomy wood, and in the castle lived an old fairy. Now this fairy could take any shape she pleased.
Johnny Cake
One morning the old woman made a Johnny-cake, and put it in the oven to bake. “You watch the Johnny-cake while your father and I go out to work in the garden.”
Jack and His Golden Snuff-Box
Never having met any other than his own parents, Jack heads off into the world and before long meets a lovely girl whose father offers her hand if he can pass three tasks. But when one goes awry, he has one year to set things straight, with a little help from his friends.
How the Leopard Got its Spots
The leopard and the Ethiopian go off in search of their run-away food. They come across the jungle and learn to adapt to their new surroundings.
How Jack Went to Seek his Fortune
Jack accumulates animal friends on his journey to seek his fortune. Needing a place to rest, he makes a plan to see off some robbers living in a house.
How doth the Little Crocodile ?
How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!
Cat and Mouse in Partnership
This Cat and Mouse partnership seems to be going well, until Mouse finds out that their food reserve is all gone. An accusation returns this relationship to a more conventional one.
A Dog’s Tale
The tale of wonderful collie who learns all that is important from her cultured mother. When moved to a lovely family a long way off, she has everything she could dream of. One night, a fire breaks out in the house…