"The Lion and the Mouse: Bedtime Stories for Kids in English | Storytime"

 

Once upon a time, in a forest, there lived a timid mouse. He was afraid of the fog, the wolf, and even himself. Whenever the wind blew and a branch cracked, he would frantically search for a hiding hole. This fear made him the target of mockery from other animals who teased him for being scared even of the wind.

"Oh, how scared he is! You're even scared of the wind. You're so scared!" they would jeer.

One day, the mouse gathered his courage and decided to approach the king of the jungle, the lion. The lion, having just finished his lunch, was napping in front of his cave. The mouse's friends were curious about his plan as he climbed the lion's tail and boldly perched on the lion's back.

Though frightened, the mouse tried not to show it. At that moment, the lion woke up, shaking himself and causing the mouse to tumble off.

The mouse and the lion locked eyes, and the other animals anxiously watched the scene unfold. The lion questioned the mouse's presence, and the mouse, trembling, pleaded not to be eaten.

"I'm the most scared of the post, water below that. My life passes off by shaking with fear. A leaf falls off the tree, and I'm scared. I'm fed up with this. I want to get rid of this fear. You're the king of the jungle; with just one big roar, the animals fear you. Would you consider taking me under your custody?"

Listening in silence, the lion skeptically asked for a good reason not to eat the mouse. The mouse promised to repay the favor one day, and the lion, despite doubts, spared the tiny creature.

Relieved, the mouse ran away, and from afar, his friends witnessed the surprising turn of events. Time passed, and the lion, hungry, roamed the forest. Unaware of a hunter's trap, the lion got caught in a net. Unable to free himself, he faced humiliation if he called for help.

Seeing the trapped lion, the mouse decided to repay the favor. Climbing the lion's tail, the mouse chewed through the net. A bunny warned them about approaching hunters, but the mouse persisted.

In the end, the net tore, and the lion was free. The mouse suggested, "Jump on my back; let's get out of here." The lion and the mouse escaped together, leaving the forest animals in awe.

Breathless, they reached the lion's cave. The mouse reflected on the lion's earlier skepticism and the lion's gratitude for saving him. They laughed together, and the forest lived in peace.

In another part of the world, an old couple longed for a child. One day, the old lady baked a gingerbread man. After decorating it, the gingerbread man unexpectedly came to life and ran away.

The old lady and various animals chased the gingerbread man. As he encountered a river, a shifty fox offered to help him cross. The fox betrayed him, but a crow intervened, allowing the gingerbread man to escape once again.

As he continued running, he taunted those trying to catch him. The gingerbread man ran without stopping, leaving everyone behind.

The stories teach lessons about courage, unlikely friendships, and the consequences of underestimating others.