The Fox and the Grapes
A hungry fox fails to reach ripe grapes and calls them sour rather than admit his disappointment.
Story theme
Character & Virtue
Honesty, kindness, gratitude and responsibility—stories that help good character grow.
29 stories
The Ant and the Grasshopper
A grasshopper sings and plays all summer while an ant quietly stores food, and when the snow falls, the grasshopper learns that joy needs a little preparation too.
The Lion and the Mouse
A mighty lion spares a little mouse who tumbles onto his nose, and later, caught fast in a hunter's net, learns just how much a small friend can help.
The Wolf and the Lamb
A hungry wolf invents accusations against a lamb, showing how injustice often seeks excuses after it has chosen its victim.
The Wolf and the Crane
A crane risks her neck to help a choking wolf, only to learn how little a wicked promise may be worth.
The Cock and the Jewel
A cock uncovers a sparkling jewel while scratching for food, and shows that what glitters is not always what we truly need.
The Traveler and His Dog
A traveler blames his dog for delaying the journey, but the dog is already waiting for him.
The Ants and the Grasshopper
A whole colony of ants shares the work of a summer, each doing a small part, and when winter comes the grasshopper learns that it takes many working together, not just one, to see a colony safely through the cold.
The Hare and the Tortoise
A swift hare mocks a slow tortoise, but grows careless and falls asleep, letting the tortoise's steady, unstopping steps win the race.
The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller
A charcoal-burner asks a fuller to live with him, but the fuller sees that their trades would spoil each other.
The Fisherman Piping
A fisherman tries to charm fish into his net with music, then learns that action succeeds where wishing fails.
The Dog and the Shadow
A dog carrying meat mistakes his own reflection for another dog holding a bigger piece, and by barking at the shadow he loses the real meat he already had.
Hercules and the Wagoner
A wagoner calls upon Hercules when his cart is stuck, but the hero teaches him to put his own shoulder to the wheel first.
The Mole and His Mother
A young mole insists that he can see, until his mother's simple test shows the danger of boastful certainty.
The Crow and the Pitcher
A thirsty crow cannot find a drop of water anywhere, until patient work with small stones brings the water up to him.
The North Wind and the Sun
The North Wind blows with all its might but cannot move a traveler's cloak, while the Sun's gentle warmth makes him take it off on his own.
Snow White
The kind and lovely Snow White is envied by the queen and tricked into a deep sleep by a poisoned apple, until the seven little friends and a prince help her wake again.
The Frog Prince
A princess makes a quick promise to a frog so she can get her golden ball back, then learns that a promise must be kept.
The Ugly Duckling
A mocked and lonely young bird survives the cold seasons until he discovers that he has been a swan all along.
The Princess and the Pea
A tiny pea hidden beneath many mattresses reveals the delicate feeling of a storm-soaked guest.
Thumbelina
Tiny Thumbelina passes through many unwanted plans for her life before kindness and courage lead her to a home among the flowers.
The Emperor's New Clothes
An emperor who loves fine clothing is deceived by two swindlers until a child speaks the plain truth.
Pulling Up the Seedlings
A farmer in Song wants his seedlings to grow faster, so he pulls them taller by hand, only to learn that hurry without the right method can ruin what is slowly growing.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
A bored shepherd boy tricks the village again and again by shouting "Wolf!" for fun, until a real wolf comes — and no one believes him anymore.
The Oak and the Reeds
A tall oak mocks the reeds for being weak, but when a storm comes, the oak's refusal to bend gets it uprooted, while the bending reeds come through unharmed.
The Ant and the Dove
A little ant is swept away by the current and saved by a dove's falling leaf — and soon repays that small kindness with an even smaller, braver one.
The Elves and the Shoemaker
A poor shoemaker's last piece of leather turns into a perfect pair of shoes overnight, and when he and his wife discover the tiny, ragged elves who have been helping them, they repay the kindness with gifts instead of secrecy.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid gives up everything beneath the sea, and endures endless pain, for a chance at love and an eternal soul.
The Golden Goose
A kind, generous youngest son shares his last bit of food with a stranger, wins a goose of pure gold, and ends up making a princess who never laughs burst out laughing.