The Clever Tortoise – A Tale of Wit and Ingenuity

Summary: In the jungle, a tortoise encountered a hungry crocodile that wanted to eat her. But using her wit and ingenuity, she not only escaped danger but also found a way to cross the river. This story teaches that calm thinking and cleverness can help in tough situations.

Deep in the jungle, on the bank of a wide river, lived a tortoise. She was small but very clever. One day, a drought dried up the area where she usually foraged, so she decided to cross the river to the other side, where lush leaves grew. But between her and the tempting greenery lay a wide stream—and a hungry crocodile lurking in the water.

The tortoise carefully approached the water and saw the crocodile’s eyes emerge from the surface. “Hey, tortoise,” boomed the crocodile, “I see you want to cross the river. A fine idea—but first, you’ll have to be my lunch!”

The tortoise felt fear but didn’t show it. “Crocodile,” she said calmly, “why settle for just me? I know where my family of 20 tortoises lives nearby. If you let me cross the river, I’ll bring them all to you. Then you’ll have a proper feast!”

The crocodile hesitated. The idea of a grand feast was appealing. “Alright,” he said, “but how can I trust you’ll return?”

The tortoise quickly thought of a plan and replied, “To prove my honesty, I can count all your crocodile friends. Have them line up across the river, and I’ll walk over their backs while counting. That way, you’ll know I’ve crossed safely and will return with my family.”

The crocodile, delighted by the clever plan, called his friends. They formed a long chain so the tortoise could count them. Carefully, the tortoise climbed onto the back of the first crocodile and began counting, “One, two, three...” Each crocodile waited patiently as she slowly walked across their backs, getting closer to the other side.

When the tortoise reached the last crocodile, she quickly jumped onto the safe riverbank and turned around. “Thank you for your help! I’ve counted you all, and now I must go. Maybe next time, you’ll think twice about trusting strangers!”

The crocodiles roared in anger, but there was nothing they could do—the tortoise was already safe. She found the lush leaves she had longed for and thought with a smile, “Cleverness always triumphs over brute strength!”

Moral of the story: In tough situations, it’s important to stay calm and think smart. Even the most dangerous foes can be overcome with ingenuity.

Discussion Questions:

• Why wasn’t the tortoise afraid of the crocodile?
• How did she use her wit to cross the river?
• What does this story teach us about resourcefulness and bravery?