The Little Fox and Her Reflection – A Chinese Fairy Tale about Envy and Self-Acceptance
A Chinese fairy tale about a little fox who, while looking at her reflection in the Yellow River, realized that she didn’t need to envy others. A story about self-acceptance and inner beauty.
Short Description: This fairy tale tells the story of a little fox who envied other animals until she saw her own reflection in the river. The story teaches children to accept themselves and recognize their uniqueness.
On the bank of the Yellow River, among thick bushes, lived a young little fox. Her fur was fluffy and shimmered in the sunlight, but she always looked at other animals with envy. "Look at the crane," the little fox thought, watching it gracefully walk along the shore. "How beautiful and tall it is. And I am just a little fox."
The little fox didn’t just envy the crane. She admired the grace of the deer, the strength of the bears, and the bright feathers of the peacocks. Every time she looked at them, she felt that something was missing. "Why am I not as beautiful and majestic?" she sighed sadly.
One day, while walking along the river, the little fox noticed how the calm water reflected her shadow. She approached closer to take a better look at her reflection. The water was clear, and in it, the little fox saw her face framed by red ears, smart eyes, and a fluffy tail.
Suddenly, a peacock rooster peeked out from the bushes. He saw how the little fox was looking into the water and asked, "What are you thinking about, fox?"
"I'm wondering why I'm not as beautiful as the crane or as strong as the bear," she replied.
The peacock laughed, "Little fox, don't you see how beautiful you are? Look at your tail; it resembles the flames of a sunset! And your red fur shines like the sun on an autumn day. Each of us is unique in our own way."
The little fox pondered the peacock's words and looked again at her reflection. For the first time, she noticed how her fur beautifully shimmered in the sunlight, and her tail indeed resembled flames. "I never noticed that before," she said.
At that moment, a pair of deer were swimming down the river. They stopped to drink water and saw the little fox. "How beautiful you are, little fox!" they said. "We always admire your grace when you run along the shore."
The little fox smiled and felt her heart fill with warmth. She no longer envied the other animals. Instead, she realized that every living soul on earth possesses its own unique beauty and strength. "Thank you, river," she whispered to her reflection. "You showed me who I am."
From then on, the little fox became more confident. She no longer compared herself to others but rejoiced in her own nature. Living in harmony with herself, she became even happier and friendlier to those around her.
Moral of the Story: Each of us is unique, and there is no need to envy others. True beauty lies in accepting yourself as you are.
Discussion Questions for Children:
- Why did the little fox envy the other animals?
- What helped her recognize her uniqueness?
- What does this fairy tale teach us?
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