The Little Tiger Cub — A Chinese Fairy Tale about Obedience and Care

Short Description: This Chinese folk fairy tale tells the story of a little tiger cub who learned to listen to his mother when he nearly got lost in the taiga. A story about attentiveness, care, and obedience.

Deep in the taiga, among tall trees and dense underbrush, lived a tiger family—a mother tigress and her little tiger cub. The taiga was their home: here they hunted, played, and rested. The mother always taught the cub, "There are many dangers in the forest. Listen to me and never wander too far, so you don't get lost."

But the cub was young and curious. He thought the taiga was a place for endless adventures. One morning, when the mother went out hunting, the cub decided to explore the forest on his own. "I'll be back quickly," he thought. "Mom won't even notice."

He ran along the trails, jumped over streams, and admired the bright flowers. Soon, the cub heard the singing of birds and followed the sound. He was so engrossed that he didn't notice how far he had wandered from familiar places. When he stopped, only unfamiliar trees and silence surrounded him.

"Where am I?" the little tiger cub panicked. He realized he was lost. "Mom!" he cried, but in response, he only heard the rustling of the wind. The cub began to wander, but each step took him deeper into the forest. He felt fear enveloping him.

Suddenly, he heard a soft whisper in his head: "Remember what your mother taught you. Stop and listen carefully."

The cub calmed down and began to listen attentively. He heard the sound of running water. "A stream! Mom said the stream always leads to safe places," he recalled. The little tiger cub followed the water flow and soon found himself in a familiar clearing where his mother often hunted.

When the cub finally found his way home, he saw his mother tigress. She embraced him with her big, fluffy tail and said, "I was looking for you everywhere. The taiga is our home, but it is full of dangers. You must listen to me so you don't get into trouble."

From then on, the little tiger cub always stayed close to his mother. He understood that her advice was not just words, but protection and love. Together, they continued to explore the forest, but now the cub always listened to his mother.

The Moral of the Story:

• Listening to parents means being protected from dangers.
• Curiosity is good, but it's important to be attentive and cautious.
• A mother's care is an expression of love and wisdom that should be cherished.

Questions for Discussion with Children:

1. Why did the little tiger cub decide not to listen to his mother?
2. How did he find his way back?
3. What does this fairy tale teach us?