The Monkey and the Crocodile – An Indian Tale of Cleverness for Kids

Description: A captivating story about a clever monkey who tricks a sly crocodile. It teaches kids the importance of using their brains, finding solutions, and showing strength in tough situations.

On the picturesque bank of a wide river stood a massive tree with juicy, sweet fruits. On this tree lived a cheerful and clever monkey. Every day, he would collect the fruits and relish them. His life was simple and happy—until one day, a hungry crocodile appeared in the river.

The crocodile watched the monkey for a long time. The monkey’s agility and joyful laughter annoyed him. But more than anything, he wanted to taste the monkey’s heart, believing it must be sweet from eating those delicious fruits.

One day, the crocodile decided to speak to the monkey. “Hello, Monkey! What wonderful fruits you have! I’d love to taste them, but I can’t climb trees. Let’s be friends, and you can share some of those fruits with me,” he said.

The kind-hearted monkey agreed. “Of course, help yourself! There are so many fruits here, I don’t mind sharing.” From then on, the monkey would toss some fruits to the crocodile every day.

But the crocodile was clever and devised a sinister plan. “These fruits are just the beginning. I need his heart,” he thought.

A few days later, the crocodile put his plan into action. “Dear Monkey, on the other side of the river, there are fruits even tastier than these. Why don’t you come along? I’ll help you cross the river,” he offered.

The monkey thought for a moment. “He seems kind. Why not try these fruits?” He agreed, and climbing onto the crocodile’s back, they set off across the river.

When they reached the middle of the river, the crocodile suddenly stopped. “Now that you can’t escape, I’ll tell you the truth. I want to eat your heart! Give it to me,” he said.

The monkey was frightened at first but quickly regained his composure. Smiling, he replied, “Oh, why didn’t you say so earlier? I left my heart on the tree where I always keep it. Let’s go back, and I’ll fetch it for you.”

The crocodile, not the brightest, believed the monkey. He turned around and swam back to the shore. As soon as they reached the tree, the monkey leapt onto its branches and laughed loudly. “You thought you could trick me, but I outsmarted you! Cleverness always triumphs over brute force.”

The crocodile was furious but could do nothing. From that day on, he avoided the monkey, who continued to live happily, enjoying the fruits of his tree.

Moral: Wit and ingenuity help you emerge victorious even in the toughest situations. Never give up, even when things seem lost.

Questions for Kids:

• Why did the crocodile want to trick the monkey?
• How did the monkey manage to save himself?
• What lesson does this story teach us?