The Seahorse and the Smile – An English Folk Tale about Friendship and Unity

Summary: This English folk tale tells the story of a seahorse who helped the inhabitants of a coral reef learn to be friends and work together. Thanks to his wisdom and kindness, the reef became a safe and happy place.

Deep in the ocean, at the heart of a coral reef, lived a small seahorse named Spark. Although Spark was tiny, he had a huge heart. He knew every creature in the reef, from slow-moving snails to swift angelfish. But despite the reef’s beauty, it was often filled with quarrels. Fish argued over food, corals competed for sunlight, and crabs constantly complained that no one listened to them.

One day, disaster struck the reef. A strong underwater current destroyed part of the coral, leaving many creatures homeless. The fish panicked: “What shall we do? The reef will never be the same!” Instead of helping each other, they started arguing. “You took the best spot!” shouted the clownfish. “No, you left me without food!” replied the butterflyfish.

Spark, observing the chaos, knew he had to do something. He gathered the reef’s inhabitants and said, “If we keep fighting, our home will never be rebuilt. We need to work together. Let’s start by smiling at each other. A smile is the first step to friendship.”

The fish were surprised. “How can a smile help us?” asked an angelfish. Spark explained, “When you smile, you show you are willing to listen and help. And that means we can work together.”

The fish didn’t believe him at first but decided to try. They began smiling at one another and saying kind words. Gradually, the atmosphere on the reef changed. The fish started helping the corals recover: they carried debris away and built new shelters for smaller creatures. Even the crabs, who were usually grumpy, found a purpose by cleaning up the seafloor.

Within days, the reef was transformed. It became even more beautiful than before. The fish realized that working together was much more rewarding than arguing. Spark became the hero of the reef. His wisdom and kindness had made the underwater world a better place.

From that day on, the reef’s inhabitants never forgot to smile at each other. They learned to share and help, making their home the friendliest place in the ocean. And Spark always reminded them, “A smile and kindness are the keys to true happiness.”

Moral of the Story: This English folk tale teaches us that friendship and cooperation can overcome any challenge. A smile and kind deeds can unite even the most different creatures.

Questions for Discussion:

• Why did the seahorse believe that a smile could help the reef’s inhabitants?
• How did the reef change after its inhabitants started working together?
• What lessons does this story teach about friendship and helping one another?