The Turnip – a Modern Folk Tale with a Vibrant Retelling

Summary

The Turnip is a cheerful story about the importance of working together. The tale shows how even the smallest participant’s efforts can lead to success.

The Tale

Once upon a time, there was an old man who planted a turnip in his garden. The turnip grew and grew until it became enormous—so big that the old man had never seen anything like it. He decided to pull it out of the ground, but he couldn’t do it alone.

The old man called his wife for help. Together, they pulled with all their might, but it was no use. Then the wife called their granddaughter. The granddaughter came, grabbed onto the grandmother, but even the three of them couldn’t pull the turnip out.

The granddaughter called their dog, Wuffy. Wuffy barked and tugged as hard as he could, but the turnip stayed firmly in the ground. Then Wuffy called the cat. The cat joined in, holding onto Wuffy, but it still wasn’t enough.

Finally, the cat called the mouse. The tiny mouse, although very small, joined the group. Together, in one big, united effort, they pulled the turnip out of the ground!

Everyone rejoiced and celebrated because the turnip was so big that it was enough to feed everyone at a feast. Their teamwork had brought them success.

Moral

This story reminds us of the importance of teamwork. Even the toughest challenges can be overcome when everyone contributes their share, no matter how big or small.

Questions About the Tale

• Why couldn’t the old man pull the turnip out on his own?
• Who helped the old man to accomplish the task?
• Why was even the tiny mouse important in this story?
• What lesson does the tale of The Turnip teach us?