Short English Fables with Moral Lessons
Fable 1: The Squirrel and the Nut
In a big forest, a squirrel named Sam loved collecting nuts. Every day, he scurried around, gathering as many as he could.
He stuffed them in his tree, never sharing with anyone. “These are mine!” he’d say when other animals asked for help.
One autumn, the forest grew cold early. Food was scarce. Sam’s friend, a rabbit named Ruby, knocked on his tree. “Sam, I’m hungry. Can I have a nut?” she asked.
“No!” Sam snapped. “I worked hard for these. Find your own!”
Ruby left, sad but quiet. Other animals asked, too—a sparrow, a mouse, even a kind old turtle. Sam turned them all away. He hugged his pile of nuts, feeling proud.
Winter came, and a storm hit. A branch crashed through Sam’s tree, and his nuts spilled into the snow.
Sam tried to save them, but the snow was too deep. He dug and dug, but found only a few. Now, he was hungry, too.
Cold and tired, Sam went to Ruby’s burrow. “Ruby, I’m sorry,” he said. “I kept all my nuts and lost them. Can you help me?”
Ruby smiled. “I don’t have much, but I’ll share.” She gave Sam a carrot she’d saved. The sparrow shared a seed, and the turtle offered some moss. Sam ate, feeling warm inside.
From then on, Sam shared his nuts. He learned that sharing makes everyone stronger.
Moral: Sharing brings more happiness than keeping everything for yourself.
Fable 2: The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a green meadow, an ant named Anna worked hard every day. She carried tiny bits of food to her hill, building a store for winter.
Nearby, a grasshopper named Gus played his fiddle, hopping and singing. “Why work so hard, Anna?” Gus laughed. “The sun is shining! Dance with me!”
Anna shook her head. “Winter’s coming, Gus. I need to prepare.”
Gus shrugged and kept playing. All summer, Anna worked while Gus danced. The other animals watched, some joining Gus, others helping Anna. Anna never complained, but she worried about Gus.
When winter arrived, the meadow turned cold. Anna’s hill was full of food, and she stayed warm. Gus, though, had nothing. He shivered in the snow, his fiddle silent. Hungry, he knocked on Anna’s door.
“Anna, please help,” Gus said. “I have no food.”
Anna opened her door. “You danced all summer, Gus. Why didn’t you prepare?”
Gus hung his head. “I thought summer would last forever.”
Anna sighed but smiled. “Come in. I’ll share my food, but next summer, you must help.”
Gus nodded, grateful. He ate and warmed up. The next summer, Gus still played his fiddle, but he also helped Anna gather food. He learned to balance work and play, and the meadow was merrier for it.
Moral: Work today to be ready for tomorrow.
Fable 3: The Fox and the Crow
In a tall oak tree, a crow named Clara found a piece of cheese. She perched on a branch, ready to eat. Below, a fox named Felix saw her. His mouth watered. He wanted that cheese.
“Dear Crow,” Felix called, “you look so beautiful today! Your feathers shine like the night sky. Surely, you have a voice as lovely as your looks. Will you sing for me?”
Clara puffed up with pride. No one had ever called her beautiful. She opened her beak to sing, forgetting the cheese. It fell to the ground. Felix snatched it and ran, laughing.
Clara was angry. She flew after Felix, but he was too fast. Alone on her branch, she thought hard. She realized Felix had tricked her with sweet words. She decided to be wiser.
The next day, Clara found another piece of cheese. She sat on the same branch. Felix returned, hungry again. “Lovely Crow,” he said, “your song yesterday was so sweet! Sing again, please!”
Clara held the cheese tightly in her beak. She shook her head and stayed silent. Felix tried more compliments, but Clara didn’t budge. Finally, Felix gave up and left, hungry.
Clara ate her cheese happily. She learned to trust her own mind, not just kind words.
Moral: Don’t let flattery cloud your judgment.