Story Prism

Today’s story, The red leather shoes, is about a shoemaker who extends kindness to someone in need. And what she gets in return, she never saw coming!

Free activity sheet available at https://www.rituvaish.com/the-red-leather-shoes

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

Long, long ago, in a small village in a sprawling kingdom, there lived a shoemaker.

Customers travelled from all corners of the kingdom to order shoes from the shoemaker. For everyone agreed the woman had a gift for making the most beautiful, comfortable footwear, and making it fast.

Children, which colour are your favourite shoes?

Everyone was in awe of her skill and speed.

Eventually, though, things began to change.

The shoemaker was growing older — so her eyes were growing weaker, her fingers were growing stiffer, and her work was growing slower.

But, the shoes she made were still as beautiful and comfortable as ever, but her customers were growing annoyed about how long they had to wait. Soon, the customers found a cobbler in the capital city, a young fellow who could churn out shoes like they were pancakes on a griddle, but certainly, the craftsmanship suffered and was no way close to the shoemakers.

Unfortunately, before long, the shoemaker in the village had no customers. And with no customers, she had no income. She couldn’t afford the material to make new shoes… or food to fill her belly!

Children, what do you think will happen to her now?

One morning, as she sat down for a meager breakfast of rice and tea, she glanced around her dusty shop. The shoemaker frowned as she sipped her tea. If she didn’t get any customers soon, she’d be in trouble! She kept thinking that there must be something she could do. Then, all of a sudden, something caught her eye. She shuffled to the kitchen, stretched up her creaky arms, and brought a box down from the shelf. It was a wooden box made from a walnut tree, with elaborate, intricate designs carved along the sides and top.

When the shoemaker lifted the box’s dusty lid, her eyes lit up. “There you are! I’d almost forgotten about you!”

Children, do you have a special box in which you keep your most prized possessions?

Let’s listen ahead to find out what she found in the box.

The shoemaker reached inside and unfolded a big piece of leather. She rubbed the material between her fingers. It was as smooth as the petals of a rose and as red as a pomegranate.

The leather had been a gift from her mother, a brilliantly talented shoemaker who passed all of her skills down to her one and only child. And years and years ago, just before the old woman cobbled her final pair of shoes and let out her final breath, she pulled her daughter aside and placed the leather in her hand.

The shoemaker recalled her mother’s words, “This leather will make a marvelous pair of shoes, but do not be hasty in using it, wait for the right time.” 

The shoemaker knew the time had come. At last, she would use her beloved red leather to make a magnificent pair of shoes — so magnificent that she could make a pretty penny selling them!

The shoemaker fetched her cobbling tools and got to work. Day after day, week after week, month after month, she stooped down at her table, until at last the red leather shoes were finished. She excitedly placed the shoes in the front window of her shop expecting someone to buy it.

And sure enough, it wasn’t long before she heard the door chime ring. A customer entered and asked her the price of that pair of shoes.

The shoemaker proudly said, “ They’re fifty silver coins.”

“Fifty silver coins? The cobbler in the capital city would charge way less than that!” the customer yelled out in surprise.

The shoemaker explained, “But the cobbler in the capital city would never craft ….”

Before even she could finish her sentence, the customed stomped out, “I’m sorry. But fifty silver coins sounds way too steep to me. Good luck with the shoes.”

Well, as it turned out, the shoemaker needed far more than luck. All those who walked in, walked out saying that it was way too expensive compared to the one in the capital city. Much to the old shoemaker's dismay, all of them made a beeline for the door.

Well, it wasn’t long before the shoemaker’s cupboards were bare, her pockets were empty, and she was left with little more than a heavy heart and a hungry belly.

Then one evening, as a ferocious storm raged outside, the shoemaker sat huddled by the fire. She was rubbing her bony hands and trying to ignore her grumbling belly when all of a sudden she heard a knock. ...

Children, who could be at the door?

The shoemaker heaved herself to her feet and waddled to the door. Shivering outside was a haggard man. His face was smudged with soot. Raindrops pelted down on his long, shabby coat and tattered hat.

He said, “Good evening, madam. Sorry to bother you, but I spotted the glow of your fire through your front window. I’ve been begging in the streets all day long and I am chilled to my bones! May I please come in and warm myself?”

“Of course!” The shoemaker took the beggar’s arm and led him to the fire. She said, “I would have offered you some food, but I ate my last bowl of rice days ago, and I haven’t been able to …”

The shoemaker stopped short. For her eyes had wandered down to the beggar’s feet. The man wasn’t wearing any shoes or socks, and his toes, soles, and heels were all dirty and wet.

“I’m sorry, sir... but your feet! Have you no shoes to wear?”

“No, madam. I have no shoes. As a poor beggar, I have nothing at all, really! But you.. How is it you’ve fallen on such hard times?

The shoemaker heaved a sigh and told the whole story.

The beggar nodded. Then he gestured toward the front window.

“I couldn’t help but notice those red leather shoes you have on display. They’re utterly spectacular! I’ve never seen anything like them! Are you telling me nobody will buy those?”

Sadly the shoemaker said, “Not even one! Everyone who comes into my shop says the shoes are too expensive.”

“That’s a pity, hope people understand and appreciate the craftsmanship of these splendid shoes. Well, it’s time for me to move on. Thank you for the fire and for the company. It means more than I can say.” The old beggar said.

As the man began trudging toward the door, the shoemaker stopped him

Children, why did the shoemaker stop the beggar?

Well, the shoemaker gave him the red leather shoes from the window.

The old beggar’s eyes twinkled as he slipped the shoes on. They fit like a glove. The old beggar thanked her profusely and disappeared into the dark and rainy night.

By morning, the storm had passed. Outside the shoemaker’s shop, the sky sparkled a brilliant blue, and the sun shone high in the sky.

That day the shoemaker decided that she would sell her cobbling tools to get some money then decide what to do next.

But just as the shoemaker began gathering up her hammers and scissors, her pincers and pliers...there was a knock at the door.

Children, any guesses on who was at the door?

When the shoemaker opened the door, she saw an elegant horse and carriage on the street outside. The finely-dressed driver waved his velvet-gloved hand and grinned. He politely said, “Good morning, madam! Please, come with me. We don’t have a moment to waste. The King wishes to see you immediately!”

The shoemaker was confused. The king? But she did as she was instructed and climbed into the carriage.

When the carriage reached the palace, the shoemaker was ushered into a great hall. The moment she spotted the king sitting on his plush velvet throne, decked out in his lush satin robe, she bowed low to the ground.

The king said, “Good morning, dear madam! Please. You may rise.”

Slowly, she rose to her feet.

The king went on, “ I’ve summoned you to my palace to repay you for the red leather shoes.

The shoemaker blinked her eyes. She was totally confused.

The king explained, “ You see, nobody outside these palace walls knows it, but from time to time, I like to disguise myself, so I may wander about my kingdom unrecognized. I wish to see first-hand how my people live and how they treat each other. Last night I disguised myself as an old beggar. I made my way to your shop in the thunder, wind, and rain and I knocked at your door. And what did you do? You took me in, you sat me by the fire, and you gave me your most prized possession; the red leather shoes.

The shoemaker felt her cheeks flush and said, “Of course I couldn't just leave you out there shivering in the cold!”

The king added, “So you say. But do you know how many of your fellow citizens turned me away as I wandered from house to house? Do you know how many of them slammed their door in my face? And so I’d like to repay you by making you the official royal shoemaker. And in return, you may live in this palace and enjoy all the comforts therein. Do you accept my offer?”

The shoemaker’s heart stuttered and skittered inside her chest. It felt like a dragonfly fluttering its delicate wings.

Humbled the shoemaker said, “Yes, Your Majesty. I accept your offer.”

And so, the shoemaker packed up her shop in the village and moved into the palace, where she spent her days making beautiful, comfortable shoes for the king.

She worked slowly, but the king didn’t mind. For what the shoemaker lacked in speed, she made up for in skill. And even if her hands weren’t quick, her heart was warm, and that’s what mattered most of all.

Welcome to the Turtle Tales series.

‘Why Turtles Live In Water’ is A Turtle Tale from West Africa, about a quick-witted turtle who saves himself from the hunters.

Free activity sheets and other downloadable resources are available at www.rituvaish.com/why-turtles-live-in-water

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

A long-long time ago, the turtles used to live on only the land. They were very happy. They slowly walked on land and enjoyed eating not only the earthworms, snails, beetles, and caterpillars, but also grasses, fruit, berries, mushrooms, and flowers.

Children, can you recall five things you ate yesterday?

This was until the time a clever turtle was caught by some hunters. The hunters had never before caught a turtle and were delighted. One of them exclaimed, “Let’s put him in the gunny bag and tie it at the top. He’ll make a scrumptious meal.”

They all agreed happily and carried the turtle in the gunny bag.

Of course, the turtle was naturally very sad. He kept thinking about ways to escape from the hunters, but in vain. He just lay in the gunny bag miserable.

Children, what will happen to the turtle now?

The hunters brought him to their village. Now the problem was none of them knew how to cook a turtle. So they went to their chief and placed the turtle before him and asked, “Chief, we have hunted a turtle, but we do not know how to cook him?”

The chief too had never hunted a turtle and was equally puzzled, “ I have no idea, why don’t we ask the turtle himself.”

Hearing the chief the turtle said, "You'll have to kill me first. Then, take me out of this shell."

"We'll break your shell with sticks," the hunters said confidently in unison. 

The turtle was a smart one a quick thinker too. He had an idea.

Children, can you guess what idea he got?

 "That'll never work," said the turtle, "Why don't you throw me in the water and drown me? Then my shell will become soft and you can crack it easily!"

"Excellent idea," said the Chief. They took the turtle to the river and threw him into the water to drown him.

They were congratulating themselves on their success in drowning the turtle, when two little green eyes poked up in the water and the laughing turtle said, "Don't get those cooking pots out too fast, foolish people!”

 As he swam away the turtle said to himself, "I think I'll spend most of my time from now on, safely in the water."

It has been that way ever since! And the turtle has been an amphibian, living in both land and water, since then.

Brer Rabbit is a trickster in many of the American folktales. In today’s story, Brer rabbit saves himself from drowning in the well.

Free activity sheet available at https://www.rituvaish.com/Brer-Rabbit-Falls-Down-The-Well

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

One day, Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox and Brer Racoon and Brer Bear and a lot of other animals decided to work together to plant a garden full of corn for roasting. They started early in the morning and raked and dug and raked some more, breaking up the hard ground so it would be ready for planting.

It was a hot day, and Brer Rabbit got tired mighty quick. But he kept dragging off the brush and clearing away the debris because he didn't want no one to call him lazy.

Then Brer Rabbit got an idea.

Children, can you guess what his idea was? Just remember he was very lazy.

 "Ow!" he shouted as loudly as he could. "I got a thorn in my hand!" He waved a paw and stuck it into his mouth. The other critters told him he'd better pull out the thorn and wash his hand before it got infected. That was just what Brer Rabbit wanted to hear. He hurried off, looking for a shady spot to take a quick nap. A little ways down the road, he found an old well with a couple of buckets hanging inside it, one at the top, and one down at the bottom.

"This bucket looks like a mighty cool place to take a nap," Brer Rabbit said, and hopped right into the bucket.

Well, Brer Rabbit was mighty heavy - much heavier than the bucket full of water laying at the bottom. When he jumped into the empty bucket, it plummeted right down to the bottom of the well. Brer Rabbit hung onto the sides for dear life as the second bucket whipped passed him, splashing water all over him on its way to the top. He had never been so scared in his life.

Brer Rabbit's bucket landed with a smack in the water and bobbed up and down. Brer Rabbit was afraid to move, in case the bucket tipped over and landed him in the water. He lay in the bottom of the bucket and shook and shivered with fright, wondering what would happen next.

What do you think would happen to him, children?

Let’s listen ahead.

Now Brer Fox had been watching Brer Rabbit all morning. He knew right away that Brer Rabbit didn't have a thorn in his paw and wondered what that trickster Rabbit was up to. When Brer Rabbit snuck off, Brer Fox sneaked behind and followed him.

He saw Brer Rabbit jump into the bucket and disappear down the well.

Brer Fox was puzzled. Why would Brer Rabbit go into the well?

Then he thought, "I bet he has some money hidden away down there and has gone to check up on it." Brer Fox crept up to the well, listening closely to see if he could hear anything. He didn't hear nothing. He peered down into the well, but all was dark and quiet, on account of Brer Rabbit holding so still so the bucket wouldn't tip him into the water.

Finally, Brer Fox shouted down into the well," Brer Rabbit, what you doing down there?"

Brer Rabbit perked up at once, realizing that this might be his chance to get out of the well.

"I'm a fishing down here, Brer Fox," says he. "I thought I'd surprise everyone with a meal of fresh fish for lunch. There's some real nice fish down here."

"How many fish are there?" asked Brer Fox skeptically, sure that the trickster rabbit was really counting his gold.

"Scores and scores!" cried Brer Rabbit. "Why don't you come on down and help me carry them out?"

Well, that was the invitation Brer Fox was waiting for. He was going to go down into that well and get himself some of Brer Rabbit's gold.

"How do I get down there?" asked Brer Fox.

Brer Rabbit grinned.

Children, can you guess why Brer Rabbit grinned?

Brer Fox was much heavier than he was. If Brer Fox jumped into the empty bucket at the top, then Brer Rabbit's bucket would go up, and Brer Fox's bucket would go down! So he said: "Just jump into the bucket, Brer Fox."

Well, Brer Fox jumped into the empty bucket, and down it plummeted into the dark well. He passed Brer Rabbit about halfway down. Brer Rabbit was clinging to the sides of the bucket with all his might as it was moving so fast. "Goodbye Brer Fox," he shouted as he rose. "Like the saying goes, some folks go up, and some go down! Hope you make it to the bottom all safe and sound."

Brer Rabbit jumped out of the well and ran back to the garden patch to tell the other critters that Brer Fox was down in the well muddying up the waters. Then he danced back to the well and shouted down to Brer Fox: "There's a hunting man coming along to drink some water, Brer Fox. When he hauls you up, you better run away as fast as you can!"

Then Brer Rabbit went back to the garden patch. When the thirsty hunter hauled up the bucket full of water, a wet and shaky Brer Fox sprang out and ran away before the hunter could grab for his gun.

An hour later, Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit were both back in the garden, digging and hauling away debris and acting like nothing had happened. Except every once in a while, Brer Fox would look sideways at Brer Rabbit and grin, and the trickster rabbit would start to laugh and laugh because both of them had looked so silly plummeting up and down in that dark, old well.

Welcome to the Turtle Tales series.

Limu, the blue turtle is an adapted folktale from Hawaii. Originally written by Kimo Armitage, it’s a story about perseverance, friendship, and being kind at heart. 

Free activity sheets and other downloadable resources are available at www.rituvaish.com/limu-the-blue-turtle

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

Every year, thousands of baby turtles climb out of their sandy nests and make their way to the ocean. This year, out popped another baby turtle but this one was blue!

His parents named him Limu.

The tiny blue turtle opened its big eyes, shook the sand off its head, and started to make its way to the ocean.

When all the other turtles saw the blue turtle they started to laugh. They pointed their flippers at the poor turtle and teased him.

“No one likes me,” the blue turtle said.

He dunked his head under the surf and rode out to sea.

Children, how did Limu feel when other turtles teased him? 

Growing up in the sea, Limu the blue turtle would meet other turtles, but after looking at Limu other turtles would laugh and swim away.

“No one wants to be my friend,” Limu said sadly.

But growing up was not all bad, Limu would bodysurf in the big waves and he would have fun chasing colourful fishes into the coral.

One day when he was eating his favourite seaweed off some rocks he heard someone crying. When Limu looked up he saw a little Opihi.

Children Opihi belongs to the broad category of marine snails and has conical shells.

“Why are you crying?” asked Limu.

“I am so sad. I miss my sister who lives far away,” cried the little Opihi.

“I can take you,” said the blue turtle. “I can swim really fast and we will be there in no time.”

“You are such a nice turtle,” said the Opihi. “My name is Nani.”

“My name is Limu. Hop on my back and we leave right now,” said the blue turtle.

The Opihi jumped on Limu’s back. She hung on tight as the blue turtle swam under the water. They swam near the surface and they swam deep in the deep part of the water. They laughed with the family of seals playing in the water.

All of a sudden, the water became black. Nani was very scared.

“What is it ?” she cried.

Children, can you guess who could that be?

When Limu looked up he saw he had bumped into a big whale. The whale was crying.

“What's wrong?” Limu asked.

“I was swimming in the deep water near a sunken ship and I got a big piece of wood stuck in my flipper,” the whale cried, “It hurts so much.”

“Maybe I can help,” said Limu.

Limu bit onto the piece of wood and pulled with all his might. He pulled and pulled and pulled.

“You can do it!” yelled Nani.

Suddenly, the wood came out!

The whale was indeed very happy.

“How can I ever thank you?” asked the whale.

“My flipper is as good as new.”

“Glad I could help. My name is Limu,” the blue turtle said.

 Children, think of a time you have helped someone?

That’s nice. I am sure helping others made you feel good.

“My name is Jonah,” replied the whale. “Limu, you are a good-hearted Turtle. Thanks again.”

The blue turtle started swimming again with Nani, the little Opihi on his back. After a day of travelling the blue Turtle and the little Opihi could see the beautiful bay where Nani's sister lived. Many different kinds of colourful fish lived in the reef.

As Limu looked at all the different types of seaweed, he was delighted. There is so much food to eat here, he thought to himself!

“There is my sister’s home,” cried Nani. “I am so happy!” how can I ever thank you enough for bringing me here.”

“I’m happy that I could help,” said Limu.

They pulled closer to the water’s edge where Nani’s sister lived.

Nani let out a big yell “Ooh Lani”.

Lani saw Nani and cried tears of joy for she was happy to see her sister too. Nani jumped off Limu’s back and hugged her sister.

“Thank you so much Limu,” said Lani,” You are a great friend to my sister and me I am so glad to see Nani. Indeed you have a big heart.”

Then she told Limu, "Please eat some seaweed."

Limu ate and ate. He had never seen so many different types of seaweed. In fact, he was so busy eating that he did not see how far he had drifted from the rocky shore. All of a sudden he saw two beady eyes looking at him.

Then he saw a lot of beady eyes and big dark shapes and Limu became very afraid.

“You look good enough to eat,” said one of the dark shapes when it moved closer. Limu saw that it was a shark.

“You will make a delicious lunch,” said another shark.

“We have never eaten a blue turtle before,” called out another one.

Just then a big black shadow covered Limu the big black shadow started to flip the sharks high into the sky one by one. the other sharks were afraid and swam away as fast as they could.

 Children, can you guess who that big, black shadow was?

“It looked like you needed some help Limu,” said the whale.

“Oh, thank you Jonah, you saved my life,” said Limu.

“That's what friends are for, See you later Limu,” said the whale as he swam away.

Limu swam back to Lani's home.

He was so happy because he was in a beautiful place with his friends and he knew that no matter what he looked like on the outside others liked him because of the good turtle he was on the inside.

The Town Musicians is an adapted folktale from Germany. We all have heard humans play music. But this story is about a group of animals forming an orchestra. Their statue was constructed and is still standing tall in Bremen town.

Free activity sheet available at https://www.rituvaish.com/The-Town-Musicians

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

Once upon a time, there was a donkey, who lived on a farm with his master. The donkey had become old and one day he got fed up on working on the farm and decided to leave his master. He thought he would become a musician.

He set off for the nearby town of Bremen.

On his way, the donkey met a dog, who had also left his home and master. “Will you come with me to Bremen?” asked the donkey. "Let's become musicians in the town orchestra. You can play the drums and I will play the guitar.” The dog agreed and they continued on their way together.

With dreams of playing in the town orchestra, they walked towards Bremen. A little bit further they met a cat and invited him to go with them to Breman and invited him to go with them to Breman. They also requested him to join the town orchestra as a lead vocalist.

The cat meowed in agreement and the three animals hurried on to Bremen.

As they were passing by a castle, the three saw a cockerel, crowing as loudly as he could, so they asked him why he was singing so loudly. “They are going to cook me and eat me tomorrow," he said, “so I am saying goodbye to life.”

But the donkey said, “Don’t be silly! Come with us! You can play the saxophone and you could be in the Bremen orchestra. That is where we are all going.”

The cockerel, who really didn’t want to be cooked, jumped on the donkey’s back and the four continued on their way.

Children, do you think this animal team would make good music? Why? Why not?

Let’s listen ahead.

The sun had started to go down and the four friends were looking for shelter for the night. They came across a house which was being burgled. The donkey looked through the window and saw a table, which had been generously laid with food and drinks. Since the four friends were very hungry, they decided to drive the men away, not knowing that they were burglars away so that they could eat the food.

The dog climbed on the donkey’s back, the cat stood on the dog’s head and the rooster perched on the cat’s back. They started their concert on three: “Hee-haw!” brayed the donkey, “Woof-woof!” barked the dog, “Meoooowww!” said the cat, and “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” crowed the cockerel. At all the noise the burglars started shouting in fear, “Help! Ghosts are coming to get us!” The men ran out of the door as fast as they could. They left the house that very second, thinking that the house was haunted by millions of terrifying ghosts.

The four friends made sure that the burglars had run a long way away and then went into the house. They sat down for dinner, ate, drank, and were merry.

Full from the delicious meal, they looked for a place to sleep and turned off the lights. The dog curled up behind the door, the cat snuggled in by the fireplace, the rooster perched on the back of a chair, and the donkey settled in one of the kitchen nooks. They soon fell fast asleep.

Meanwhile, the burglars gathered and the ringleader decided to send one of them to check whether the ghosts were still in the house as it was dark. The man who was sent approached the house quietly, shaking with fear. He reached the door and stood to listen. Since there was no noise, he went into the kitchen. He wanted to light a fire. So, thinking the cat's glowing eyes were burning coals, he held a candle next to them, hoping it would catch the light.

The cat jumped on his face and started scratching him. In a panic, he stepped back, stepping on the dog, who bit the man’s leg fiercely. The man couldn’t see anything and began to run around in the dark in a blind panic. He was kicked by the donkey. Then the cockerel crowed and started flying around.

The burglar ran to the ringleader and said “It's not just ghosts! Now there are witches in the house! Some of them scratch, others bite, others kick… It would be better for us if we moved somewhere else.” When the rest of the burglars heard him, they left the place as quickly as they could.

For the rest of their days, the saxophone playing rooster, Cat, the lead singing cat, the drum playing, dog, , the guitar playing donkey, lived in the cottage and played for the animals that lived around the daisy filled clearing.

Children, do you play any musical instrument?

Soon they became the best city musicians Bremen ever had. After the animals had died, the citizens erected a statue in memory of them. - It still stands next to the town hall. 

Welcome to the Turtle Tales series.

'The Turtle Who Couldn’t Stop Talking is a Jataka tale about a turtle who didn’t follow the instructions that were given to him and faced the consequence.

r turtle stew. After she is caught, her only hope for escape wit. Free activity sheets and other downloadable resources are available at www.rituvaish.com/the-turtle-who-could-not-stop-talking

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

A turtle lived in a pond at the foot of a hill. Two young wild Geese, looking for food, saw the turtle, and started talking with him. The geese said, “It’s so much fun to talk to you. You are a very nice turtle”

“I also enjoyed myself talking to you both. Do come and visit me again!” answered the turtle.

Children, what do you think they talked about?

The next day the Geese came again to visit the turtle and the day after and the day-day after. In no time they became very well acquainted and soon they were great friends.

"Friend turtle," the Geese said one day, "We have a beautiful home far away. We are going to fly back to it tomorrow. It will be a long but pleasant journey. Will you come with us?"

"Oh, I really would have loved to, but how could I? I have no wings. Further, I walk so slowly that I could never reach just walking to your home," said the turtle sadly.

Children, can you suggest some way the turtle can travel to his friends’ home?

Let’s see

Looking at their sad friend the geese discussed among themselves then suggested, "Oh, we will take you, but on one condition. You have to keep your mouth shut, and say not a word to anybody,"

"That’s easy, I can do that," said the turtle confidently. "Pease do take me with you. I will do exactly as you wish."

So the next day, the geese brought a stick and two of them held the ends of it. "Now take the middle of this in your mouth, and don't say a word until we reach home," the two geese told the turtle.

The turtle was delighted and quickly held the stick in his mouth.          

The geese then sprang into the air, with the turtle between them, holding fast to the stick.

The turtle was having a great time looking at the land from high in the sky.

Children, can you tell three things that the turtle saw from the sky?

As they were flying over a village, the village children saw the two geese flying along with the turtle and cried out: "Oh, see the Turtle up in the air! Look at the Geese carrying a turtle by a stick! Did you ever see anything more ridiculous in your life!"

The turtle didn’t like the mockery of the children and forgetting the instructions of the geese started to say…

Children, what was the instruction of the geese?

Yes! The geese had instructed the turtle not to open his mouth till they reach home. But the turtle forgot all about it and he looked down and began to say, "Well, if my friends carry me, what business is that of yours?" when he let go, he tumbled down and fell with a big thud on the ground.

As the two Geese flew on, they heard the people say, when they came to see the poor turtle, "That fellow could not keep his mouth shut. He had to talk, and so faced the consequences."

Thumb Ali is a story from Turkey where a boy as big as a thumb proves that even if you are different from others you are capable of many things. In today's story, Thumb Ali saves people from thieves.

Free activity sheet available at https://www.rituvaish.com/Thumb-Ali

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

Once upon a time, a couple had a baby boy whom they called Ali. The baby came as a surprise to his parents because when he was born, he was no bigger than a thumb!

Children, what living things come to your mind that are as small as a thumb?

The mother and father were both very upset, to begin with, but then they thought to themselves, "This is what God has given us, and one day our son will grow up to be a big, strong boy."

But the years passed, and Ali did not grow at all. He remained as little as a thumb. Every evening at dinner, the mother would set a place at the table for her son. She would place a tiny plate in front of him and fill it with a teaspoon full of soup. Ali also had a tiny cup that his mother filled with a single drop of water.

Children, what do you think Ali wore? And how big were his clothes?

Everything was fine when the family was at home, but the mother and father were worried for their son, thinking that if anybody saw him, they would tease the young boy. So, they kept him indoors.

Eventually, Ali celebrated his twentieth birthday. He was still as little as a thumb, but his voice had grown very deep and very loud just like an adult man.

Ali was a very sad young man because he had no friends and had to spend all of his time hiding inside his parent's house.

One day, Ali's father was getting ready to go to the market in the next town.

The old man planned on spending the night in a hotel because he would not be able to make the journey there and back before nightfall.

Ali pleaded with his father to take him along on the journey, but his father looked very anxious at the idea.        

"We never took you out until this day and I am not sure that I can do it now,” he said. "How can I protect you and hide you from other people?"

"It will be easy,” answered Ali, in his deep, booming voice. "You can keep me in your pocket, and nobody will ever know I am there. You can make a little hole in the material so I can breathe and so that I can see what is going on and enjoy all the new sights of the world."

Children, do you think Ali was smart? Why do you think so?

Ali's father realized how excited Ali was at the idea of leaving the house, and because of this, he found it impossible to say no to his only son. The old man made a very small hole in his shirt pocket and helped Ali to climb inside.

The mother handed over the bags for the journey and kissed them both and wished them good luck. Then Ali and his father set off towards the market in the neighboring town.

After travelling all day, Ali and his father came to the hotel by the side of the road.

"We will get ourselves a room over here for the night,” explained the father, "and tomorrow we will go to the market early in the morning before returning back home."

"I cannot believe I get to stay in a hotel!" exclaimed Ali.

Ali's father paid for a room and took his bags up the stairs to the room. After the old man had unpacked and washed, and with Ali still hidden in his pocket, he went down to the dining room in the hope that he might also sneak some food for his little son.

Then something quite unexpected happened. Just as all of the guests had seated themselves for dinner, a group of thieves entered the hotel.

The mean-looking men, three in all, pointed guns and gave orders that every man and woman should surrender their money and any valuables they possessed. All of the guests were very scared, including Ali's father, but they did as they were told and began reaching for their wallets and jewellery, placing them on the tables to be collected by the thieves.

Do your think Ali was scared?

Suddenly, there was a very loud and very deep voice from out of nowhere. "Drop your guns!" commanded the voice. "I am coming in there and I am going to catch you and give you over to the police," came the loud hoarse voice.

Children, whose voice was that?

Nobody knew where the voice was coming from. The thieves looked all around the dining room but could not find a soul.

Then the voice came again, even louder this time. “I will make you pay for your wicked ways. I will make sure that you spend many years in prison.”

Because the thieves could not tell where the voice was coming from, they convinced themselves that it must belong to a ghost. And if there was one thing the thieves were scared of even more than the police, it was ghosts.

All of a sudden, the thieves dropped their guns and ran from the hotel and disappeared into the night.

Even though the guests were happy that the robbers had fled, they too were afraid of ghosts and wanted to run away to their rooms and hide.

"Do not worry," explained Ali's father. "It is not a ghost that is talking. It is my son." And with that, the old man reached into his pocket so that Ali could climb into his hand. Then he placed Ali gently down on the table so that all of the guests might say hello. "I am sure the robbers will not return,” reassured Ali in his deep, booming voice, a big smile on his face due to all of the adventures he was having.

The guests were very surprised and very curious to meet a boy who was no bigger than a thumb.

But more than anything, they were all very grateful to Ali for saving them from the thieves, and they thanked him and shook his hand and said to his father how proud he must be to have such a brave son.

In the morning, as they left the hotel for the market, Ali's father took his little son out of his pocket and placed him upon his shoulder.

All morning at the market, and then on the way home, the old man had to stop many times to introduce Ali to passers-by. And he was very proud and told them how his son had saved everybody from the three thieves.

When father and son arrived home that evening, Ali's mother looked very worried that Ali was sitting up on her husband's shoulder.

"What if somebody should see him?" questioned the mother.

But the old man smiled and explained to his wife what adventures the pair had experienced at the hotel, and how Ali had saved the day and scared off the thieves.

"It has been a very great mistake to be ashamed of our son. We should not have kept him hidden in the house for all these years. We should be proud of Ali and all of the things that he is capable of doing."

Ali's mother was indeed very proud when she heard the story of her son's bravery and promised never to hide him away or be ashamed ever again.

Ever since that day, Thumb Ali has always travelled on his parent’s shoulders wherever they go, and he has seen and done many things and had many adventures.

The Lucky Goat and Ram is a folktale from Finland. In the story, a witty pair of a goat and a ram outwit the foxes and live happily in the forest

Free activity sheet available at https://www.rituvaish.com/the-goat-and-the-ram

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

The fox easily got into trouble with the farm folks. With sore ribs and a back aching from the beating that farm folk had given him he crept quietly along the forest ways, hoping to come upon some easy prey. Suddenly he saw ahead of him a goat and a ram.

With greedy eyes and mouth-watering, the fox thought, "Wow! I sure have my dinner served on the platter. But what are the goat and Ram doing here?" he thought to himself. "This is no place for them, and if anything happens to them it will be their own fault."

The goat and the ram both knew that the forest was no place for them. But where else could they go? They had recently been turned loose to fend for themselves by their poor old master who was no longer able to feed them.

Children, do you think the goat and the ram will be able to survive in the forest?

Let’s listen ahead.

"This forest rather frightens me," the ram had said to the goat. "Do you suppose we'll be able to keep off the foxes?"

With sparkling eyes, the goat said, "Yes, I've got a plan." So, saying he took a sack and half-filled it with dry chips of wood. Then when he shook the sack, the chips made a hollow rattle. He threw the sack over his shoulder and said to the ram, "Don't be frightened. We'll be able to survive with the forest creatures."

Children, how will the sack with wooden chips help the goat and ram survive?

It was just at this moment that the fox appeared.

"Ha Ha!" said the wolf suspiciously. "What's that you've got in that sack? No nonsense now! Answer me at once or I'll have to kill you both!"

The goat gave the sack a little rattle. "In this sack?" he said.

"Oh, only the skulls and bones of the foxes we have eaten. We haven't had any wolf meat now for some time, have we? It's good you've come along for we're hungry… Get ready, ram! Kill the wolf!"

The ram lowered his horns ready for attack and the wolf, too surprised to resist and too stiff to run away, cried out wildly, "Brothers! Brothers! Don't kill me! I'm your friend! Spare me and I'll do something for you!"

"Don't kill the wolf just yet!" commanded the goat.

Then he asked the wolf, "What will you do for us if we spare you?"

"I'll send you twelve foxes," the wolf promised. "That will give you more meat than you would  have if you killed just me!"

"Twelve," the goat replied. "You are right: twelve foxes will give us more meat than one. Very well, we'll let you go on condition that you send us twelve. But see to it that you keep your word!"

So, the wolf went off as fast as his stiff legs could carry him and gathered twelve of his brothers.

"I've called you together," he said, "To warn you of two terrible creatures. A goat and a ram! They are here in the forest, eating up foxes! Already they have a sack full of many foxes’ skulls and bones! I should say we ought to flee, all of us!"

"What!" said the other foxes, "Thirteen foxes flee from one goat and one ram? No, we'll go together and show them our power!"

"Don't count me in!" the wolf said. "I don't want to see those two again!"

The twelve foxes marched off without him.

As soon as the goat saw them coming, he ran up a tree. The ram followed him but couldn't get very high. The twelve foxes came under the tree and standing in a flock they called out, "Now then, you two, come on! We're ready for you!”

Children, what do you think will happen in the story next?

"Get ready, ram!" commanded the goat. "They're all here. Lose no more time! Jump down among them and kill!"

The goat himself began climbing down the tree, at the same time making an awful noise with his sack. He gave the ram a push and the ram slipped and fell right on the backs of the foxes.

"That's right ram! Kill them all!" the goat shouted, rattling his sack more furiously than ever. "Don't let a single one of them escape!"

In the confusion the foxes charged, running helter-skelter in all directions, and felt awfully lucky to get away. "Horrible, horrible!" each of them thought.

Afterwards the goat and the ram lived in the forest without being troubled by the foxes anymore.

The Turnaround is a story that teaches children about different kinds of penguins and that getting angry doesn’t help anyone.

Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/the-turnaround.

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

On a beautiful snow-covered Antarctic island with steep cliffs, there lived a rookery of chinstrap penguins. The black strap on the chin was like a strap of a helmet. That made them look aggressive. The whole island echoed with their harsh screeches that could even break the stones; true to another name by which they are called - stone-cracker penguins.

Children, after listening to the story look at the map and find out the Antarctic islands.

Stones are what the chinstrap penguins build their nest with and in this one such nest there were two eggs that hatched at the same time.

The chicks soon grew up, one of them was very and calm and quiet, and parents named him ‘Zola’. That stands for calmness in Swahili  language, the language of Africa people. While the other was short tempered and the parents’ named her ‘Hasira’, Swahili for anger.

What do you think this story is about?

Well, life on the island went on normally. Penguins were busy swimming, preening their feathers, feeding the chicks, and climbing the steep white cliffs.

Unfortunately, Hasira, would get angry with even a little provocation. She would fight with other penguins, screech at the top of her voice and shoo them away with her flippers when they approached her to play.

She often overheard the other penguins whisper

“She is so mean.”

“She is very unkind.”

“She is so unfriendly.”

But it did not bother Hasira.

Mother tried explaining that she should try to be more friendly, “ You can’t make friends when you keep getting angry. Aggression helps, but only when you are face a predators. Always remember: Kindness with friends , but aggression with the predators.”

 But Hasira, would not pay any heed to her advice.

One day, Zola asked Hasira to play with him. Surprisingly, Hasira agreed, but in the middle as she started to lose the game.  

Children, how do you behave when you are playing with others?

In anger, she started hitting Zola and tossing him over. Zola starting crying as he was hurt.

Father penguin heard Zola’s cry and came to sort out the fight between the siblings. After listening to both the siblings, father told Hasira to leave Zola alone. On hearing that Hasira grew even angrier.

“He asked me to play, not me!” she screeched. Furiously, she ran towards the ocean, jumped in the icy water and  swam deep in it, only to come out to get her breath.

Being furious, Hasira kept swimming and went far away from her island and didn’t look back.

Finally, she approached an island and waddled her way to the shore.

Where do you think Hasira has landed?

She saw hundreds of penguins, bigger than her parents, and the rest of the family members, whose squeaks weren’t as harsh as her own family’s screeches. They were all spread along the shore. She was confused.

They all stopped squeaking  and stared at her.

For the first time, Hasira got scared and was about to run away back into the sea, when she heard, “We are Emperor penguins. Welcome to our island dear Chin-Strap penguin.”  

Children, do you think emperor penguins are friendly?

Another few moved forward with a friendly smile, “Come join us, it is very cold. We all huddle together on such icy cold days to stay warm.”

“I am fine. Go away! I don't want anybody!” screeched the angry chick so loudly that all the emperor penguins closed their ears.

All the emperor penguins called their chicks and huddled together.

What do you think will happen to Hasira?

Well, by now Hasira was very cold and she collapsed on the shore due to the chilli winds.

When she opened her eyes, she saw hundreds of penguins all around her looking at her lovingly. They all  broke into an ecstatic display of happiness with their head swinging and flippers outstretched that their guest was alive.

Emperor penguins helped her recoup and played games with her. No one was ever angry here!

Under the tender care angry penguin, Hasira ,recovered and was ready to swim back home. Most importantly, she learnt to be calm and not fight with anyone.

Have you ever taken care of an animal that is hurt? How did you do that?

“Thanks a lot for taking care of me. I am sorry I was ill tempered when I landed here. You all showed me that being kind and calm makes us also feel happy in return.” bowed Hasira.

 “You are welcome Hasira. Visit us soon,” the emperor penguins waved with their wings.

With a sense of happiness that she had never felt before and a smile she started her journey back home.

After swimming a while, a rookery of little blue penguins landed in front of Hasira. Normally, she would have pushed and kicked them aside, but  after spending time with the Emperor penguins, she had a change of heart. So, she  gently played with those tiny penguins. She even took them for a ride on her back, and had fun.

Suddenly, she sensed a predator.

What do you suggest she should do?

“Is that a leopard seal?” she thought to herself.

She recalled her mother’s words, “ Kindness with friends, but aggression with the predators.”

She quickly huddled the little blue penguins behind a rock, then screeched loudly with her flippers outstretched to display anger.

Thinking it to be a sea animal bigger than him, the leopard seal turned back and vanished.

The little penguins exclaimed, “ Thank you for saving us!”

 “You are a hero, “ said another brushing Hasira with its tiny wings.

“You are such a nice and friendly penguin,”  squeaked another from behind.

 “You are so kind. I would like to be like you,” swam a tiny one who was the angry one in their rookery.

Hasira was flabbergasted by such lovely compliments and felt good. She bade them good bye and swam back home.

Children. Who is your good friend? And what does one quality that you like about this friend?

The whole rookery was delighted to see her alive. They all did their happy dance to welcome her back.

She  waddled up to her parents, “Please forgive me I will try and not be angry.” Turning to her brother, “ Zola, I promise not to trouble you, I am sorry !”

Looking at her chick’s eyes mummy penguin knew that Hasira had changed. She patted her with her wings and climbing the steep slopes said, “Let’s go home!”

Welcome to The Ant Tales series. The Lost message is a folktale from Africa. The story is about different kinds of ants falling prey to other animals as they don’t live in harmony.

Free activity sheets and other downloadable resources available at www.rituvaish.com/the-lost-message

Send your artwork to [email protected].

Transcript

Since time immemorial, the ant has had many enemies and that was not just the birds. The Anteater fed and lived off them; the Centipede always tormented them.

Among the ants, there were a few who thought it would be wise to hold a council and arrive at an arrangement, whereby they could retreat to some place of safety when attacked by birds and animals.

The day of the council arrived, and all the ants gathered. There were many ideas and opinions about how to stay safe.  – One was to make a small hole in the ground and make that their home. Another was to build a large and strong home, made of mud on the ground, just large enough for ants to enter. Yet another was to live in the trees, where the Anteater could never reach them, forgetting that there the ants would fall prey to birds; others who had wings just wanted to fly off when faced with trouble.

Children, Or Which option do you think the ants picked? And why do you think so?

They failed to arrive at a single decision since no one was ready to make adjustments.

Finally, when they could come to no mutual decision, each party resolved to work in its own way, and fortify their own dwellings.

Some of the groups together chose a king. Then they divided the labor and set about to working. All went as smoothly as it possibly could. Each had his appointed task and did his task well. But during all this hard work, none of the groups thought what the final aim was and not one of them thought of protecting themselves against the different enemies.

Children, what do you think will happen next?

The Red-ants built their house of mud on the ground and went to live in it. They thought they were safe. But the Anteater had no trouble leveling it to the ground in a minute, costing them many days of precious labor. The Rice-ants went to live under the ground, and they didn’t fare any better. Whenever they came out, the Anteater ate them up.

The Wagtail-ants fled to the trees. But the Centipede or the birds simply gobbled them up. The Gray-ants who planned to save themselves by flight were no match for the agile and quick Lizard or the Hunting-spider or the birds that pursued them in flight.

When the King of Insects found out that the ants had failed in their mission, he sent them the message of unity, that they all must work together”.

But do you know who his messenger was? It was the Beetle  And believe it or not, he is yet to arrive at the ants. So, even today the ants do not have any harmony, for the king’s message didn’t reach them yet to reach them yet and hence fall prey to enemies.

So, children, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.

Hence, Teamwork is very important.