a short story with moral in english

The 10 Best Short Moral Stories With Valuable Lessons

Stories that have morals and messages behind them are always powerful. In fact, it’s crazy just how powerful a 200 word story can be.

Our last article of short stories became so popular, that we decided to create another list, in which every story has a simple moral behind it.

Table of Contents

The 10 Best Short Moral Stories

Some of these stories are very short and basic. In fact some are so basic they’re most likely featured in children’s books somewhere. However, the strength of the message remains the same.

Here’s some more of the best short moral stories:

1. An Old Man Lived in the Village

An old man lived in the village. He was one of the most unfortunate people in the world. The whole village was tired of him; he was always gloomy, he constantly complained and was always in a bad mood.

The longer he lived, the more bile he was becoming and the more poisonous were his words. People avoided him, because his misfortune became contagious. It was even unnatural and insulting to be happy next to him.

He created the feeling of unhappiness in others.

But one day, when he turned eighty years old , an incredible thing happened. Instantly everyone started hearing the rumour:

“An Old Man is happy today, he doesn’t complain about anything, smiles, and even his face is freshened up.”

The whole village gathered together. The old man was asked:

Villager: What happened to you?

“Nothing special. Eighty years I’ve been chasing happiness, and it was useless. And then I decided to live without happiness and just enjoy life. That’s why I’m happy now.” – An Old Man

Moral of the story:

Don’t chase happiness. Enjoy your life.

2. The Wise Man

People have been coming to the wise man, complaining about the same problems every time. One day he told them a joke and everyone roared in laughter.

After a couple of minutes, he told them the same joke and only a few of them smiled.

When he told the same joke for the third time no one laughed anymore.

The wise man smiled and said:

“You can’t laugh at the same joke over and over. So why are you always crying about the same problem?”  

Worrying won’t solve your problems, it’ll just waste your time and energy.

3. The Foolish Donkey

A salt seller used to carry the salt bag on his donkey to the market every day.

On the way they had to cross a stream. One day the donkey suddenly tumbled down the stream and the salt bag also fell into the water. The salt dissolved in the water and hence the bag became very light to carry. The donkey was happy.

Then the donkey started to play the same trick every day.

The salt seller came to understand the trick and decided to teach a lesson to it. The next day he loaded a cotton bag on the donkey.

Again it played the same trick hoping that the cotton bag would be still become lighter.

But the dampened cotton became very heavy to carry and the donkey suffered. It learnt a lesson. It didn’t play the trick anymore after that day, and the seller was happy.

Luck won’t favor always.

4. Having A Best Friend

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand;

“Today my best friend slapped me in the face.”

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone;

“Today my best friend saved my life.”

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him;

“After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The other friend replied;

“When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”  

Moral of the story: 

Don’t value the things you have in your life. But value who you have in your life.

5. The Four Smart Students

One night four college students were out partying late night and didn’t study for the test which was scheduled for the next day. In the morning, they thought of a plan.

They made themselves look dirty with grease and dirt.

Then they went to the Dean and said they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their way back the tire of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way back. So they were in no condition to take the test.

The Dean thought for a minute and said they can have the re-test after 3 days. They thanked him and said they will be ready by that time.

On the third day, they appeared before the Dean. The Dean said that as this was a Special Condition Test, all four were required to sit in separate classrooms for the test. They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last 3 days.

The Test consisted of only 2 questions with the total of 100 Points:

1) Your Name? __________ (1 Points)

2) Which tire burst? __________ (99 Points) Options – (a) Front Left (b) Front Right (c) Back Left (d) Back Right

Take responsibility or you will learn your lesson.

6. The Greedy Lion

It was an incredibly hot day, and a lion was feeling very hungry.

He came out of his den and searched here and there. He could find only a small hare. He caught the hare with some hesitation. “This hare can’t fill my stomach” thought the lion.

As the lion was about to kill the hare, a deer ran that way. The lion became greedy. He thought;

“Instead of eating this small hare, let me eat the big deer.”

He let the hare go and went behind the deer. But the deer had vanished into the forest. The lion now felt sorry for letting the hare off.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

7. Two Friends & The Bear

Vijay and Raju were friends. On a holiday they went walking into a forest, enjoying the beauty of nature. Suddenly they saw a bear coming at them. They became frightened.

Raju, who knew all about climbing trees, ran up to a tree and climbed up quickly. He didn’t think of Vijay. Vijay had no idea how to climb the tree.

Vijay thought for a second. He’d heard animals don’t prefer dead bodies, so he fell to the ground and held his breath. The bear sniffed him and thought he was dead. So, it went on its way.

Raju asked Vijay;

“What did the bear whisper into your ears?”

Vijay replied, “The bear asked me to keep away from friends like you”  …and went on his way.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

8. The Struggles of Our Life

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it.

She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.

Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter.

The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners.

He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

Turning to her, he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?”

“Potatoes, eggs and coffee,” she hastily replied.

“Look closer”  he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity-the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.

The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

“Which one are you?” he asked his daughter.

“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is how you choose to react to it and what you make out of it. Life is all about leaning, adopting and converting all the struggles that we experience into something positive.

9. The Fox & The Grapes

One afternoon a fox was walking through the forest and spotted a bunch of grapes hanging from over a lofty branch.

“Just the thing to quench my thirst,” he thought.

Taking a few steps back, the fox jumped and just missed the hanging grapes. Again the fox took a few paces back and tried to reach them but still failed.

Finally, giving up, the fox turned up his nose and said, “They’re probably sour anyway,” and proceeded to walk away.

Moral of the story:  

It’s easy to despise what you can’t have.

10. The Lion & The Poor Slave

A slave, ill-treated by his master, runs away to the forest. There he comes across a lion in pain because of a thorn in his paw. The slave bravely goes forward and removes the thorn gently.

The lion without hurting him goes away.

Some days later, the slave’s master comes hunting to the forest and catches many animals and cages them. The slave is spotted by the masters’ men who catch him and bring him to the cruel master.

The master asks for the slave to be thrown into the lion’s cage.

The slave is awaiting his death in the cage when he realizes that it is the same lion that he had helped. The slave rescued the lion and all other caged animals.

One should help others in need, we get the rewards of our helpful acts in return.

Here’s a quick recap on the 10 best short moral stories:

• An old man lived in the village
• The wise man
• The foolish donkey
• Having a best friend
• The four smart students
• The greedy lion
• The two friends & the bear
• The struggles of our life
• The fox & the grapes
• The lion & the poor slave

If you haven’t seen our original article, with slightly more detailed inspirational short stories , check it out!

Do you have any other favorite short moral stories? Leave a comment below.

The 10 best motivational speakers in the world.

Dan Western is the founder of Wealthy Gorilla . Dan has been running Wealthy Gorilla and studying self-development, personal finance, and investment for the last 7 years. To this day, Wealthy Gorilla has become one of the fastest growing wealth infotainment sites in the world; with over 300 million views worldwide. Dan doesn't use personal social media anymore, so you won't be able to find him on Instagram, or Twitter.

10 Comments

Apr 7, 2019 at 12:40 pm

An old man lived in the village is a wonderful story. I like it very much. thanks

Jun 14, 2019 at 11:20 am

The foolish donkey is wonderful and all stories good but i like it

Jul 17, 2019 at 3:03 pm

I really enjoyed your entire list but my favorite of this list is the one about the egg, potatoe, and coffee. Awesome story that is very impactful.

Nov 22, 2019 at 2:36 am

Foolish donkey this story I like that and I have learn something from these stories thanks uploaded on net its was so inspection stories to people’s

Dec 13, 2019 at 2:08 pm

I like the story an old man lived in the village thank you for giving this type of story

Aqsa farhat

Feb 29, 2020 at 10:54 am

All the stories were nice and these stories reminds me about my childhood thank you for making such meaningful stories

Pattada praveen kumar

Apr 14, 2020 at 9:57 am

The fox & the grapes its really everyone thinking like

Bhim Maya subba

Nov 13, 2020 at 1:55 pm

Mine is about ( The blind girl ). Since I have read that book before but I am very glad that I got another chance to read that same book. Actually this story is one of my favorite of all time.

Ramel Sasuke Sampang

Nov 14, 2020 at 5:31 am

My favorite is the potato, egg, and coffee beans! It will help me with future problems. 😀

Marry Walker

Nov 20, 2020 at 12:40 pm

Being a writer, I love to read stories and books. And this blog includes the best short moral stories. I like these all stories and i will share it definitely. Keep writing!

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Who are the best motivational speakers of all time?

Motivational speakers have had an enormous impact on my life, and millions of others, no matter what their personal situation in life may be.

Their words are so powerful and inspirational, you just have to listen to their stuff on a daily basis. So it brings me to this post.

I’ve been enjoying a lot of motivational videos recently, have been creating my own, and have ended up listening to a lot of wonderful speeches.

Top 10 Best Motivational Speakers

But who are the best motivational speakers in the world?

Here’s my list of the top 10 motivational speakers in the world.

These are the people you need to be following, listening to and watching on YouTube. They have transformed many people’s lives including mine.

10. Nick Vujicic

Nick Vujicic was born on December 4th 1982 in Melbourne, Australia. Vujicic was born with Tetra-Amelia syndrome, a very rare disorder whereby someone is born with an absence of all four limbs.

This no doubt ably, made things incredibly tough for Nick growing up, as he struggled both mentally and physically.

It led to him founding his very own non-profit organization called ‘Life Without Limbs’ . Nick Vujicic is a true inspiration to us all, and if you’ve watched some of his motivational speeches on YouTube, you’ll realize just how much he’s been able to adapt to a life without limbs.

Many people with this disorder might not be willing to work hard in order to truly push their abilities.

He can type 43 words a minute on a computer. That’s right, you heard me correctly. This is a guy who has an absence of all four limbs, but can type 43 words per minute on a computer.

I encourage you to watch some of his videos on YouTube, and see exactly what I’m talking about.

“It’s a lie to think you’re not good enough. It’s a lie to think you’re not worth anything.” – nick Vujicic

9. Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy was born on January 5th 1944 in Vancouver, Canada, and is the CEO of Brian Tracy International , a company that specifically sets out to help individuals and organizations develop, train and grow.

Brian’s ultimate goal is to help other people achieve their goals more efficiently and be able to achieve their full potential.

That definitely sets the foundation for being one of the best motivational speakers in the world.

His lifetime achievements are phenomenal, consulting huge numbers of businesses, hosting huge numbers of seminars and conducting  years and years of research in Business, Economics, Psychology and Philosophy.

There’s no more to say other than the title given on his website: Professional Speaker, Best Selling Author, Entrepreneur and Success Expert. Check out some of the best Brian Tracy quotes .

“No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely, positively have to find people who have already paid the price to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals.” – Brian Tracy

8. Robin Sharma

Robin Sharma was born in 1964 in Nepal, and straight out of the Dalhousie University School of Law, became a professional lawyer. But he went much further in his career than being a fully qualified and successful lawyer.

Sharma has written a total of 15 published books, from 1995 – 2011, on the subjects of self-help and leadership. One of his most popular books written; ‘The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari’ , has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

The book is all about a character called Julian, who decides to sell his home and Ferrari to go on a spiritual journey, after being the victim to a sudden heart attack.

Some may say that Robin Sharma’s more of a motivational author rather than speaker, but he deserves to be on this list. He’s written 12 global best sellers, and is an expert author in the world of leadership and self development.

“Dreamers are mocked as impractical. The truth is they are the most practical, as their innovations lead to progress and a better way of life for all of us.” –  Robin S. Sharma

7. Wayne Dyer

Dr. Wayne Dyer was born on May 10th 1940 in Detroit, and spent the majority of his childhood in an orphanage.

Dyer was in the U.S Navy after graduating high school, from 1958 to 1962. He then received his degree in counselling, a profession that he chose to work in for a while before taking it one step further.

Dyer left his teaching job and started pursuing a career in motivational speaking, holding various lectures across the states and becoming an incredibly popular author.

The first book that Dyer ever wrote has now had over 35 million copies sold and he’s proceeded to continue with his lecture tours, release various audio tapes and publish a regular stream of books .

“Passion is a feeling that tells you: this is the right thing to do. Nothing can stand in my way. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says. This feeling is so good that it cannot be ignored. I’m going to follow my bliss and act upon this glorious sensation of joy.” –  Wayne Dyer

6. Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar was born on November 6th, 1926 in Alabama, and passed away on November 28th in 2012.

Ziglar has 11 siblings, and at the age of five years old, his father died of a stroke, and his sister passed away two days later. Zig actually served in the army from 1935 – 1946 during World War II.

Ziglar met his wife Jean when he was just 17 years old, and after the war began to work as a salesman for many different companies, eventually becoming the vice president for the Automotive Performance company .

He started taking part in motivational seminars, and also wrote his first book in 1975 titled: ‘See You at the Top’ . This was the first of at least 15 books he’d written during the period of 1975 and 2012.

A lot of wisdom has come from Zig Ziglar over the years and he is definitely one of the best motivational speakers in the world.

“You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness.” – Zig Ziglar

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on July 30th 1947, in Austria. We all know him as the world famous professional bodybuilding champion, and there’s a very inspirational story behind Arnie’s bodybuilding success.

Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian army at the age of 18 years old for 1 year, which at the time was compulsory for all 18-year-old males.

During this time, he would still manage to fit in his workouts between all the training and drills, whilst most people were resting. He snuck out of the camp to compete in the Junior Mr. Europe contest , which he ended up winning.

Arnold’s discipline towards his training was incredible, and the fact that he was willing to disobey the rules of the army and sneak out of the camp to compete in the contest, just goes to show how badly he wanted it.

Nowadays, he’s an inspiration to many bodybuilders and a great source of motivation for anyone wanting to be successful.

“For me life is continuously being hungry. The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

4. Jim Rohn

Jim Rohn was born September 17th, 1930 in Yakima, Washington, and passed away on December 5th, 2009. He was a very successful entrepreneur, at one time being a Vice President of a very successful sales company, Nutri-Bio.

However, after the company eventually went out of business, he was invited to speak at a meeting of one of his clubs.

After this meeting, he was invited to speak at many other events and began making a name for himself. Rohn was a wise businessman and managed to impart much of this wisdom to others.

He’s definitely earned the right to be on this list of the best motivational speakers in the world.

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn

3. Les Brown

Les Brown was born on February 17th, 1945 in Miami, Florida. He was adopted by Mamie Brown, and whilst in grade school, was declared “educably mentally retarded” .

Despite this and the emotional issues, it brought upon him; he was encouraged by others to continue to learn and be the best he could be. Leading him to unlock his full potential.

Les is another motivational speaker who is incredibly popular among the motivational video compilations that others create. Because his speeches are so deep and meaningful that they really get through to people.

His top-selling books: ‘It’s Not over until You Win!’  and ‘Live Your Dreams’ are truly inspirational and well worth the read.

“When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Let your reason get you back up.” – Les Brown

2. Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins was born on February 29th, 1960 in Los Angeles. His life at home when he was young was described by him as abusive and chaotic. It was because of this that he left home at the age of 17.

Originally when starting out in the world of motivational speaking, Robbins was promoting seminars for Jim Rohn. He later decided to begin his own journey by hosting his own seminars.

Tony has affected and changed so many people’s lives in a positive way through his seminars, motivational speeches, inspirational quotes and best-selling books.

Search for him on YouTube and several videos will pop up showing him change someone’s life.

The favorites of mine that I’ve watched, are where he cures a young man’s stutter in 7 minutes and saves another guy’s marriage in 8.

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” – Tony Robbins

1. Eric Thomas

Eric Thomas, born and raised in Detroit, was homeless at the age of 16 years old. But Eric decided that he wanted to make a better life for himself, to become someone with a life he could be proud of.

E.T did just that, and you can now check out powerful advice from Eric Thomas on YouTube. Including his “Thank God It’s Monday” series.

He also managed to get the education he missed out on whilst he was homeless and pushed himself further to achieve all the qualifications he dreamed of being able to achieve.

Eric Thomas has become one of the best motivational speakers in the world. His YouTube videos are legendary and his best-selling books have taken in millions of dollars in revenue.

E.T’s speeches are so popular, that you’ll find he’s featured in roughly 90% of the motivational videos that others create and upload to YouTube, using compilations of clips, speeches, and music.

“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.” – Eric Thomas

I hope you enjoyed this list of the top 10 best motivational speakers in the world. Many of these speakers are featured within some of the videos we included in our new list of ultimate gym motivation . Take a look and see what you think.

Here’s a quick recap on the list of the best motivational speakers in the world::

• Eric Thomas
• Tony Robbins
• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Dr. Wayne Dyer
• Robin Sharma
• Brian Tracy
• Nick Vujicic

Who’s your favorite of the 10 best motivational speakers? Do you still agree with the current order of this list? Leave a comment below.

The 10 Most Inspirational Short Stories I’ve Heard

Short Inspirational stories are powerful reads;

The great thing about them is that they’re so easy to digest, and there’s always a moral at the end of the story.

Whether they’re true stories or not is another thing, as many of them are legends supposedly hundreds of years old.

However, the stories that I’m talking about are so powerful and inspirational that many of them really do get you thinking and even leave you speechless at times.

The 10 Best Inspirational Short Stories

I’ve been reading plenty of these short stories in the past couple of weeks and found the lessons behind them truly wonderful. So I’ve decided to write out this article highlighting the 10 most inspirational short stories I’ve heard.

Next to the subheadings, in brackets, I’ve put what the story’s lesson is all about, with a short description of the moral of the story at the end of each section.

10. The Elephant Rope (Belief)

A gentleman was walking through an elephant camp, and he spotted that the elephants weren’t being kept in cages or held by the use of chains.

All that was holding them back from escaping the camp, was a small piece of rope tied to one of their legs.

As the man gazed upon the elephants, he was completely confused as to why the elephants didn’t just use their strength to break the rope and escape the camp. They could easily have done so, but instead, they didn’t try to at all.

Curious and wanting to know the answer, he asked a trainer nearby why the elephants were just standing there and never tried to escape.

The trainer replied;

“when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The only reason that the elephants weren’t breaking free and escaping from the camp was that over time they adopted the belief that it just wasn’t possible.

No matter how much the world tries to hold you back, always continue with the belief that what you want to achieve is possible. Believing you can become successful is the most important step in actually achieving it.

9. Thinking Out of the Box (Creative Thinking)

In a small Italian town, hundreds of years ago, a small business owner owed a large sum of money to a loan-shark. The loan-shark was a very old, unattractive looking guy that just so happened to fancy the business owner’s daughter.

He decided to offer the businessman a deal that would completely wipe out the debt he owed him. However, the catch was that we would only wipe out the debt if he could marry the businessman’s daughter.

Needless to say, this proposal was met with a look of disgust.

The loan-shark said that he would place two pebbles into a bag, one white and one black.

The daughter would then have to reach into the bag and pick out a pebble. If it was black, the debt would be wiped, but the loan-shark would then marry her. If it was white, the debt would also be wiped, but the daughter wouldn’t have to marry the loan-shark.

Standing on a pebble-strewn path in the businessman’s garden, the loan-shark bent over and picked up two pebbles.

Whilst he was picking them up, the daughter noticed that he’d picked up two black pebbles and placed them both into the bag.

He then asked the daughter to reach into the bag and pick one.

The daughter naturally had three choices as to what she could have done:

• Refuse to pick a pebble from the bag.
• Take both pebbles out of the bag and expose the loan-shark for cheating.
• Pick a pebble from the bag fully well knowing it was black and sacrifice herself for her father’s freedom.

She drew out a pebble from the bag, and before looking at it ‘accidentally’ dropped it into the midst of the other pebbles. She said to the loan-shark;

“Oh, how clumsy of me. Never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.”

The pebble left in the bag is obviously black, and seeing as the loan-shark didn’t want to be exposed, he had to play along as if the pebble the daughter dropped was white, and clear her father’s debt.

It’s always possible to overcome a tough situation throughout of the box thinking, and not give in to the only options you think you have to pick from.

8. The Group of Frogs (Encouragement)

As a group of frogs was traveling through the woods, two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs crowded around the pit and saw how deep it was, they told the two frogs that there was no hope left for them.

However, the two frogs decided to ignore what the others were saying and they proceeded to try and jump out of the pit . 

Despite their efforts, the group of frogs at the top of the pit were still saying that they should just give up. That they would never make it out.

Eventually, one of the frogs took heed to what the others were saying and he gave up, falling down to his death. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die.

He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?”

The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

People’s words can have a big effect on other’s lives. Think about what you say before it comes out of your mouth. It might just be the difference between life and death.

7. A Pound of Butter (Honesty)

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to a baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting the right amount, which he wasn’t. Angry about this, he took the farmer to court.

The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure to weight the butter. The farmer replied, “Honor, I am primitive. I don’t have a proper measure, but I do have a scale.”

The judge asked, “Then how do you weigh the butter?”

The farmer replied;

“Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker.”

In life, you get what you give. Don’t try and cheat others.

6. The Obstacle In Our Path (Opportunity)

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. He then hid himself and watched to see if anyone would move the boulder out of the way. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.

Many people loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none of them did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

A peasant then came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to push the stone out of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant went back to pick up his vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.

The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King explaining that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

Every obstacle we come across in life gives us an opportunity to improve our circumstances , and whilst the lazy complain, the others are creating opportunities through their kind hearts, generosity, and willingness to get things done.

5. The Butterfly (Struggles)

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.

One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.

Until it suddenly stopped making any progress and looked like it was stuck.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily, although it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man didn’t think anything of it and sat there waiting for the wings to enlarge to support the butterfly. But that didn’t happen. The butterfly spent the rest of its life unable to fly, crawling around with tiny wings and a swollen body.

Despite the kind heart of the man , he didn’t understand that the restricting cocoon and the struggle needed by the butterfly to get itself through the small opening; were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings. To prepare itself for flying once it was out of the cocoon.

Our struggles in life develop our strengths . Without struggles, we never grow and never get stronger, so it’s important for us to tackle challenges on our own, and not be relying on help from others.

4. Control Your Temper (Anger)

There once was a little boy who had a very bad temper. His father decided to hand him a bag of nails and said that every time the boy lost his temper, he had to hammer a nail into the fence.

On the first day, the boy hammered 37 nails into that fence.

The boy gradually began to control his temper over the next few weeks, and the number of nails he was hammering into the fence slowly decreased.

He discovered it was easier to control his temper than to hammer those nails into the fence.

Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father the news and the father suggested that the boy should now pull out a nail every day he kept his temper under control.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.

“you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.”

Control your anger, and don’t say things to people in the heat of the moment, that you may later regret . Some things in life, you are unable to take back.

3. The Blind Girl (Change)

There was a blind girl who hated herself purely for the fact she was blind. The only person she didn’t hate was her loving boyfriend, as he was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry him.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her – now she could see everything , including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”

The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying:

“Just take care of my eyes dear.”

When our circumstances change, so does our mind. Some people may not be able to see the way things were before, and might not be able to appreciate them . There are many things to take away from this story, not just one.

This is one of the inspirational short stories that left me speechless.

2. Puppies for Sale (Understanding)

A shop owner placed a sign above his door that said: “Puppies For Sale.”

Signs like this always have a way of attracting young children, and to no surprise, a boy saw the sign and approached the owner; 

“How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked.  

The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.”

The little boy pulled out some change from his pocket. “I have $2.37,” he said. “Can I please look at them?”

The shop owner smiled and whistled. Out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his shop followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?”

The shop owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. “That is the puppy that I want to buy.”

The shop owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.”

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said;

“I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.”

The shop owner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.”

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the shop owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!”

1. Box Full of Kisses (Love)

Some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.”

The man became embarrassed by his overreaction earlier, but his rage continue when he saw that the box was empty. He yelled at her; “Don’t you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside?”

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried;

“Oh, Daddy, it’s not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They’re all for you, Daddy.”

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child.

Her father kept the gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

Love is the most precious gift in the world.

Summary of the 10 Best Inspirational Stories

Here’s a quick summary of the 10 best short inspirational stories:

• Box Full of Kisses (Love)
• Puppies for Sale (Understanding)
• The Blind Girl (Change)
• Control Your Temper (Anger)
• The Butterfly (Struggles)
• The Obstacle in Our Path (Opportunity)
• A Pound of Butter (Honesty)
• The Group of Frogs (Encouragement)
• Thinking Out of the Box (Creative Thinking)
• The Elephant Rope (Belief)

Thanks for reading these inspirational short stories. Some of them left me speechless for a minute or two, and it really does make us think.

If you know of any other inspirational short stories that you think should be featured on the list, then let me know in the comments below or drop me an email and I’ll feature them in part two later on in the year.

Which are your favorite inspirational short stories? Leave a comment below.

Top 20 best personal development authors of all time.

Ever wanted to start reading self-development books, but you’re not sure who the best personal development authors to follow are?

You’re in luck…

I’m about to give you the names of what I believe to be the top 20 best self-development authors to be reading up on. These are names to remember when you’re looking for your next book to buy.

Top 20 Best Personal Development Authors

Here are, in no particular order, the names of the 20 best authors to start reading up on. I would have loved to include a few other names on this list, but the top 20 is what it is!

1. Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield is the legend behind the ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ series; one of the most popular self-development book series of all time.

Over 250+ books have been published by the company, and Canfield has gone on to become a leading motivational speaker and trainer.

2. Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill is the author behind the notorious ‘Think & Grow Rich’, one of the most popular self-development books of all time.

Hill teaches the principles of attaining any riches you desire in life, and there is so much valuable information within this book, that it’ll always be remembered.

3. Dale Carnegie

Another self-development author you have to check out, and one you’ve probably already heard of, is Dale Carnegie. Carnegie lived from 1888 to 1955, and within his life, published a considerable number of self-help books.

Two of those books, specifically the best selling ones, were ‘How to Win Friends & Influence People’ and ‘How to Stop Worrying & Start Living’.

4. Robert B. Cialdini

You probably know Cialdini as the author of ‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion’. This book is highly regarded as one of the best self-development books of all time, as well as one of the best psychology books to read.

5. Tim Ferriss

If you’re not following Tim Ferriss , I don’t know what you’re doing. There are four best selling books that every Tim Ferriss fan will have read, and they’ve helped change the lives of millions.

Those four books are:

• The Four Hour Work Week
• The Four Hour Body
• Tools For Titans
• Tribe of Mentors

6. Dr. Wayne Dyer

Sadly, Wayne Dyer passed away several years ago. He was an American philosopher, self-help author and motivational speaker. Dyer wrote over 40 books in the field of personal development, and they have sold in tens of millions.

7. John C. Maxwell

John Maxwell is an American author, speaker and pastor. He focuses solely on leadership, and training other to become wise and wonderful leaders.

Maxwell has written a ton of incredible books, however these are some the most popular books he’s written:

• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• Developing The Leader Within You
• The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth
• How Successful People Think
• Failing Forward

8. Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins , what a guy! Tony has helped people all over the world to transform their lives, and there’s so much wisdom we can all gain from listening to his speeches, and reading his content.

If you want to learn more about Tony Robbins and his work, you can check out these books:

• Awaken the Giant Within
• Unlimited Power
• Unshakeable

9. Paulo Coelho

You probably know Paulo Coelho for his best selling book, ‘The Alchemist’. Coelho is a best selling author, lyricist and novelist, and has received many awards for his work over the years.

The Alchemist is definitely a book you should read if you’re an ambitious individual trying to pursue your dreams and overcome any obstacles in your way.

10. Deepak Chopra

Deepak Chopra is an American author, public speaker, alternative medicine advocate, and a prominent figure in the New Age movement.

Chopra has become one of the most influential figures in the area of spiritual healing and alternative medicine. Some of his best selling books you should be adding to your reading list are:

• Re-inventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul
• Creating Affluence
• The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

11. Peter F. Drucker

Peter Drucker was an Austrian-born American management consultant, educator, and author, whose writings contributed to the philosophical and practical foundations of the modern business corporation.

You probably know him as the author behind ‘Managing Oneself’, and if you don’t, then you should.

12. Martha Beck

Martha Nibley Beck is an American sociologist, life coach, best-selling author, and speaker who travels the world helping people achieve personal and professional goals.

Some of Martha’s most popular books are:

• Finding Your Own North Star
• Find Your Way In A Wild New World
• The 4-Day Win

13. Stephen R. Covey

I first encountered Stephen Covey’s work when I purchased ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, which at the time had sold over 15 million copies!

Covey was an American educator, speaker and author. He sadly passed away 5 years ago, but his work has lived on to be some of the best reading material anybody could ever purchase.

14. Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy is a Canadian-born American motivational public speaker and self-development author. He is the author of over 70 books that have been translated into dozens of languages.

Some of his most notorious books are:

• No Excuses: The Power of Discipline
• Eat That Frog!

15. Les Brown

Les Brown is one of my favorite motivational speakers of all time. Les was labelled educable mentally retarded when he was younger, and was born on the floor of an abandoned building.

Some of his most popular and best selling books are ‘Live Your Dreams’ and ‘It’s Not Over Until You Win’.

16. Jim Rohn

Emanuel James “Jim” Rohn was an American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. He was responsible for changing many people’s lives, and even mentored Tony Robbins once upon a time.

These are some of the most popular self-development books by Jim Rohn:

• 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness
• My Philosophy for Successful Living
• The Keys to Success

17. Gary Keller

Gary Keller is an American entrepreneur and best-selling author. He is the founder of Keller Williams Realty International, which is the largest real estate company in the world by agent count.

You’ve probably heard Keller’s name come up when people talk about ‘The ONE Thing’, his best selling self-help book.

18. Gabrielle Bernstein

Gabrielle Bernstein is an American motivational speaker, life coach, and author. Bernstein teaches primarily from the metaphysical text A Course In Miracles.

Some of here most popular books are:

• Miracles Now
• Spirit Junkie
• May Cause Miracles
• The Universe Has Your Back

19. Brendan Burchard

Brendon Burchard is an American author on motivation and the use of digital and affiliate marketing to sell “info products” based on whatever expertise a person has.

He is most commonly known for his book: The Motivation Manifesto, however he has written several other useful and recommended books on the subject of motivation, such as:

• The Millionaire Messenger
• Life’s Golden Ticket

20. Joel Osteen

Joel Scott Osteen is an American preacher and televangelist. He is the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church, in Houston, Texas. Osteen’s televised sermons are seen by over 7 million viewers weekly and over 20 million monthly in over 100 countries.

Some of his most popular books are:

• Think Better, Live Better Study Guide
• The Power of I Am
• Fresh Start

That concludes the list of the best personal development authors of all time:

• Jack Canfield
• Napoleon Hill
• Dale Carnegie
• Robert B. Cialdini
• John C. Maxwell
• Anthony Robbins
• Paulo Coelho
• Deepak Chopra
• Peter F. Drucker
• Martha Beck
• Stephen R. Covey
• Gary Keller
• Gabrielle Bernstein
• Brendan Burchard
• Joel Osteen

Who are your favorite personal development authors? Leave a comment below.

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30+ Best short stories in English with moral (Valuable lessons for kids)

Looking for short stories in English with moral ? Check out this list of must-read short stories for children with unique moral lessons.

These very short stories with morals in English language teach children about morality and ethics. They also help them develop their critical thinking skills .

These are short learning stories that you can read at bedtime. You will not be disappointed by these classic short moral stories in English and they work like a charm for kids of any age .

✅>>>>Also, if you are tired of bedtime story struggles and want to instill moral values effortlessly, then get this bestselling stories . I personally have found it useful. <<<<

The Gita: For Children + The Vedas and Upanishads for Children (Set...

• The Gita: For Children + The Vedas and Upanishads for Children (Set of 2 books)

Also Read – 10 Lines short stories with Morals

In this page very short stories in English with morals are available both as pictures and in pdf. Just download and read.

Also Read – 50+ short folktale stories with moral lesson

• How Speech Therapy Games Can Help Your Child Thrive
• 10 Tenali Raman Stories
• Best Bible Stories for Kids

Short story for teenager with moral lesson

A collection of very short moral stories in english for students – see what is inside video.

Click here to Download Moral stories for kids PDF (Absolutely FREE for a limited time)

Click on below pic to download and read these short stories with morals for kids and learn from them

I can never imagine my childhood without stories. It was fascinating. But kids today are lost in a digital world. While we grew up listening to stories or reading good stories books, our kids are hooked on their screens watching cartoons or playing games on their mobiles.

✅ Here is our latest article on>>> How To Inculcate Moral Values in Children. <<<

As if it weren’t enough, the pandemic hit hard their childhood and made them homebound. Even schools are teaching online. Reading books is fast becoming an alien concept to kids. 

But all hope is not lost. Kids have an inherent liking for fantasy and wonderland. They respond well to stories told to them. We as parents should read them stories from a very tender age- a habit they will carry forward into their lives ahead.

Also Read – 20+ Easy & Enchanting Sanskrit Slokas For Kids: Unlock the Wisdom of Ancient India

Classic Moral stories in English

Classic moral stories in English are a great way to teach children about important life lessons. There are many stories moral in English that have been passed down through the generations, and they continue to be popular today. stories morals in English can teach children about right and wrong, responsibility, honesty, and other important life lessons. In addition, short moral stories in English are often entertaining and can help children to develop a love for reading.

Check – 13+ Inspiring Indian Mythological Stories for Kids with Morals

There are many must read moral stories in English for kids to choose from, so finding the right one for your child can be a challenge. However, there are some tips that can help you choose the best short stories with moral lessons for kids in English for your child.

First, consider your child’s age and interests. moral stories for kids that are too difficult or too simple will likely not hold your child’s attention. Second, look for stories that teach important life lessons. Third, choose stories that are entertaining and will help your child to develop a love for reading.

Also Read – How To Teach Moral Values To Kids

5 lines story with moral for nursery class

1. Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was very naughty.

2. She always made trouble for others and never listened to her elders.

3. One day, she ran away from home and got lost in the forest.

4. A kind old lady found her and helped her find her way back home.

5. The little girl learned her lesson and was never naughty again.

Moral of the story: It is always better to be good and obey your elders. Otherwise, you may end up in big trouble.

4 line stories in English ( moral value story in English )

1. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a castle with her loving parents.

2.One day, a wicked witch cast a spell on the princess, turning her into a frog.

3.The only way to break the spell was for a prince to kiss her.

4.Fortunately, a brave prince came along and broke the spell, and they lived happily ever after.

Another story about an ugly duckling

1.Once upon a time, there was an ugly duckling who was rejected by everyone.

2.But one day, he met a kindhearted woman who accepted him for who he was.

3.And she helped him to see that he was really a beautiful swan.

4.They lived happily ever after.

3 line stories in English

Here is another very short story about a poor boy

1.Once upon a time, there was a poor boy who had to work hard every day just to survive.

2.But one day, he met a wealthy man who took him under his wing and taught him the ways of business.

3.The boy became a successful businessman himself, and he never forgot the man who had helped him.

1.Once upon a time, there was a girl who dreamed of becoming a singer.

2.But her parents told her that it was impossible, and she should just be content with her life.

3.However, the girl never gave up on her dream, and she eventually became a famous singer.

Moral Stories from Panchatantra (Pack of 10 Books) | Bedtime story books...

• Moral Stories from Panchatantra, Bedtime short stories
• Story books for kids,library collection
• Written in easy language,vibrant illustrations
• Perfect for 3 years up till 8 years
• Made in India
• Ideal-size for little Kids
• English story book

10 lines short stories with moral

1. Aesop’s fables are a great example of 10 lines short stories with moral for kids. They teach valuable lessons about life and how to live it in a simple, yet effective way.

2. Another 10 lines short story with moral for kids is “The Ant and the Grasshopper”. This story teaches kids the importance of hard work and how it pays off in the end.

3. “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” is yet another 10 lines short story with moral for kids that teaches an important lesson.

The Illustrated Stories of Akbar and Birbal: Classic Tales From India

The Ant and the Grasshopper story in English in 10 lines ( best English story with moral )

The Ant worked hard all summer long, gathering food for the winter. The Grasshopper laughed and played, doing nothing to prepare for the cold months ahead.

When winter came, the Grasshopper had nothing to eat while the Ant was well-prepared with a cozy home and plenty of food. The Grasshopper begged the Ant for help, but the Ant refused, saying, “You should have worked hard like me when there was food to be had.”

The Grasshopper eventually starved to death, learning too late the importance of hard work and preparation.

Short puppet story with moral lesson

The three little pigs went out into the world to seek their fortunes. The first little pig built himself a straw house, and the second little pig built himself a stick house. But the third little pig built himself a brick house, and it was this house that withstood the big bad wolf’s huffing and puffing.

The moral of this story is that it pays to be prepared. The third little pig had taken the time to build a strong house, and as a result, he was able to withstand the wolf’s attacks. If the other pigs had been as prepared as the third little pig, they would have been able to avoid becoming the wolf’s dinner.

What is puppet story?

A puppet story is a short story that uses puppets as the main characters. Puppet stories are often used to teach children moral lessons or to entertain them. Many popular children’s stories, such as The Three Little Pigs and Pinocchio, began as puppet stories.

Also Read – 10+ Best Moral Stories for Puppet Show

The Boy Who Cried Wolf story in English 10 lines ( 10 lines moral stories )

1. There was a boy who lived in a village near a forest.

2. The boy used to tend to the sheep in the village.

3. One day, the boy saw a wolf in the forest and cried out, “Wolf! Wolf!”

4. The villagers came running, but when they got there, they saw that there was no wolf.

5. The boy laughed and the villagers went back to their homes.

6. The next day, the boy saw the wolf again and cried out, “Wolf! Wolf!”

7. The villagers came running, but when they got there, they saw that there was no wolf.

8. The boy laughed and the villagers went back to their homes.

9. The third day, the boy saw the wolf again and cried out, “Wolf! Wolf!”

10. This time, when the villagers came, they saw that there was a wolf. The boy had lied so many times that they didn’t believe him and the wolf ate the boy.

The moral of the story is that you should never lie, because if you do, people won’t believe you even when you’re telling the truth.

Collection of moral stories in English small

If want to get some good books on moral stories for kids online, check out below:

• 108 Moral Stories (Illustrated) for Children
• 199 Moral Stories – Self Teaching Moral Stories for 3 to 6 Year Old Kids
• Panchatantra Moral Stories (Illustrated) (Set of 10 Books) – Story Books for Kids
• Moral Stories from Aesop Fables (Hindi) Set of 20 books for kids

Benefits of Short Moral stories for kids (in English)

• Narrating stories build strong interpersonal bonds and keep them away from the screen too.
• They boost the child’s fantasy and creativity.
• Stories increase their concentration power.
• The child’s vocabulary is enhanced.
• Kids get exposed to a wider world- a real and practical one.
• Kids learn to be patient while listening to stories.
• Stories are a great way to teach them valuable lessons for their lives ahead.

Check out these 30+ (5 to 10 lines) very short stories in English with moral values

As moms navigating the ever-evolving landscape of parenting, we’re always on the lookout for the perfect stories that strike the balance between entertainment and valuable life lessons. The challenge of finding the best short stories in English with morals can be overwhelming, especially when we desire narratives that leave a lasting impact on our children’s character. Well, fellow moms, I’m here to ease that journey for you.

Join me in discovering a curated collection of the Best Short Stories in English with Moral – each tale carefully chosen to not just engage but to impart invaluable lessons that our little ones will carry into the future.

Let’s turn storytelling into a transformative experience for both us and our children. Ready to dive into a world of captivating narratives and meaningful insights?

Let the storytelling adventure commence!

• The Bird-catcher And The Pigeons – Unity is strength pigeon story with pictures (a small story in English with moral)

The Eagle And The Woodcutter

The foolish lion and the clever rabbit short story pdf, the loyal mongoose, the mice that ate iron, the lion and the mouse, fox and crane story in english pdf, the fox and the grapes short story with moral, the axe and the woodcutter, the greedy lion, the brahmin and the cheats, the greedy hunter and the rabbit, the ant and the elephant, the monkey and the crocodile, short story monkey and cap seller story with pictures pdf, the hare and the tortoise, the daydreamer milkman, the cats and the monkey, greedy dog story in english pdf, the golden geese, a farmer and his four sons, bellingâ  the cat, the boy who cried wolf, the fox and the crow, the pigeon and the ant, three fishes, the talkative tortoise, akbar and birbal, midas and his golden touch, the farmer and the well story in english pdf, a short moral story in english with moral for kids, time is valuable story, liked this list of short english moral stories for kids, the bird-catcher and the pigeons – u nity is strength pigeon story with pictures ( a small story in english with moral ).

Once a flock of pigeons was caught in a bird catcher’s net. They tried to free themselves but couldn’t. So, they all panicked. There was an old pigeon. He calmed them down and said,” We should not panic if we want to escape from here.

The birds calmed down and listened to him. The old pigeon asked them to follow his instructions and said,” We will fly together at the count of three and take this net with us. Just remember to fly together.”

The bird-catcher was coming to take the birds away when the unexpected happened. The birds flapped their wings together and flew away with the net! The bird-catcher could not do anything. He was shocked to see such wisdom and unity in birds.

Moral : You can achieve anything with unity. We should be calm in difficult situations to overcome them.

Set of 20 Classic Tales & Favourite Story Books | English Short...

Check out this awesome bookset Moral Story Books for Kids (Pack of 10 Books) – This set has books with all time favourite stories for kids.

There lived a kind woodcutter in a village. He once freed an eagle from a trap. One day he went to the hills to cut trees for wood. The hill was steep, so the woodcutter could not come down and needed help.

Upset, he sat down on the rock and waited for some help. Suddenly, an eagle flew down close to him and took away his hat. The woodcutter was angry and he started chasing the bird. After some time, he realized he has found the way down the hill.

It then occurred to him that the bird was the same eagle he had once rescued. He now understood why the eagle flew away with his hat. He thanked the eagle for its brilliant idea and said,”  You took away my hat so that I can follow you and reach here. You are my true friend. Thank you!”

Moral: Kindness is always rewarded. We should always help others selflessly.

Also Read – Raising Kind Kids: Expert Tips for Developing Empathy in Children

Also, Read – 30 Fun and Easy Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for Kids – Spread Love and Positivity!

Once, there lived a lion in a jungle. He was very cruel and greedy. He used to hunt and kill other animals even when wasn’t hungry. All the animals were afraid of him.

One day, they gathered together and went to the lion. They said,” Oh king of the jungle, if you hunt at this rate, we all will be killed soon, and you will soon run out of food. Every day, we will send you one animal for food. This way you will have easy food and we will get a chance to survive.

The lion agreed and from that day on he would get an animal as his meal at his home. This continued for several days.

One day, it was the turn of a young hare. He was clever and did not want to be eaten away by the cruel lion. He thought of a plan to get rid of the lion altogether.

The next day he got up late and walked very slowly toward the lion’s den. He even slept on the way. Finally, he reached the lion after sunset. Seeing the hare, the lion roared fiercely as he was very hungry.

The small rabbit was a little food for him. But the rabbit did not get scared. Instead, he told the lion -” Oh mighty king! I was stopped by another lion. He said that he was the new king of the jungle. He even took the other two hares that the animals had sent with me. He wanted to eat me too, but  somehow I escaped and came to you.”

Hearing this the hungry lion got angrier and told the hare to take him to this new lion so that he could kill him. The hare readily agreed and led him to a well and said, “ See, he is here, growling and staring at me.”

The lion looked into the well. He saw his own reflection growling back. Furious, he jumped into the well and died. The clever hare rejoiced and ran away to share this news with the other animals.

Moral: We should keep calm in times of crisis. We should not believe whatever we hear.

Also Read – How To Help Your Child Cope With Anger And Calm Down

✅ We don’t want you to miss our Trending Article >>> Krishna Shloka for Children <<< Perfect and Easy shlokas with meaning.

If you want to teach shlokas to your child, you will absolutely love this recommendation from us- My First Shloka Book – This book has activities too and is favouite among many kids I know. Makes for a great gift.

Once there lived a farmer with his wife. They had an infant baby. One day, the farmer found an injured mongoose while returning home from the fields.

He told his wife that he would nurse the mongoose to health and keep it as a pet. The wife didn’t like the idea but agreed reluctantly.  The mongoose recovered soon and played around in the house. The wife kept it away from her infant son.

One day, the wife left the sleeping baby with her husband and went out to fetch some groceries. She told him to keep the mongoose away from the child. Meanwhile, the farmer got an urgent call from the field and he left the son with the mongoose. He trusted the mongoose and was sure that his child was safe with him.

After some time, the farmer’s wife returned with a big grocery basket.  She saw the mongoose standing outside the gate with blood on his mouth and paw. Without a second thought, she yelled and smashed the poor animal with the basket full of groceries. She ran inside crying and wailing but was shocked to see her son sleeping peacefully near a dead snake.

Now, the reality dawned upon her. She understood that a snake must have come to bite her son, but the mongoose killed the snake to save the baby. The bloodstain was that of the snake’s. She rushed out to check on the mongoose. The poor loyal mongoose was dead.

Moral: We should not jump to conclusions. We should not take decisions in a hurry.

Mohan and Sohan were good friends and lived in a city. One day, Mohan decided to visit his family in the village and left a heavy iron chest with Sohan. He said,” Sohan, I would return in a couple of months. Till then take care of my belongings.”

The next day, Mohan went away to his village. Three months later, he returned to the city and went straight to meet Sohan. Sohan welcomed him and served him food. While leaving he told Sohan that he wants to take his iron chest with him. Sohan was greedy, he didn’t want to return the chest to Mohan. The iron box would fetch him good money if he were to sell it in the market.

He said to Mohan that his house has many mice, and they ate away his iron chest and said,” I am sorry my friend.” Mohan immediately understood the dishonest intentions of Sohan. He asked his friend not to be sorry as it was not his fault. And went away. Before leaving he asked Soham to send his son to his house so that he could give him the gifts he had bought. Soham sent his son with Mohan.

Soham thought Mohan had fallen for his lie and was very happy. Mohan locked the child in a room. When the child didn’t return by the evening, the father went to Mohan to enquire about his son.

Mohan casually said that an eagle flew away with his son. He tried to save him but could not. Soham was furious as he knew that it was a lie. Soon both the friends began to quarrel and took the matter to the court. 

The judge asked Mohan to return the child as he was lying. To this, he replied,” If mice can eat iron, then an eagle can carry away a child too.” The judge now asked for the entire matter to be revealed. Mohan told the entire story. Sohan understood he had been caught. He accepted his mistakes and returned the iron chest to Mohan and got back his son.

Moral : Greed has its downfall.

A lion was once sleeping in his den when a mouse started running up and down his body just for fun. This woke up the lion , and he was quite angry.

He was about to eat the mouse when the mouse pleaded with the lion to set him free. “I promise you, I will be of great help to you someday if you save me.” The lion laughed at the mouse’s confidence and let him go.

One day, a few hunters came into the forest and trapped the lion in a net. They tied him up against a tree. The lion started to roar and struggled to free himself.

Soon, the mouse walked past and noticed the lion in trouble. He ran and called his friends for help. Together they gnawed on the ropes to set the lion free. They ran off into the jungle and remain friends thereafter.

Moral : A small act of kindness can go a long way.

Also Read – How to teach kindness to kids

One day, a wicked fox invited a crane for dinner. The crane was very happy with the invitation. She reached the fox’s home on time and knocked at the door with her long beak.  She has been excited the whole day and was extremely hungry.

The fox soon served some soup in shallow bowls for both of them. The crane was surprised and angry too, as she couldn’t have soup at all. Her long beak couldn’t help her drink from the bowl.

But, the fox licked up his soup quickly. Feeling cheated and humiliated, she decided to teach the fox a lesson soon. 

She didn’t show her anger and behaved politely with the fox. Before leaving she invited him for dinner the next day. She made rice porridge for the dinner and served it in two tall narrow vases.

She happily drank her porridge from the vase. The fox tried hard but couldn’t, as the neck of the vessel was narrow.  The fox understood everything. He had learned his lesson and had to go home hungry.

Moral : A selfish act backfires sooner or later.

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Once a fox wandered across the jungle in order to get some food. It was very hot, and the fox was very hungry. He looked everywhere, but couldn’t find anything that he could eat.

His stomach was hurting by now, but he continued his search. Soon, he spotted a vineyard that was laden with big juicy grapes. He looked around and saw no one. He thought to himself that the grapes must be really sweet to eat. So he decided to steal some grapes.

He jumped high, but he couldn’t reach the grapes. He tried again and again, but he could not catch a bunch of grapes. He went back and forth to build up speed but still, the grapes were beyond his reach.

The grapes were too high, but he refused to give up. He tried a few more times, and jumped high in the air but couldn’t reach the grapes.

 It was getting dark and the fox was getting angry.  He finally gave up as his legs started to hurt. Walking away, he said, “I’m sure the grapes are sour. I am wasting my time and energy on them.

Moral : We pretend to hate something when we can’t have them.

Once there lived a woodcutter in a village. He was poor but hard-working. He used to go to the forest to cut down trees for wood. He sold them in the market and earned money for some food.

One day as he was cutting a tree, his axe accidentally fell into the river. The river was deep and was flowing fast. It carried away his axe swiftly. The woodcutter sat at the bank of the river and began to cry.

Suddenly, the Goddess of the river arose and asked him what happened. The woodcutter told her the story. The Goddess of the river offered to help him by looking for his axe.

She disappeared into the river and soon came up with a golden axe. The Goddess asked the woodcutter if it was his axe, but the woodcutter said it was not his.

She disappeared again and this time came back with a silver ax. Again, She asked him if it belongs to him, but the woodcutter said that that was not his either.

The Goddess disappeared into the water again and this time came back with an iron axe. The woodcutter jumped with joy and said it was his. The Goddess was impressed with the woodcutter’s honesty and gifted him both the golden and the silver axes.

Moral : Honesty is the best policy.

On a hot summer day, a lion in the forest started feeling hungry. He went hunting for food. Soon he spotted a rabbit roaming around alone. He thought to himself, “Such a small rabbit as this can’t satisfy my hunger.” 

Instead of catching the rabbit, the lion let it go. Just then, a beautiful deer passed by, and the lion decided to hunt it down.

So, he ran behind the deer. Since he was weak because of the hunger, he could not keep up with the deer’s speed. Soon, he was tired and could no longer chase the deer.

He let go of the deer and went backing looking for the rabbit to fill his stomach for some time. But, the rabbit was gone. The lion was sad and remained hungry for a long time.

Moral :Greed is never a good thing. We should be happy with whatever we get.

There lived a simple brahmin in a village. One day, he went to another village to attend a religious ceremony. As a gift, he received a goat. He put the animal on his shoulder and started walking towards home.

On the way, a group of three cheats spotted him with the goat. They wanted to feast on the goat. They knew the brahmin would not give the goat to them easily, so they decided to trick him. They made a plan and started working on it.

They hid behind a tree in some distance and waited for the brahmin to pass by. As soon he passed by, the first cheat approached him and said in a surprised tone,” Why are you carrying a dog on your shoulder?. You are such a pious man.” The brahmin replied angrily that it was a goat, not a dog. The cheat smiled inwardly and apologized.

The Brahmin walked away cursing the cheat. A few minutes later, the second cheat approached the brahmin and enquired,” Why are you carrying a dead animal on your shoulder. You are a holy man, it doesn’t suit you.”

Now, the brahmin was furious. He shouted back angrily and started cursing the man. He said,” Are you blind? Can’t you see that I am carrying a goat, you blind fool!” The rogue pretended innocence and said,” I say whatever I see in front of me.” The brahmin called him an idiot and began to walk very fast towards his home.

As planned, the third cheat now approached the brahmin. He stopped him and asked,” Why are you carrying a donkey on your shoulder?” The brahmin grew impatient and started abusing the cheat. But the trickster continued with his lies and convinced him that he was indeed carrying a donkey and walked away.

Now, the Brahmin started shaking in fear. The three cheats gathered at a distance and watched everything. Their plan was successful. The brahmin was convinced that he was carrying some evil creature on this shoulder. Every person he met on the way saw a different creature on his shoulder. He started to shake in fear. He threw the goat on the road and ran away hurriedly to his home without looking back.

The cheats laughed heartily. They took the goat home and feasted on it. They enjoyed the fact that they could fool the brahmin easily.

Moral : We should not let go of our common sense. We should not believe whatever anyone says.

A hunter once caught a rabbit. The rabbit was very scared. He then calmed down and thought of a plan to save himself. 

He was a clever rabbit. He said to the hunter,” I know of a place which is full of gold. You can have it all for yourself. You can become so rich that you will not need to work for your living.”

Now, the hunter was greedy. He was easily trapped in the rabbit’s plan. He said,” You take me to that place.”The rabbit said,” First you have to free me, and then follow me to reach that place.”Without a second thought, the hunter placed the rabbit on the ground.

Without wasting another second, the rabbit ran away swiftly. The hunter was left wondering and he regretted his decision. But now, it was too late to do anything. He never got to see any gold and even lost the rabbit he had captured.

Moral : Greed leads to loss. We should be patient in every situation.

There once lived an elephant in a jungle. He was very arrogant and short-tempered. He was very proud of his strength and huge body. The other animals in the jungle feared him a lot. He enjoyed doing things that showed off his strength and always troubled other small animals in the jungle.

In that jungle, there also lived a family of ants in a tiny hole. The ant used to despise the elephant for his haughty nature. One day, when the ants were away to collect food, the elephant stopped them and sprayed a trunk full of water on them.

The ants got angry and said,” You should not trouble others for your pleasure.”The elephant shouted angrily and said,” You tiny creatures, keep quiet, or I will crush you to death.”

Now, the ants decided to reach the arrogant animal a lesson for life. They slowly crept under his trunk and spread to his ears and started biting him. The elephant became restless and started crying for help.

None of the animals came forward to rescue him. They were happy to see him getting punished for his acts. He kept apologizing to the ants, but they continued to bite him.

When they were sure that he has learned his lesson, they let him go and said, “This is how others feel when you hurt them.” The ants marched off leaving a wailing elephant there. Then on, the elephant never troubled anyone in the jungle.

Moral : Pride and arrogance never go unpunished.

Once a monkey and a crocodile were friends. The monkey lived on a jamun tree on the bank of the river where the crocodile lived. The monkey used to feed on the jamuns and share them with the crocodile.

One day, the crocodile took some fruits home for his wife. The wife tasted it and loved the fruit. She asked her husband,” Where did you get these from?” The crocodile then told her about his friend, monkey. The wife expressed her desire to eat the monkey’s heart.

The crocodile refused, but she continued to persuade her husband. Finally, he gave in. He was upset as he loved the monkey much and did not want to see him killed. The next day he lied to the monkey that his wife had invited him (the monkey) for dinner. The monkey gladly accepted the invitation. He jumped on the crocodile’s back and reached the middle of the river. 

The monkey noticed that the crocodile was looking lost. The crocodile could no longer hide anything. He said that his wife would eat his heart. He didn’t want to cheat his friend but was left with no other option.

The monkey was shocked, but he calmed himself and said in a friendly tone,” Why did not tell me earlier? I left my heart on the tree. Let’s swim back to the bank to get it .”The foolish crocodile immediately agreed and quickly swam back to the river bank.

The monkey quickly jumped off the crocodile’s back and climbed up to the topmost branch of the tree. He shouted,” You fool, how can someone live without his heart. You don’t deserve to be my friend. Get lost.”The crocodile was sad to lose his good friend forever.

Moral : Foolishness can make you take wrong decisions.

There was a cap seller . He used to make and sell caps to neighboring villages and markets. One day, he packed all his caps in a basket and set afoot on his journey. It was a hot day. He got tired of walking and decided to rest under a big banyan tree. Since he was very tired, he fell asleep. 

After some time, he woke up. He was shocked to see his basket empty. The caps were missing. He started looking everywhere when he suddenly spotted a monkey wearing a cap. 

He looked up to the tree and saw many monkeys wearing his cap.  He now understood everything.When he was sleeping, several monkeys came down the tree and pulled the cap seller’s basket. They picked up the caps and climbed back up the trees. 

The cap seller became very upset. He shouted at the monkeys on the tree. The monkeys yelled back at him. The cap seller was irritated. He picked up few stones from the ground and threw them at the monkeys to scare them. But the monkeys started pelting stones in return too. 

The cap seller was frustrated now. He started crying. The monkeys started crying too. Now, he realized that the monkeys were imitating him.

He thought of an idea and threw his cap on the ground. Seeing this, all the monkeys copied his action and did exactly the same. The cap seller quickly collected his caps in the basket and ran away.

Moral : Wisdom is powerful than strength.

There once lived a hare in a jungle. He was very proud of himself. In the same jungle lived an old tortoise. The arrogant hare found him funny and always made fun of his slow pace in front of other animals.

The tortoise lost his cool one day and challenged the hare for a race. Everybody was surprised, and the hare was laughing loudly. Nevertheless, he accepted the challenge. The race was to take place the next day. The winner had to reach the bank of the river. They started the running race.

The hare ran very fast. But the tortoise walked very slowly. Within no time, the proud hare was halfway through the distance. He thought to himself that the tortoise with his slow pace can never match him. So, he decided to rest under a tree for some time. But, he soon fell asleep.

On the other hand, the tortoise continued to walk towards the finishing point without pausing for a rest. He passed by the sleeping hare. Soon, it was sunset. There was a loud noise of clapping. 

That day the hare had slept longer than usual. When he woke up, he heard the clapping sound at a distance. He ran fast towards the finishing line. He was shocked to see the old tortoise at the finishing line. All the animals were celebrating his victory. The hare had learned his lesson for life. He never mocked anybody thereafter.

Moral :Slow and steady wins the race.

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Once upon a time, there lived a poor milkman. He was extremely lazy. He did not want to do any hard work. He was, always busy daydreaming about getting rich.

One morning he milked his cows and set out to sell the milk in the market. While walking, he began to dream about becoming rich.

He dreamt: “ I will sell the milk in the market. With the money, I would buy a hen. The hen will lay eggs. Some will be sold in the market. Some will hatch and become chicks. These chicks will become cocks and hens, who, in turn, will lay hundreds of eggs. I would soon have his poultry farm

He kept on imagining:”.Again, I will sell all the hens to buy some bull. And finally, sell the bulls to buy a small house. While thinking about all this, he overlooked a stone on the way.

He fell over it and the milk spilled on the ground. All his dreams were broken in a second, and he realized he was daydreaming.

Moral : Work hard to fulfil your dreams.

Two cats once found a piece of bread. They both were very hungry. They were not willing to share the food with each other. They started fighting for the bread. One cat said, “I found it first it’s mine.” Another cat said, “No I found it first, it’s mine” 

A monkey was seeing this from a distance. He wanted to eat the bread too. He thought of a plan to eat it himself. He approached the cats and asked them why they were quarreling. The cats told him everything. He then offered to solve the matter.  He said,” I will divide the bread into two equal halves and give it to you.”

Both the cats agreed to his proposal and gave him the bread. He cunningly divided the bread into two uneven pieces- one was bigger than the other. He then took a big bite from the bigger part. But this made the other part bigger than the other. He continued doing this until he ate the whole of the bread.

The two cats were too late to realize his cleverness. The monkey fled away after eating their bread right in front of them. They now realized that had they shared the bread with each other, they would not have been left hungry.

Moral : If two people fight, the third one takes an undue advantage.

A greedy dog once found a juicy bone lying near a meat shop. He picked it up and held it tightly in his mouth. He looked here and there, and then, ran away to a lonely place. He stopped at a bridge over the river that ran nearby. 

There he saw his reflection in the water. He thought that there was another dog with a bone  in the water. He got greedier and thought of taking away that bone from the other dog. 

He immediately started barking at his reflection in the water. The moment he opened his mouth, the bone in his mouth fell into the river. The greedy dog did not get any bone and even lost the one he had. He realized his mistake and left the place feeling upset.

Moral : Greed causes pain and brings regret.

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Once a fairy gifted a magical goose to a poor farmer. It laid one golden egg every morning. The farmer made money by selling that golden egg in the market. Slowly, he became rich.

Now, the farmer became greedy. He wanted more wealth. He thought to himself,” This goose gives me just one golden egg a day. What if I cut it open and take out all the golden eggs at once? I will be the wealthiest person in the village.”

Without a second thought, the farmer took a knife and killed the goose. He cut open his belly, but could not find any egg there. He started crying when he realized his mistake. He not only lost the goose but also the golden egg it laid every day.

Moral : Greed causes miseries.

Once there lived an old farmer in a village. He had four sons. They were always quarreling with each other. The farmer tried hard to bring unity among them. He would request them to live with love and peace, but they would never listen to his advice. He was always worried about their future.

One day, he fell sick. He thought that it was his chance to bring harmony among his sons. So, he called his sons and asked each of them to bring a few sticks. They brought the sticks to their father.

The farmer asked one of them to tie the sticks in a bundle. He then asked each of them to try and break the sticks.

One by one, all the four sons tried to break the bundle but failed. Then, the farmer untied the bundle. He gave one stick to each of them and asked them to break it. This time they were able to do it easily.

The farmer said, “I just wanted to show you that if you are united nobody can defeat you. But you keep quarreling among yourself, you will be easily broken by anyone.”The sons learned their lesson and lived happily with their father thereafter.

Moral : Unity is strength.

Once there was a big warehouse full of rice bags.  Many rats lived there and ruined the grains. The owner was tired of finding ways to keep the rats away. So, he bought a cat and left it in the warehouse.

The cat would silently play around and chased the rats away. The rats were terrified and decided to have a meeting. They gathered together one evening at a secluded place and started their discussion. They were very confused and couldn’t think of any solution to stop the cat. 

Suddenly one of the rats said, ” We should tie a bell around the cat’s neck. If we tie a bell around the cat’s neck, we can hear the sound of the bell when the cat comes. This way we would be alerted.” 

The rats found the idea interesting. Then a rat asked, “who will tie the bell around the cat’s neck?” Now, all the rats fell silent as no one was willing to take a risk. They understood that it is easier said than done.

Moral :Most things are easier said than done.             

There was a shepherd boy who had to look after a flock of sheep. He was very lazy and always troubling others. One day,  he took his flock to the hills to graze. He felt bored and decided to play a trick on the villagers for some fun.

He shouted, “Help! Wolf! Wolf!” The villagers who were working on the farm heard his cries. They took some tools and rushed out of the village to help the shepherd boy. On reaching the hills, they were surprised to see that there was no wolf.

The boy laughed loudly, “Ha, Ha, Ha! I fooled you all. I was only playing a trick on you.” The villagers were enraged, and they went back.

A few days later, the boy played this trick again. Again he cried, “Help! Help! Wolf! Wolf!”  This time, too, the villagers rushed up the hills to help him. Again, they found that the boy had tricked them. They were very angry with him for being so naughty and reckless. But, the boy laughed at them.

Then one day, a wolf actually came to the hills where the sheep were grazing. The wolf attacked the sheep one by one. The boy cried out for help. He shouted, “Help! Help! Wolf! Help! Somebody!”

The villagers heard his cries, but they thought the boy was tricking them again. They continued to work ignoring his cries. The boy somehow escaped from there, but his sheep were eaten by the wolf. He now learned his lesson for life. He promised himself to never lie again and trouble others.

Moral : No one trusts a person who lies, even if he is telling the truth.

A  crow once found a big piece of cheese. He held the cheese in his beak and flew away to a nearby tree. A fox was passing by when he saw the crow with the big piece of cheese in his mouth. 

He went to the crow and said ” Good morning, dear crow.  You have a lovely piece of cheese with you. Could you please share a bit with me?”. 

The crow refused and looked away. The fox begged a little, but the crow wouldn’t listen. He just sat there, quietly eating his cheese. 

But the fox didn’t give up. He continued persuading the crow. He called the crow handsome and praised his black feathers. He said,” You have a beautiful voice too. Everyone in the forest is praising your voice. Can you sing a sweet song for me?”. 

The fox saw the crow swelling with pride. The foolish crow believed the cunning fox. He suddenly forgot all about the cheese and began to sing. 

As soon as the crow began to sing, the piece of cheese fell down to the ground. The fox immediately picked it up and ran away. The crow was left crying on the tree all by himself. 

Moral:  Beware Of flatterer.

Long ago, a pigeon flew down to drink water from a river. While drinking, she noticed an ant flowing away with the water. She thought of helping the ant. She looked around and plucked some leaves from the tree.  She then flew over the river and dropped it into the water near the struggling ant. 

The ant quickly climbed over the leaf and reached the shore safely. The ant was grateful to the bird and thanked her. The pigeon smiled and said that it was her duty to help someone in need. She then flew away.

 A few days later,  a hunter came to the jungle. He was aiming at a pigeon that sat on a nearby tree. The ant was walking through the forest when she noticed the hunter with a gun.

She immediately recognized the pigeon who had saved her life. She decided to return the favor by helping the bird. She crept into the hunter’s trousers and bit him hard.

The hunter fired the shot but missed his target because of the ant bite. The pigeon heard the gunshot and was alarmed. She flew away.

The ant, too, quickly jumped off the hunter’s leg and fled into the forest. The hunter sat there upset and saw the pigeon flying away.

Moral : We should always help others selflessly.

Once there lived three fishes in a lake. They were very good friends. They loved playing with the other fishes in the lake. One day, some fisherman came near the lake. They saw many fishes there and decided to come back the next day to catch them all.

One of the three fish heard the fishermen talking. She hurried back to her friends and alerted them. She suggested that they should leave the lake immediately and go to some safer place. To this, the second fish agreed, but the third fish refused to go. 

She said, “ It is not wise to run away from here. If we are destined to die, then we will surely die. Nobody can save us. So, I am not going anywhere.

The first fish said her goodbyes to her friends and immediately left with her family to some other lake. The second fish waited for the morning. When she saw the fishermen, she, too, left the lake with her family.

The fishermen spread their nets and captured all the fish from the lake. The third fish was also captured, and they all died.

Moral : We should act immediately when we see a danger approaching.

Long ago, there lived a tortoise and two swans in a  pond. They were very good friends. The tortoise was very talkative. He used to talk to swans for a very long time. All of them were happy.

Once there was a drought and it lasted for a long time. The water in the pond dried up. There was no water to drink even and it was now impossible to live there. So, the swans decided to fly away to some other place.

The tortoise requested the swans to take him along too. But, since he couldn’t fly, they sat down to think and found a way. The swans suggested an idea according to which the tortoise would have to hold a piece of the stick by its mouth and the swans will hold the ends of that stick.

They warned the tortoise to not talk during their journey. The tortoise promised, and the three friends set out to fly. On their way, they crossed several villages. Many villagers saw the tortoise and made fun of the tortoise. 

This enraged the tortoise and he couldn’t control himself. He opened his mouth to speak. As soon as he did so, he fell down and died. The swans were shocked to see their friend die. The tortoise lost his life because of his foolishness.

Moral : We should listen to our friend’s advice.

Emperor Akbar was famous for asking tricky questions to his courtiers. One day, his question left everyone in the courtroom puzzled. Just then, Birbal walked in and asked what the matter was.

The other courtiers repeated the question to him. The question was, “How many crows are there in the city?”

Birbal thought for a moment and smiled. He replied,” There were ten thousand, six hundred and twenty-nine crows in the city.” When asked how he knew the answer, Birbal replied, “Ask your men to count the number of crows. If there are more, then the relatives of the crows must be visiting them from nearby cities. If there are fewer, then the crows from our city must be visiting their relatives who live outside the city.” 

The courtiers applauded the witty answer of Birbal. Pleased with the answer, Akbar presented Birbal with precious gifts.

Moral : Having an explanation for your answer is just as important as having an answer.

Long ago, King Midas ruled in ancient Greece. He was a fair and wise king. His people were happy and prosperous under his rule. The king was known for his love for gold and his love for his only daughter, Marigold.

One day, he gave royal treatment to Silenus, the best friend of God Dionysus( the God of wine). Pleased with the king’s selfless hospitality, Dionysus granted him a wish.

Midas was overjoyed. He thought for a second and asked a boon that whatever he touches turns into gold. God granted him the wish. He said that from the following morning his mere touch will turn everything gold.

Midas eagerly waited for the sunrise. He couldnt wait to use his newly-acquired powers. He went about touching various objects and they turned into gold!

He was shouting with joy. After some time, he became hungry. The moment he touched a glass of water he could not drink it. It became solid gold. As he picked the bread, he could not eat it. It turned into gold.

He groaned in dismay and realized his folly. Just then, his daughter came to hug him. The moment she touched her father, she turned into a gold statue.

The king started wailing and realized that his golden touch is not a blessing. He begged God Dionysus to pardon his mistake and take back his boon. Since Midas was a kind-hearted man, Dionysus appeared before him and took away the golden touch power he had given to the king.

Everything turned back to normal immediately. Marigold came and hugged her father. Midas no longer considered gold as the greatest thing in the world. He had a hearty breakfast with his daughter.

Moral : Greed always causes pain and brings about downfall.

One day, a farmer named Bholaram, bought a well from his neighbor, Dharma. Dharma was a cunning man. When Bholaram went to fetch water from the well the next day, Dharma stopped him.

When asked why, he said that he had sold only the well to Bholaram, not the water. In order to use the water, Bholaram must pay for it.

Bholaram was shocked to see the cunningness of his neighbour. He took the matter to the court of Emperor Akbar. There, his minister, Birbal was given the responsibility to solve the matter.

Birbal called Dharma and asked why he was not letting Bholaram take the water from the well. To this, he replied,” I just sold the well, not the water within it. So, Bholaram has no right over the water.”

Birbal thought for a second and said, ” Since you have sold the well to the farmer, you have no right to keep your water in it. If you do so, you have to pay him the rent for using his well. Else, take out all your water immediately.

Dharma was caught off guard. He realized his cunning scheme stood no chance before the razor-sharp wit of Birbal. He apologized and went home.

Moral : Cheating can never lead to happy endings. You have to pay for your mistakes.

One day, a group of students were sitting in class when their teacher walked in. She had a stack of papers in her hand and began passing them out to the students.

“These are your mid-term exams,” she said. “I’ll be grading them and returning them to you tomorrow.”

The students groaned as they took their exams. They all knew that this was going to be a long night.

As the students worked on their exams, one of the boys began to cheat. He looked around the room to see if anyone was watching, and then he began to copy the answers from the student next to him.

The boy continued to cheat for a few minutes, but then he started to feel guilty. He knew that he was doing something wrong, and he didn’t want to get caught.

So, the boy stopped cheating and finished the exam on his own.

When the teacher returned the exams the next day, the boy was relieved to see that he had gotten a good grade. He had learned his lesson and realized that cheating is never the right thing to do.

Once upon a time, a wise man said that time is the most valuable thing a person can have. He was right! Just think about all the things you can do with your time: learn new things, play with friends, explore the world, help others, and so much more.

So don’t waste your time! Use it wisely, and you’ll be sure to achieve great things in life.

Another short story below,

One day, a little girl was playing in her backyard when she found a watch. She was excited to have found such a pretty thing and ran to show her mom. Her mom was very pleased and told her that she could keep the watch, but she must always remember that time is very valuable. The little girl was very happy and thanked her mom. She wore the watch all the time and made sure to be extra careful with it. Whenever she looked at the watch, she remembered her mom’s words and was reminded of how valuable time is.

Another short story about a girl below

Once upon a time there was a little girl who had a very special gift. She could make time stand still. She used her gift to help other people. She would help them finish their chores or tasks so they could have more free time. One day, she met a woman who was very sad. She had lost her husband and was having a hard time coping. The little girl used her gift to help the woman. She made time stand still so the woman could grieve and spend time with her husband’s spirit. The woman was very grateful and the little girl realized that her gift was very valuable. She used it to help others and make their lives better.

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Moral Stories In English

Welcome to Moral Stories in English, where we bring you captivating and meaningful stories for both kids and adults. Our collection includes a wide range of moral tales, including kindness stories, inspirational and motivational anecdotes, as well as heartwarming friendship tales.

Friendship Moral Stories

Experience the bonds of friendship like never before with our captivating range of friendship stories. These tales highlight the beauty of true friendship, teaching important lessons about loyalty, trust, and the joy of companionship. Let your heart be warmed by stories that celebrate the meaningful connections we form in life.

The Tortoise and The Hare

Once upon a time, two animals lived in a big green forest: a fast hare and a slow tortoise. They’re great friends, but they couldn’t

The Lion and the Mouse

Once upon a time, in a big, green jungle, there was a strong lion. He was the king of all the animals, and everyone in

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Once upon a time, in a lush green valley, there lived three billy goats. They were not very big, but they were very brave. The

The Four Friends

Once upon a time, in a big green forest, there lived four good friends: a deer, a crow, a turtle, and a rat. They were

Kindness Moral Stories

Discover the magic of kindness through our heartwarming collection of stories that emphasize the value of compassion, empathy, and understanding. Delve into tales that showcase acts of kindness and teach valuable lessons about the power of spreading love and positivity.

The Ugly Duckling

Once upon a time, on a peaceful farm, there was a little duckling. This duckling was different from the other ducklings. It was not as

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Once upon a time, in a sunny meadow, there lived an ant and a grasshopper. They were friends, but they were very different. The ant

The Helping Hand

Once upon a time in a small village, there lived a boy named Tim. Tim was known for being very kind and helpful. He loved

The Golden Egg

Once upon a time, in a quiet little village, there lived a farmer named Jack. Jack was known for being very greedy. He had a

Motivational and Inspirational Moral Stories

Need a boost of inspiration and motivation? Our diverse selection of inspirational and motivational stories is here to uplift your spirits, ignite your passion, and empower you to overcome life’s obstacles. Allow these stories to ignite the fire within you and guide you towards success.

The Little Red Hen

Once upon a time, in a cozy little farm, there lived a kind and hardworking little red hen. The little red hen had a small

The Elephant Rope

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a baby elephant named Ellie. 

The Farmer and the Well

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a kind farmer. He had a big farm with lots of animals and plants. The

The Three Little Pigs

Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. They were brothers, but they were very different. The first pig was lazy and didn’t like

Start Your Moral Story Journey Today!

Immerse yourself in our remarkable collection of moral stories and unlock a world of inspiration, wisdom, and entertainment. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, Moral Stories in English promises an enriching reading experience that will leave you with a renewed sense of purpose and a greater understanding of life’s values.

At Moral Stories in English, we believe that storytelling holds immense power to inspire, educate, and instill valuable life lessons. Our team of talented writers and storytellers is passionate about weaving intriguing narratives that entertain and leave a lasting impact on readers of all ages.

Benefits of Moral Stories

Cultivating empathy and compassion.

Through relatable characters and thought-provoking narratives, moral stories open doors for readers to experience different perspectives and emotions. By connecting with the trials and triumphs of characters, individuals develop empathy, fostering a profound understanding of others’ feelings and situations. As a result, compassion blossoms, allowing individuals to engage with the world with kindness and understanding.

Enhancing Decision-Making Skills

Moral stories often present characters faced with difficult choices or moral dilemmas. By engaging with these narratives, readers are exposed to the complexities of decision-making. They learn to discern between right and wrong, understand consequences, and internalize the importance of ethical considerations. This helps individuals build a strong moral compass, guiding them through challenging moments and empowering them to make principled choices.

Building Resilience and Problem-Solving Abilities

In many moral stories, characters encounter obstacles and setbacks, providing readers with opportunities to witness resilience in action. Individuals who engage with these tales learn the value of perseverance, adaptability, and creative problem-solving. They internalize the belief that challenges can be surmounted, instilling a growth mindset that fuels personal and professional success.

Teaching Accountability and Responsibility

Moral stories often highlight the ripple effect of actions, emphasizing accountability and responsibility. Through captivating tales where the consequences of characters’ choices are unveiled, readers are encouraged to reflect on their own behavior. These stories pave the way for acknowledging personal responsibility and cultivating a sense of accountability towards oneself and others.

Moral Stories In English a dedicated storytelling company committed to crafting engaging and meaningful stories for both kids and adults. Our mission is to inspire, educate, and entertain through the art of storytelling.

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Top 22 Short Moral Stories For Kids

Moral stories for kids have been an essential part of a child’s moral education for generations. These stories are not only entertaining but also have a profound impact on a child’s character and personality development. They instil many vital values, such as honesty, kindness, compassion, and respect for others which go a long way in life.

As kids listen to these stories, they learn valuable life lessons that they can practically apply to their lives. These stories help them navigate their own life more easily. With a vast array of stories to choose from, parents can select tales that are not only age-appropriate but also reinforce the values they want their child to learn. These stories will help them raise their children to be ideal citizens of society who are compassionate towards both animals and humans.

In this article, we have shortlisted engaging and meaningful moral stories for children that can teach them valuable lessons and help become better individuals.

Also Read: Short Stories of Mahabharata for Kids with Moral Lessons

Video: Short Moral Stories for Kids – Part 1

Benefits of Moral Stories for Kids

Moral stories for kids benefit them in more ways than one can imagine. The following are the benefits:

1. Prepare kids for their role in society.

Moral stories help kids understand what’s right and what’s wrong. They impart a belief system which will help the child cope very well with whatever life has to offer.

2. Help kids become resilient.

Moral stories help the child navigate life’s ups and downs by imparting strong ethics and moral values to them. These stories act like guidelines to help the little ones make the right choices.

3. Counter bad influence.

Many children start picking up vices under peer pressure. Good values from moral stories help the child stay strong and not succumb to temptations.

Fun and Entertaining Short Moral Stories for Your Children

If you want to imbibe good habits in your kids from early on and watch them grow up to become good individuals, read moral stories to them. Here are 22 children’s stories with moral values that you can read to your kids!

1. The Lion and the Mouse

One day, a few hunters came into the forest and took the lion with them. They tied him up against a tree. The lion was struggling to get out and started to whimper. Soon, the mouse walked past and noticed the lion in trouble. Quickly, he ran and gnawed on the ropes to set the lion free. Both of them sped off into the jungle.

Moral of the Story

A small act of kindness can go a long way.

Also Read: Childhood Stories of Lord Krishna for Kids

2. Count Wisely

The question was, “How many crows are there in the city?”

Birbal immediately smiled and went up to Akbar. He announced the answer; he said there were twenty-one thousand, five hundred and twenty-three crows in the city. When asked how he knew the answer, Birbal replied, “Ask your men to count the number of crows. If there are more, then the relatives of the crows must be visiting them from nearby cities. If there are fewer, then the crows from our city must be visiting their relatives who live outside the city.” Pleased with the answer, Akbar presented Birbal with a ruby and pearl chain.

Having an explanation for your answer is just as important as having an answer.

Also Read: Fascinating Ramayana Stories for Children

3. The Boy Who Cried Wolf

The boy laughed at the fright he had caused. This time, the villagers left angrily. The third day, as the boy went up the small hill, he suddenly saw a wolf attacking his sheep. He cried as hard as he could, “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!”, but not a single villager came to help him. The villagers thought that he was trying to fool them again and did not come to rescue him or his sheep. The little boy lost many sheep that day, all because of his foolishness.

It is difficult to trust people who lie, so it’s important to always be truthful.

4. The Fox and the Stork

The stork was angry and upset, but she didn’t show her anger and behaved politely. To teach a lesson to the fox, she then invited him for dinner the next day. She too served soup, but this time the soup was served in two tall narrow vases. The stork devoured the soup from her vase, but the fox couldn’t drink any of it because of his narrow neck. The fox realised his mistake and went home famished.

A selfish act backfires sooner or later!

Video: The Fox and the Stork Moral Story for Kids in English

Also Read: Indian Mythological Stories for Kids

5. The Golden Touch

The greedy man rushed home to tell his wife and daughter about his wish, all the while touching stones and pebbles and watching them convert into gold. Once he got home, his daughter rushed to greet him. As soon as he bent down to scoop her up in his arms, she turned into a gold statue. He was devastated and started crying and trying to bring his daughter back to life. He realised his folly and spent the rest of his days searching for the fairy to take away his wish.

Greed will always lead to downfall.

6. The Milkmaid and Her Pail

She was talking to herself and said, “Once I get the money, I’ll buy a chicken. The chicken will lay eggs and I will get more chickens. They’ll all lay eggs, and I will sell them for more money. Then, I’ll buy the house on the hill and everyone will envy me.” She was very happy that soon she would be very rich. With these happy thoughts, she marched ahead. But suddenly, she tripped and fell. Both the pails of the milk fell and all her dreams were shattered. The milk spilt onto the ground, and all Patty could do was cry. “No more dream,” she cried foolishly!

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

Also Read: Popular Fairy Tale Stories for Kids

7. When Adversity Knocks

Her father explained, “All three items were put in the same circumstances. See how they’ve responded differently.” He said that the potato turned soft, the egg turned hard, and the tea leaves changed the colour and taste of the water. He further said, “We are all like one of these items. When adversity calls, we respond exactly the way they do. Now, are you a potato, an egg, or tea leaves?”

We can choose how to respond to a difficult situation.

8. The Proud Rose

One summer, a well in the garden dried up and there was no water for the plants. The rose slowly began to wilt. The rose saw a sparrow dip its beak into the cactus for some water. The rose then felt ashamed for having made fun of the cactus all this time. But because it was in need of water, it went to ask the cactus if it could have some water. The kind cactus agreed, and they both got through summer as friends.

Never judge someone by the way they look.

Also Read: Bible Stories for Children

9. The Tale of the Pencil

His grandma explained, “You can learn many things from this pencil because it is just like you. It experiences a painful sharpening, just the way you have experienced the pain of not doing well on your test. However, it will help you be a better student. Just as all the good that comes from the pencil is from within itself, you will also find the strength to overcome this hurdle. And finally, just as this pencil will make its mark on any surface, you too shall leave your mark on anything you choose to.” Raj was immediately consoled and promised himself that he would do better.

We all have the strength to be who we wish to be.

10. The Crystal Ball

Days went by without him making a wish but his best friend saw him looking at the crystal ball. He stole it from Nasir and showed it to everyone in the village. They all asked for palaces and riches and lots of gold, but could not make more than one wish. In the end, everyone was angry because no one could have everything they wanted. They became very unhappy and decided to ask Nasir for help. Nasir wished that everything would go back to how it was once – before the villagers had tried to satisfy their greed. The palaces and gold vanished and the villagers once again became happy and content.

Money and wealth do not always bring happiness.

11. A Bundle of Sticks

One day, the village head came by and called the three farmers. He gave them each a stick and asked them to break it. The farmers could break them easily. He then gave them a bundle of three sticks, and again, asked them to break it. This time, the farmers struggled to break the sticks. The village head said, “Together, you are stronger and work better than you do it alone.” The farmers understood what the village head was saying. They pooled in their resources and got rid of the pests from their fields.

There is strength in unity.

12. The Ant and the Dove

The ant and the dove became the best of friends and days passed happily. However, one day, a hunter arrived at the forest. He saw the beautiful dove sitting on the tree and aimed his gun at the dove. The ant, who was saved the dove saw this and bit on the heel of the hunter. He shouted from the pain and dropped the gun. The dove was alarmed by the voice of the hunter and realised what could have happened with him. He flew away!

A good deed never goes unrewarded.

13. The Fox and the Grapes

We pretend to hate something when we can’t have it.

14. The Ant and the Grasshopper

On a cold day of winter, a colony of ants was busy drying out some grains of corn. The half-dead grasshopper, cold and hungry, came up to the ant who was his friend and asked for a piece of corn. The ant replied, “We work day and night to collect and save up the corn so that we don’t die hungry on cold winter days. Why should we give it to you?” The ant further asked, “What were you doing last summer? You should have collected and stored some food. I told you as much before.”

The grasshopper said, “I was far too busying singing and sleeping.”

The ant replied, “You can sing all winter as far as I am concerned. You will not get anything from us.” The ant had enough food to last through the winter, without any worries at all, but the grasshopper didn’t and he realised his mistake.

Make hay while the sun shines.

15. The Bear and Two Friends

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

16. Friends Forever

When the mouse wasn’t looking, the frog tied a string to the mouse’s tail and tied the other end to his own leg, and hopped away. The mouse started getting dragged with him. Then, the frog jumped into the pond to swim. However, when he looked back, he saw that the mouse had started to drown and was struggling to breathe! The frog quickly untied the string from his tail and took him to the shore. Seeing the mouse with his eyes barely open made the frog very sad, and he immediately regretted pulling him into the pond.

Don’t take revenge because it can be harmful to you.

17. The Elephant and Her Friends

The elephant was really sad because she couldn’t make friends. Then, one day, she saw all the animals running deeper into the forest, and she asked a bear what the fuss was about. The bear said, “The lion is on the loose – they are running from him to save themselves.” The elephant went up to the lion and said, “Please don’t hurt these innocent people. Please leave them alone.” The lion scoffed and asked the elephant to move aside. Then, the elephant got angry and pushed the lion with all her might, injuring him. All the other animals came out slowly and started to rejoice about the lion’s defeat. They went to the elephant and said to her, “You are just the right size to be our friend!”

A person’s size does not determine their worth.

18. The Woodcutter and the Golden Axe

While he wept, the God of the river arose and asked him what had happened. The woodcutter told him the story. The God of the river offered to help him by looking for his axe. He disappeared into the river and retrieved a golden axe, but the woodcutter said it was not his. He disappeared again and returned with a silver axe, but the woodcutter said that was not his either. The God disappeared into the water again and came back with an iron axe – the woodcutter smiled and said it was his. God was impressed with the woodcutter’s honesty and gifted him both the golden and silver axes.

Honesty is the best policy.

19. The Needle Tree

The younger brother was worried, and so he searched for his elder brother. He found him lying in pain near the tree, with hundreds of needles on his body. He rushed to his brother and removed each needle lovingly and gently. After he finished, the elder brother apologised for treating him badly and promised to improve. The tree saw the change in the elder brother’s heart and gave them all the golden apples they would ever need.

It is important to be kind and gracious, as it will always be rewarded.

20. The Greedy Lion

Greed is never a good thing.

21. The Goose and the Golden Eggs

Once upon a time, a farmer lived with his wife in their cottage. They had a goose who would lay one golden egg every day. The farmer and his wife were mighty pleased because of this. Every morning, the wife would set out with her basket to collect all the eggs from the hens and the goose. But over time, they started getting greedier. They wondered if the process could be speeded up. They were very upset that they were getting just one golden egg daily. They wondered that if the goose was laying golden eggs, its insides must surely be made of gold too! They imagined getting rich as they would get all the gold at once. So, they caught hold of the poor bird and killed it. Alas, upon opening it, they didn’t find any gold, and the insides of the goose were like that of any other bird.

Think before you act.

22. The Greedy Dog

Once upon a time, there was a dog who was roaming around the village in search of food. He was a greedy dog and never satisfied with whatever he had. On one particular day, he managed to snatch a piece of bone from a butcher’s shop and ran away to eat it in peace. On the way, he came across a river. He was very curious, so holding the bone, he peeped into the river. He was astonished when he saw his reflection. But he thought that it was another dog with a bone. As this dog was greedy, he wanted that bone too. So he opened his mouth and started barking in the hopes that the other dog would get scared and leave his bone behind. But, as soon as he opened his mouth, his bone fell into the river and started floating away. The dog then got upset that in his greed to get the second bone, he lost his own bone.

Do not be greedy.

Tips on Making Storytime Interesting for Your Kids

No matter how good or engaging a story may be, how you recite it to your kids will make all the difference. If you want to make story sessions fun (and less preachy) for your kids, here are some tips on narrating stories.

• Be creative while you read the story to your child. Usually, the personality or character of the story catches a child’s interest the most. So use different voices for each character or act out various parts from the story to bring life to those characters. Acting out parts from the story will make story sessions fun and memorable for your kids.
• If you use books or pictures, lay them before your kids. You can ask them to turn the pages or trace the words as you read.
• Talk about the story after you’ve finished reciting it. Ask your children questions along the way and discuss the moral of the story in the end. This way, you will also know if your children understood what happened in the story. Asking questions from time to time will keep children engaged and promote speech development in kids. You can also highlight new words in the story and tell their meanings to your kids – this will develop their vocabulary.
• Read aloud together with your kids. Ask your child to read with you. This will encourage your child’s reading habits and improve his reading skills.
• Take stories outdoors. You don’t have to sit on the bed with your kids while narrating a story to them – you can take the story beyond the four walls of your home. For instance, if you are reading a story on ‘fun in the park’, take your child to an amusement park, lay a blanket under the tree in that park, and read the story there. This will make the story more life-like, and your kid will enjoy it even more.
• Try reading stories at different times of the day. Storytime need not always be bedtime. Try reading stories to your kids at different times of the day, like in the afternoon or evening, to understand your child’s attention span. Once you know the time when your child’s attention span is the highest, read stories to him during that time.

Make storytime fun and exciting with the above tips. These tips will help you leave an impact on your kids and make storytime the favourite part of their day. Also, read the above short moral stories to your kids – we are sure they will enjoy listening to these stories. Furthermore, these short stories with moral values will even teach your children some important lessons which they will always remember.

Infographic: Benefits of Moral Stories for Kids

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30 BEST Moral Stories in English For Children That You Need to Know

Stories have power. If you would like to teach your children some values through moral stories in English, you have come to the right place.

If your child is old enough, it might be helpful to discuss a story in-depth after they finish reading it. Stories have power, and they can prove to be teachable moments. Moral stories such as the popular thirsty crow story or the greedy dog story in English can teach our kids important life lessons. These discussions also offer an opportunity for you to bond with your kids.

How Moral Stories Benefit Kids

There are plenty of moral stories in English rich with benefits for kids. They activate your child’s imagination, entertain them, and make them happy. Short moral stories are ideal for maintaining their attention and keeping them focused during the entire story.

However, the best moral stories in English teach your children universal truths. Reading the same moral stories to them repetitively will help them to familiarise themselves with the story and its moral lesson. The best part about moral stories is that they can teach your kid life lessons in a fun and easy way.

Short moral stories for kids are the best way to teach valuable life lessons to kids. It is a fun and easy way through which children can understand complex concepts. Short stories work well as they’re just long enough for your child to concentrate.

Moral Stories for Kids

1. the boy who cried wolf.

There once was a boy who grew bored while watching over the village sheep. He wanted to make things more exciting. So, he yelled out that he saw a wolf chasing the sheep. All the villagers came running to drive the wolf away. However, they saw no wolf. The boy was amused, but the villagers were not. They told him not to do it again. Shortly after, he repeated this antic. The villagers came running again, only to find that he was lying. Later that day, the boy really sees a wolf sneaking amongst the flock. He jumped up and called out for help. But no one came this time because they thought he was still joking around. At sunset, the villagers looked for the boy. He had not returned with their sheep. They found him crying. He told them that there really was a wolf, and the entire flock was gone. An old man came to comfort him and told him that nobody would believe a liar even when they are being honest.

Moral : Lying breaks trust.

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2. The Golden Touch

The Greek king Midas did a good deed for a Satyr. This prompted Dionysus, the god of wine, to grant him a wish. Midas asked for everything he touched to turn to gold. Dionysus’ warned him not to do so, but Midas could not be swayed. Midas excitedly started touching everything and turning them into gold. Soon, he became hungry. But he couldn’t eat anything because even his food turned to gold. His beloved daughter saw him in distress and ran to hug him. However, she, too, turned to gold. He realised then the golden touch was not a blessing.

Moral : Greed leads one to downfall.

3. The Fox and the Grapes

A hungry fox once looked everywhere for food. He couldn’t find anything until he stumbled upon a farmer’s wall. He saw big, purple, juicy grapes. He jumped as high as possible to reach the grapes. No matter how many times he tried, he failed. Finally, he gave up and went home, thinking to himself that the grapes must have been sour anyway.

Moral : Nothing comes easy, do not hate what you can’t have.

4. The Proud Rose

In the desert existed a rose and a cactus. The beautiful rose would take every opportunity to insult the cactus. The other plants tried to defend the cactus, but the rose was too obsessed with its own looks. There was no water during a particularly hot summer. The rose started to wither away. But the cactus had become a source of water for sparrows. The rose asked the cactus for water, and the nice cactus readily agreed.

Moral : Never judge someone according to how they look.

5. The Milkmaid and Her Pail

Molly, the milkmaid’s job was to milk the cows and sell the milk at the market. She started thinking about the things she would spend her money on. While walking to the market, she spotted a chicken and thought that she could earn more money by buying a chicken and selling its eggs. She started to think how jealous she could make the other milkmaid with all the things she could buy from the milk and egg money. She started to skip in excitement, and soon the milk spilled over. She went home with empty pails and no money. Her mother then reminds her that she shouldn’t count her chicken until they hatch.

Moral : Do not depend on something until you are sure it will happen.

6. A Wise Old Owl

An old owl would observe incidents happening around his oak tree every day. The more things he saw, the less he would speak. He heard people talking and sharing stories as well. The old owl had seen so much and heard all kinds of stories. All of these experiences helped the owl to become wiser day by day.

Moral : Talk less and be more observant.

7. The Golden Egg

A farmer had a goose that laid one golden egg a day. He would sell the golden eggs, and they enjoyed a comfortable life. However, the farmer became greedy and wanted more than one egg a day. His wife foolishly agreed to his idea. The next day the farmer cut open the goose after it laid the golden egg. He could only find blood and guts. He realised his mistake. He now had no source of income, and the couple became poorer every day.

Moral : Think before you act.

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8. The Farmer and the Well

A farmer bought a well from his neighbour to water his farm. The neighbour sold him the well but did not allow him to draw water from it. The farmer went to the emperor for justice. His courtier questioned the neighbour, who said that he had sold the well but not the water within it. The neighbour was told to either pay rent for the water to remove it all immediately. Realising that his trick didn’t work, he apologised and went home.

Moral : Cheating will get you nowhere.

9. Elephant and Friends

A lonely elephant was looking for friends in the forest. The monkey declined to be the elephant’s friend because the elephant could not swing in the trees. The rabbit turned the elephant because it was too big to fit in the burrow. The frog refused to be the elephant’s friend because it could not jump. Every other animal said no to the poor elephant. The next day, all the animals in the forest were running away in fear. The elephant stopped a bear who said that the tiger was attacking them all. The elephant nicely asked the tiger to stop, but the tiger told the elephant to stay out of the way. The elephant proceeded to kick the tiger and scare it away. The other animals then realised that the elephant was the perfect size to be their friend.

Moral : Friends can be any shape or size.

10. When Adversity Knocks

There once was a girl who was frustrated with life and asked her father for advice. He asked her to bring an egg, two tea leaves, and a potato. He then started boiling water in three separate vessels. He put the egg, potato, and tea leaves in one vessel each. After a few minutes, he asked her to peel the egg and potato and strain the leaves. He explained to his daughter that:

• The soft egg was now hard.
• The hard potato was now soft.
• The tea had changed the water itself.

When adversity is at our door, we can respond to it in different ways.

Moral : We decide how to respond to difficult situations.

11. The Needle Tree

There were two brothers; the older one was always mean to the younger one. The older one would chop firewood in the forest and sell it in the market. One day, he stumbled across a magical tree. The tree begged him not to cut him down and promised him golden apples in exchange. The older brother felt disappointed with the number of apples he received. He decided to cut down the tree anyway, but the tree showered him with hundreds of needles. The boy was left lying on the forest ground in pain. His younger brother finally found him and carefully took out every needle. The older brother finally apologised for treating his brother badly. The magical tree saw this exchange. It decided to give them more golden apples.

Moral : Kindness will always be rewarded.

12. A Glass of Milk

There was a poor boy who would sell newspapers to pay for school. One day, he was ravenous and decided to ask for food at the next house he visited. Several people denied him food. However, a girl at one house offered him a glass of milk. She refused to take payment for it. After many years, this girl fell sick. No doctor wanted to help her. She decided to go to the best doctor in the town. The doctor spent months treating her, though she could not afford the service. When she received the hospital bill, it read ‘Paid in full, with a glass of milk.’

Moral : Good deeds are always rewarded.

13. The Ants and the Grasshopper

A family of ants was drying out the grain they had stored during the summer. A hungry grasshopper comes to them and asks for some food. They asked him why he had not saved any food for the winter. The grasshopper said he was too busy making music during the summer that he didn’t save any food. The ants had no sympathy for the grasshopper and went back to work. Can you guess the ant and grasshopper story moral?

Moral : There’s a time to work and a time to play.

14. The Bundle of Sticks

An old man had three sons. They were hard workers but always fought. He could never unite them. He then fell ill and asked his sons to unite. They paid him no heed. He decided to teach them a lesson to set aside their differences. He gave them a bundle of sticks and told them to break it into two. Whoever finishes first would win. They quickly did this and started fighting again. He then gave them another bundle of sticks and told them to break it as a bundle and not separately. Despite their best efforts, they could not do it. He told them it was easy to break the sticks individually. But if you stay united, no one can hurt you. They finally understood the value of unity.

Moral : There’s strength in unity.

15. The Bear and the Two Friends

Two friends were walking through the forest. Since it was dangerous, they promised to stay close to each other. They see a bear approaching them. One friend scurries up a tree, leaving the other one behind. The other friend decided to pretend to be dead. The bear approached him, smelled his ear and then left. The friend in the tree climbed down and asked the other friend what the bear had told him. He replies, “The bear simply advised against believing a false friend.”

Moral : True friends stick with you through all situations.

16. The Miser and His Gold

Once, there was a miser who would hide all his gold under the stones in his garden. He never spent his gold, and without fail, he would count his coins before going to bed every day. One day a thief spotted him counting his coins. After the miser went to sleep, the thief stole all the gold. The next day, the miser saw that all his gold was missing and started wailing. His neighbours came running and asked him what had happened. The neighbours asked him why he didn’t keep the gold in the house since it would be easy to access inside. The mise revealed he never planned on spending the gold. The neighbours told him he might as well save his stones, as the unused gold was just as useless.

Moral : A possession is important only if you use it.

17. The Dog At the Well

On a farm lived a mother dog and her pups. The mother dog warned her pups to never play near the well. However, one curious puppy decided to peek over the well. He saw his own reflection in the well and assumed it was another dog. He started barking at his reflection as he thought the other dog was imitating him. He jumped into the well to fight the other puppy, only to realise that there was no other puppy. He kept on barking till the farmer came and saved him. The puppy never went back to the well again.

Moral : Heed the warnings of those who are wiser.

18. Controlling Anger

There was a young boy who could not control his anger. He would say whatever came to his mind, even if it hurts people. His father asked him to hammer in a nail in the backyard fence whenever he got angry. In the beginning, he used up a lot of nails. But as time went by, he started using less. The father then asked him to start removing a nail each day; he didn’t get angry. When he removed all the nails, the father asked him to see the holes in the fence. He reminded him that the fence would never be the same. Likewise, the things he had said to people could never be erased.

Moral : Anger leaves scars on people.

19. The Leap at Rhodes

There was a man who used to travel to foreign lands. He would only talk about his adventures and deeds. He claimed he had made a great leap in a city called Rhodes. He bragged about it to no end. One listener told him to prove it physically, and he could not.

Moral : It is the deed that counts.

20. The Wolf and the Sheep

There was a wolf who got injured while fighting a bear. He wasn’t able to get himself food or water. One day a sheep passed by him. He asked the sheep to get him water, so he had the strength to get solid food. The sheep quickly realised he was the solid food, said he would not get the wolf any water, and went away.

Moral : You can spot a person’s ulterior motives if you pay attention.

21. The Tortoise And The Bird

A tortoise was resting under a tree. On this tree, a bird had built its nest. The tortoise mocked the bird for having a home built with broken twigs, which it had to build itself. He bragged about his own shell and said the bird must be jealous. The bird told the tortoise that its nest might be shabby, but it had space for its friends and family. At the same time, the tortoise’s shell could never accommodate anyone else except the tortoise himself.

Moral : A crowded hut is better than a lonely mansion.

22. The Cows And The Tiger

Four cows lived in a forest. They were good friends who did everything together. No other predators were able to kill them for food. One day, they fought and decided to graze in different directions. A tiger saw this and decided it would be easy to kill them now. The tiger hid in a bush and killed the cows one by one.

Moral : There is strength in numbers.

23. The Four Students

Four friends who hated studying partied all night before their exams. They asked the Dean to give them a second chance by lying about their whereabouts. They told the Dean they had gone to a wedding the night before, and on their way back, they had a flat tire, requiring them to push the car all the way back. The Dean agreed to let them take the test again. They studied hard for the exam. On the exam day, they were made to sit in separate classrooms and were given only two questions:

• Which tire of the car burst: a) Front Left b) Front right c) Rear left d) Rear right

Moral : You may be smart, but there are smarter people than you.

24. The Stork and the Crab

There once was an old stork who could not catch fish anymore. As he grew hungrier, he devised a plan. He told the fish in the tank that the farmers would soon empty out the tank and grow crops there. He offered to take the distressed fish to a bigger tank further away. The fish happily agreed, but the stork would take them to a rock and kill them. There was also a crab in the tank who wished to be saved. The stork, thinking he could try some new food, agreed to take him. However, the crab quickly noticed the fish bones on the rock. He immediately dug his claws into the stork’s neck and killed him. He then went back to the old tank and informed the other fish.

Moral : A sharp mind is your greatest strength.

25. The Camel And The Baby

A baby camel once asked her mother why they had humps, round hooves, and long eyelashes. The mother explained that the humps could store water, the rounded hooves were to help them walk through the desert, and the long eyelashes protected their eyes from sand. The baby thought over this and then asked her mother if they have all these qualities for the desert, why are they in a zoo? The mother was dumbfounded.

Moral : Your strengths and skills are of no use in the wrong place.

26. The Rabbit and the Partridge

A partridge could not find food near its home, so it travelled far away to some cornfields. It stayed there for a few days before returning home. Meanwhile, a rabbit had found the empty nest and made itself at home. When the partridge returned, they both fought over whose house it was. The other animals suggested going to a judge. They found a praying cat by the river and decided to ask for help. Seeing how the cat was praying, they trusted it. The cat heard them both out but asked them to come closer as he couldn’t hear well. When they got closer, the cat killed and ate them both.

Moral : Don’t trust strangers no matter how friendly they seem.

27. The Wolf And The Shepherds

One day a wolf was chased away for trying to steal some sheep from a farm. Later that week, the wolf returned to the farm, hoping to find food. He found that the farmer’s family was eating lamb roast. He was dismayed that he was chased off for wanting the same thing the farmer’s family had done.

Moral : We are quick to condemn others without realising our own faults.

28. The Young Crab And His Mother

One day, a young crab was trying to move. But, he could only move sideways. The mother admonishes him and tells him to walk forward by pointing his toes out front. The young crab says he doesn’t know how, so the mother gets up to show him. However, she cannot walk forward either. She realises how unfair she was being and apologises to him.

Moral : Do not condemn others for what you cannot do yourself.

29. The Other Side Of The Wall

There was a young woman who was fond of gardening. She took great care of her garden. One day she found a plant in a catalogue and decided she wanted to plant it. She planted it at the base of the stonewall in her garden. It quickly grew, but no flowers bloomed on the tree. She thought she would cut it down, but her neighbour called her and thanked her for the beautiful flowers blooming on its vines. She rushes over and realises that the vine had crept through the crevices of the stonewall. The flowers had bloomed generously on the other side.

Moral : You may not see the results, but that doesn’t mean your efforts bore no fruit.

30. The Wet Pants

There was once a young boy in school. He had wet his pants and was scared that his class would make fun of him. He noticed that the teacher and a classmate were walking towards him with a goldfish bowl. The young girl trips and drops the fishbowl in his lap. The rest of the classmates think it is her fault for wetting his pants. Later, he asks her if she did that on purpose. She tells him, “I wet my pants once too.”

Moral : We all have good and bad days. Your true friends will help you out.

Tips on Making Storytime Interesting for Your Kids

While moral stories in English are important to share with your kids, it matters how you narrate them. To make the story less preachy and more engaging and fun for them, here is how you can do it:

• Read the story out in creative ways . You can adapt the persona of a character to catch their interest. You can use different voices for different characters or act out the scenes. Bringing life to the characters and acting out the different parts of the story will make the story fun and memorable for your child.
• If you are reading out from a book or using pictures, keep it in front of your kids . You can ask them to help you turn pages or to trace the words you are reading. This is a great way to bond while reading moral stories in English.
• After you finish reciting the story, discuss it with your children . You can ask them questions and discuss the moral at the end. This will help you to know if your child has picked up on the moral of the story. Asking them questions will also keep them engaged and promote their speech development. You can even share your own perspectives and explain the meaning to them. This can help them build their vocabulary.
• Ask your child to read along with you . You can both read the story aloud. This will encourage them to develop a reading habit while improving their reading skills.
• Take the story outside . You don’t necessarily need to sit at home or in their bedroom to read out a story. You can read it in the park, a garden, the terrace, or any outside space. This will give more depth to the story and make your kid enjoy it even more.
• Read the story at different times of the day and not just at bedtime. This will help you understand their attention span. If you know when they have the strongest attention span, you can read stories at that time.

Summing up on Moral Stories for Kids

Young children will learn about the world around them. They spend their childhood picking up social cues. They can become kinder individuals when you read different types of friendship moral stories in English to them . There are tons of moral stories in English you can find which will help their personality development. Take some time out in the day to spend with your child and read them these valuable moral stories in English.

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8 Standout Short Stories With Moral Lessons

Nov 22, 2023

Sometimes, I want a short story to simply be a moment of escape. I don’t want to experience an important life lesson; I just want to be entertained like in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” or Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Other times, however, I want to soak in short stories with moral ideals!

A moral, or theme, teaches us something about ourselves and others. We get to learn and grow in some tangible way, and stories that provide this offering are necessary in the literary canon.

Keep reading below for 8 Standout Short Stories With Moral Lessons that you can use in ANY secondary classroom!

Need help with Reading Test Prep? Check out this  FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities  to help students achieve success on standardized tests!

Table of Contents

A moral, for all intended purposes, is another word for THEME. A theme is the message of a text. Because it is a message, it MUST be written in a complete sentence and contain a connection to a topic or idea from the text. A simple phrase is not quite enough for a thematic statement .

Developing themes for short stories with moral lessons would be a fantastic focus while reading any of the texts below!

1. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London

I love “To Build a Fire” so much! It mirrors my own life in so many ways, which is why it is one of my favorite short stories with moral lessons!

The protagonist, a man with an overabundance of pride and confidence, ultimately fails in an extreme fight for survival. Like me, he believes he can defy the odds and escape an impossible situation.

Teaching this story with passages from  The Call of the Wild or  White Fang might help in rounding out similar ideas regarding the conflict of Man vs. Nature !

Click below for easy-to-teach activities for To Build a Fire by Jack London!

2.  “The Cactus” by O. Henry

One of my favorite things about this short story by O. Henry is its clever twist ending! Many short stories with moral lessons have similar twist endings, which could be why they make such great additions to thematic units !

O. Henry’s “The Cactus” tells the story of a budding romance. A young man tries to charm a young woman, but his boastful nature leads to an unfortunate misunderstanding.

Personally, I think we have all been there, at least when it comes to boastfulness. We all have something we get a little prideful about, to our own detriment most of the time.

You could teach a simple plot activity or examine how the characters change and/or develop over the course of the story!

Click to get teaching ideas here>>> The Cactus Lesson BUNDLE

3.  “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry

Loyalty is a concept students are extremely focused on in middle and high school, so including short stories with moral ideas connected to loyalty is a great way to encourage students to engage with certain texts!  How can a student even navigate the school hallways without friends to help along the way? Loyalty is vital!

But all friendships change over time as any adult knows. The main characters, an officer and a criminal, experience this situation in the story “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry !

Breaking down this easy-to-read plot through a focus on comparing and contrasting the two main characters will help your students get to the moral (theme) of the story quite easily, as you really feel for both characters (even the criminal one).

Click to buy this BUNDLE to make teaching this short story SIMPLE & EASY!

4.  “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury

The story “The Pedestrian,” like its title, is incredibly unassuming. A man in a not-far-off future walks his neighborhood alone. Unlike others who sit in front of screens day and night, the protagonist chooses to go for a stroll, a seemingly innocuous activity.

While on his walk, he encounters an unmanned, robotic police vehicle. Because of its programming, it cannot understand Leonard’s (protagonist’s) intentions and labels him mentally incapable, carting him off to an asylum.

This dark tale teaches about the dangers of reliance on and addiction to technology, a moral we can all learn from! If you need help teaching characterization and theme for “The Pedestrian,” go here !

Need some ideas for teaching scary short stories? Click below!

5.  “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry

If you are anywhere near the holiday season, “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry is one of the best short stories with moral attributes woven throughout!

This short story depicts a couple lamenting their slightly impoverished state. They want to give each other gifts to celebrate the Christmas season; however, they have limited means, like most people in the world today.

Instead of sitting around moping, they both choose to sacrifice the little they have in an interesting way in order to surprise the other for Christmas. The moral, or theme, involving sacrifice will encourage anyone who reads this short story to think beyond oneself during the holiday season.

Want an easy way to teach characterization, reading comprehension, and visualization for The Gift of the Magi ? Click the image below!

6.  “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst

I don’t know about you, but if you have read “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst , I know you MUST have shed a tear or two. Good short stories with moral elements tend to do so unexpectedly.

Two brothers, one of whom experiences a disability, interact with each other as many siblings do. There is a constant tug of war between brotherly love and annoyance that most people with brothers or sisters can readily understand.

By the end of the story, we cry with the protagonist as he weeps for his brother who dies a tragic death. This story may be difficult to read for some, but it is completely worth it.

We need to be reminded once in a while that life is not just about us and what makes us happy. It also involves investing in the lives of others, especially in the lives of those less fortunate than we are. Ultimately, patience regarding family must take center place in our lives, which the protagonist learns too late. If you need step-by-step activities to teach this classic story, see this link !

7.  “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

I have yet to teach a student who did not like “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant . And engagement is super important when choosing short stories with moral concepts!

Unlike the female protagonist in “The Gift of the Magi,” Mathilde Loisel in the story “The Necklace” is self-focused. She cannot see the beauty of the comfort and security of her middle-class life.

Instead, she always thinks about the finer things in life she cannot attain. I think we have all been there a time or two. We may not envision the same “finer” things, but we all pretty much want more than we currently have.

When Mathilde Loisel is invited to a party, she borrows her friend’s necklace, a symbol to her of wealth. At some point, she loses the “expensive”  diamond necklace and replaces it without telling her friend about its loss. Now, deep in debt, she and her husband become embittered and worn down through extremely difficult physical work. The resolution of the story involves the revelation that the necklace was, in fact, a cheap fake.

Can you imagine the impact of this knowledge on your psyche? Sometimes, it is simply better to tell the truth, even if it hurts your pride to do so. Clearly, this story shines as a prime example of classic short stories with moral concepts everyone should read!

8.  “Thank You, Ma’am” (also known as “Thank You, M’am”) by Langston Hughes

During or around the week of Thanksgiving, “Thank You, Ma’am” (also known as “Thank You, M’am”) by Langston Hughes is one of THE BEST short stories with moral lessons to teach!

Let me give you a quick recap: A young boy attempts to steal a person from an older woman. Interestingly, she does not call the police and demand immediate punishment but invites the young man into her home, feeds him, and demonstrates love and care towards him.

Everyone could learn a thing or two from the older woman, Mrs. Jones.

Here are some thematic statements/morals one could learn from this story:

• Sometimes it is difficult to fathom someone’s kindness.
• Certain moments in life can change how you see someone.

Why teach short stories with moral lessons?

So often, our English curricula are rife with death, destruction, and despair. Think  Romeo and Juliet, “The Raven,”   or “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” Don’t get me wrong; I love a good scare or death scene.

Sometimes, however, I want to feel hope in the human experience. We need to read about life, love, freedom, and other ideals that are important to us. Foremost, we must offer more short stories with moral lessons to our students, so they too can experience what can be!

If you want to make teaching short stories with moral lessons or other entertaining tales an EASY feat, get the BUNDLE below!

Need more help with teaching short stories with moral lessons? Check out my store  Kristin Menke-Integrated ELA Test Prep !

Hi, I’m KRISTIN!

I primarily focus on  integrating multiple disciplines and subjects. The goal is to make teaching simplified and effective!

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Short English Moral Stories – Free PDF

Reading short English moral stories can help you learn important life lessons while improving your English.

Imagine opening a book or clicking on a story online. But this isn’t just any story – it’s a short English moral story. You might be wondering, “Why bother with these small tales?” Well, in this article, we’ll show you the great benefits of reading them.

You see, these little stories are like tiny treasure chests filled with valuable lessons. They can teach you important things about being a good person and making the right choices. Plus, they can make your English better and even help you feel more for others. I read some of these stories when I was preparing for my exams with examlabs and found them very interesting.

You can also get free 100 short English stories PDF down below.

Story 1 – Don’t Change The World

Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled a prosperous country. One day, he went for a trip to some distant areas of his country. When he was back to his palace, he complained that his feet were very painful, because it was the first time that he went for such a long trip, and the road that he went through was very rough and stony. He then ordered his people to cover every road of the entire country with leather.

Definitely, this would need thousands of cows’ skin, and would cost a huge amount of money. Then one of his wise servants dared himself to tell the king, “Why do you have to spend that unnecessary amount of money? Why don’t you just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet?”

The king was surprised, but he later agreed to his suggestion, to make a “shoe” for himself.

Lesson : to make this world a happy place to live, you better change yourself – your heart; and not the world.

Story 2 – The Travelers and the Tree

Two men were walking along one summer day. Soon it became too hot to go any further and, seeing a large plane tree nearby, they threw themselves on the ground to rest in its shade.

Gazing up into the branches one man said to the other: “What a useless tree this is. It does not have fruit or nuts that we can eat and we cannot even use its wood for anything.”

“Don’t be so ungrateful,” rustled the tree in reply.

“I am being extremely useful to you at this very moment, shielding you from the hot sun. And you call me a good-for-nothing!”

Lesson : All of God’s creations have a purpose.

Check Also: Free English Story Books (Level 1) PDF English Story Books for Beginners (Level 2-3-4) Simple Past Tense Exercises (Short Story PDF)

Story 3 – The Hare and Tortoise

A tortoise one day met a hare who made fun of her. “My, my, you move so slowly, you will never get far!”

The tortoises, upset by the hare’s manner, said, “Let’s have a race and see who is faster.”

The hare laughed and said, “You must be joking! But all right, we’ll see who reaches the other side of the hill first.” Off he ran, leaving the tortoise far behind.

After a while, the hare stopped to wait for the tortoise to come long. He waited and waited till he felt sleepy. “I might as well take a nap,” he thought. “Even if she catches up with me, I can easily win the race.” So he lay down under a shady tree and closed his eyes.

When the tortoise passed the sleeping hare, she walked on slowly but steadily. By the time the hare woke up, the tortoise was near the finishing line. He ran as fast as he could, but he could not catch up with the tortoise.

Lesson : It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop!

Story 4- The Wolf and The Lamb

A lamb was grazing with a flock of sheep one day. She soon found some sweet grass at the edge of the field. Farther and farther she went, away from the others.

She was enjoying herself so much that she did not notice a wolf coming nearer to her. However, when it pounced on her, she was quick to start pleading, “Please, please don’t eat me yet. My stomach is full of grass. If you wait a while, I will taste much better.”

The wolf thought that was a good idea, so he sat down and waited.

After a while, the lamb said, “If you allow me to dance, the grass in my stomach will be digested faster.” Again the wolf agreed.

While the lamb was dancing, she had a new idea. She said, “Please take the bell from around my neck. If you ring it as hard as you can, I will be able to dance even faster.”

The wolf took the bell and rang it as hard as he could. The shepherd heard the bell ringing and quickly sent his dogs to find the missing lamb. The barking dogs frightened the wolf away and saved the lamb’s life.

Lesson: The weak can be cleverer than fierce and strong.

Story 5 – The Thirsty Crow

One hot day, a thirsty crow flew all over the fields looking for water. For a long time, she could not find any. She felt very weak, almost giving up hope.

Suddenly, she saw a water jug below her. She flew straight down to see if there was any water inside. Yes, she could see some water inside the jug!

The crow tried to push her head into the jug. Sadly, she found that the neck of the jug was too narrow. Then she tried to push the jug down for the water to flow out. She found that the jug was too heavy.

The crow thought hard for a while. Then looking around her, she saw some pebbles. She suddenly had a good idea. She started picking up the pebbles one by one, dropping each into the jug. As more and more pebbles filled the jug, the water level kept rising.

Soon it was high enough for the crow to drink. Her plan had worked!

Lesson : If you try hard enough, you may soon find an answer to your problem.

Story 6 – A Pond Full of Milk

Once there was a king who told some of his workers to dig a pond. Once the pond was dug, the king made an announcement to his people saying that one person from each household had to bring a glass of milk during the night and pour it into the pond. So, the pond should be full of milk by the morning.

After receiving the order, everyone went home.

One man prepared to take the milk during the night. He thought that since everyone will bring milk, he could just hide a glass of water and pour it inside the pond. Because it will be dark at night, no one will notice. So he quickly went and poured the water in the pond and came back.

In the morning, the king came to visit the pond and to his surprise the pond was only filled with water!

What has happened is that everyone was thinking like the other man, “I don’t have to put the milk in, someone else will do it.”

Lesson: When everyone expects someone else to take action, nothing gets done, and collective responsibility is essential for achieving a common goal.

Story 7: The Clever Boy

A man with his donkey carrying two sacks of wheat was on his way to the market. After a little while he was tired and they rested under a tree. When he woke up from his nap he could not see the donkey and started searching for the donkey everywhere. On the way he met a boy, he asked the boy, “Have you seen my donkey?” The boy asked, “Is the donkey’s left eye blind, his right foot lame and is he carrying a load of wheat?” The man was happy and said, “Yes, exactly! Where have you seen it?” the boy answered, “I haven’t seen it.” This made the man very angry and he took the boy to the village chief for punishment.

The judge asked, “Dear boy, if you had not seen the donkey, how could you describe it?” The boy answered, “I saw the tracks of a donkey and the right and left tracks were different from this. I understood that the donkey that passed there was limping. And the grass on the right side of the road was eaten but the grass on the left was not. From that I understood that his left eye was blind. There were wheat seeds scattered on the ground and I understood that he must have been carrying a load of wheat. The judge understood the boy’s cleverness and told the man to forgive the boy.

Lesson : This story teaches us that we should not be quick to judge the people.

Story 8: A Merchant and his Donkey

One beautiful spring morning, a merchant loaded his donkey with bags of salt to go to the market in order to sell them. The merchant and his donkey were walking along together. They had not walked far when they reached a river on the road.

Unfortunately, the donkey slipped and fell into the river and noticed that the bags of salt loaded on his back became lighter.

There was nothing the merchant could do, except return home where he loaded his donkey with more bags of salt. As they reached the slippery riverbank, now deliberately, the donkey fell into the river and wasted all the bags of salt on its back again. The merchant quickly discovered the donkey’s trick. He then returned home again but re-loaded his donkey with bags of sponges.

The foolish, tricky donkey again set on its way. On reaching the river he again fell into the water. But instead of the load becoming lighter, it became heavier.

Lesson : Deceitful actions ultimately lead to consequences that are harder to bear, highlighting the importance of honesty and integrity.

Story 9: The Fox Who Got Caught In The Tree Trunk

Once upon a time, there was a hungry fox that was looking for something to ear. He was very hungry. No matter how hard he tried, the fox could not find food. Finally he went to the edge of the forest and searched there for food. Suddenly he caught sight of a big tree with a hole in it.

Inside the hole was a package. The hungry fox immediately thought that there might be food in it, and he became very happy. He jumped into the hole and when he opened the package, he saw there was a lot of food, bread, meat and fruit in it!

An old woodcutter had placed the food in the tree trunk while he cut down trees in the forest. He was going to eat it for his lunch. The fox happily began to eat. After the fox had finished eating, he felt thirsty and decided to leave the trunk and drink some water from a nearby spring. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not get out of the hole. Do you know why? Yes, the fox had eaten so much food that he became too big to fit through the hole.

The fox was very sad and upset. He told himself, “I wish that I had thought a little before jumping into the hole.”

Lesson : It’s important to think before taking actions.

Story 10: Wealth – Success and Love

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.”

“Is your husband at home?”, they asked. “No,” she replied. “He’s out.” “Then we cannot come in,” they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.

“Go tell them I am home and invite them in!”

The woman went out and invited the men in.

“We do not go into a House together,” they replied. “Why is that?” she asked.

One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!,” he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!”

His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?”

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!”

“Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife.

“Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.”

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?”

The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him.

Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!”

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Very nice stories. Thanks.

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34 English Short Stories with Big Ideas for Thoughtful English Learners

What if you could understand big ideas in English with just a little bit of text?

You don’t need to read an entire English book to learn. A good English short story is often enough!

Stories are all about going beyond reality, and these classics will not only improve your English reading but also open your mind to different worlds.

1. “The Tortoise and the Hare” by Aesop

2. “the ant and the grasshopper” by aesop, 3. “white wing: the tale of the doves and the hunter”, 4. “royal servant”, 5. “emily’s secret”, 6. “the bogey beast” by flora annie steel, 7. “love is in the air”, 8. “the tale of johnny town-mouse” by beatrix potter, 9. “paul bunyan” adapted by george grow, 10. “cinderella” by charles perrault, 11. “little red riding hood” adapted by the british council, 12. “the lottery” by shirley jackson, 13. “the happy prince” by oscar wilde.

• 14. “The Night Train at Deoli” by Ruskin Bond

15. “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury

• 16. “Orientation” by Daniel Orozco

17. “Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu

18. “the missing mail” by r.k. narayan, 19. “harrison bergeron” by kurt vonnegut.

• 20. “The School” by Donald Barthelme

21. “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

22. “rikki-tikki-tavi” by rudyard kipling, 23. excerpt from “little dorrit” by charles dickens, 24. “to build a fire” by jack london, 25. “miracles” by lucy corin.

• 26. “Evil Robot Monkey” by Mary Robinette Kowal

27. “The Boarded Window” by Ambrose Bierce 

28. “the monkey’s paw” by w.w. jacobs, 29. “a tiny feast” by chris adrian, 30. “the story of an hour” by kate chopin, 31. “the zero meter diving team” by jim shepherd, 32. “the velveteen rabbit” by margery williams, 33. “the friday everything changed” by anne hart, 34. “hills like white elephants” by ernest hemingway, how to use short stories to improve your english, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

This classic fable (story) is about a very slow tortoise (turtle) and a speedy hare (rabbit). The tortoise challenges the hare to a race. The hare laughs at the idea that a tortoise could run faster than him, but the race ends with a surprising result.

Have you ever heard the English expression, “Slow and steady wins the race”? This story is the basis for that common phrase . You can read it for free , along with a number of other stories in this list!

This is another great story that teaches a lesson that’s written for kids but adults can enjoy, too . The story tells of a grasshopper who lounges around all summer while his friend the ant prepares for the winter. When winter comes, the two friends end up in very different situations!

The moral is that those who save up during the good times will get to enjoy the benefits when times are bad.

This very short story from India was originally written in Sanskrit (an ancient language). When a group of doves is caught in a hunter’s net, they must work together as a team to escape from the hunter’s clutches.

You can listen to a reading of the story as you read along on this website.

In this story, an old man sets out to ask an African king to dig some wells in his village when their water runs dry. But first, he teaches the king a lesson in humility by showing him how all people help each other. Read the story to see how the clever old man gets the king to do as he asks!

This is a modern-day story about a little girl with a big secret she can’t tell anyone about. When her teacher finds out her secret, they work together to fix the issue.

This story is a good choice for absolute beginners, because it uses only the present tense. It’s also written in very basic English with simple vocabulary and short sentences.

The woman in this story finds a pot of treasure on her walk home. As she carries it home, the treasure keeps changing, becoming things of lesser value.

However, the woman’s enthusiasm makes her see only the positive after each change, which would have upset anyone else. Her positive personality tries to make every negative situation seem like a gift!

This story shows how important it is to look at things from a positive point of view. Instead of being disappointed in what we don’t have, this story reminds us to view what we do have as blessings.

This modern story is about a young woman named Penny who is anxious about going to her family’s annual reunion barbecue. But despite screaming children and arguing cousins, Penny ends up happy that she came to the reunion when she starts a conversation with a handsome man.

The story is written in simple English, using only the present tense, so it’s perfect for beginners.

This classic children’s story is about two mice, one from the country and one from the city. Both mice think that the other mouse is so lucky to live in what they think is a wonderful place!

The two mice decide to visit each other in their homes. It turns out that the country mouse has a difficult time in the city, and the city mouse struggles in the country.

In the end, they realize that they believed the old English saying: “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” In other words, each mouse thought the other had a better life, only to discover that they actually preferred their own life!

The story of Paul Bunyan has been around in the United States for many years. He’s the symbol of American frontier life, showing the ideal strength, work ethic and good morality that Americans work hard to imitate.

Paul Bunyan is considered a legend, so stories about him are full of unusual details, such as eating 50 eggs in one day and being so big that he caused an earthquake. It can be a pretty funny read, with characters such as a blue ox and a reversible dog.

This version of the story is also meant to be read out loud, so it’s fast-paced and entertaining. This website has an audio recording with the story, which you can play at slower or faster speeds.

You may already know the story of Cinderella, whether you saw the Disney movie or read a children’s book of it.

However, there are actually many different versions of “Cinderella.” This one by Charles Perrault is the most well-known and is often the version told to children.

“Cinderella” is a beloved story because it describes how a kind and hard-working person was able to get a happy ending. Even though Cinderella’s stepsisters treated her awfully, Cinderella herself remained gentle and humble. It goes to show that even though you may experience hardships, it’s important to stay kind, forgiving and mindful.

This is a story that every English-speaking child knows. It’s about a little girl who meets a wolf in the forest while going to see her sick grandmother. The wolf pretends to be her grandmother in order to trick the little girl.

This story is presented by the British Council as a video with the text clearly spoken. You can then play a game to rearrange the sentences below the video into the correct order, read the text of the story in a PDF file and answer some activity questions (then check your answers with the provided answer sheet.

This website has many other stories you can read and listen to, like “Circus Story” by Sue Clarke, which is an excellent option for learning animal vocabulary, and even adaptations of Shakespeare plays for younger readers.

Every year, the small town in this story holds an event known as “The Lottery.” During this event, someone from the community is randomly chosen.

What are they chosen for? You’ll have to read the story to find out.

You may have heard of the term “mob mentality” and how it can allow for some pretty surprising (and terrible) things to happen. This classic story looks at society, and how much evil people are willing to overlook to keep their society stable.

This is considered to be one of the most famous short stories in American literature. It’s a great example of what is known as a dystopian society, where people live in a frightening way. To learn more, check out this TED-Ed video that tells you how to recognize a dystopia.

Since the story is old, much of the English is outdated (not used in modern English). Still, if you have a good grasp of the English language, you can use this story to give yourself a great reading challenge.

14. “The Night Train at Deoli”  by Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond used to spend summers at his grandmother’s house in Dehradun, India. While taking the train, he always had to pass through a small station called Deoli. No one used to get down at the station and nothing happened there.

Until one day, when he sees a girl selling fruit and is unable to forget her.

Ruskin Bond is a writer who can communicate deep feelings in a simple way. This story is about our attachment to strangers and why we cherish (value or appreciate deeply) them even though we might never meet them again.

The title is taken from a poem that describes how nature will continue its work long after humanity is gone. But in this story, we see that nature plays a supporting role and the machines are the ones who have taken its place.

They continue their work without any human or natural assistance. This shows how technology has replaced nature in our lives and how it can both destroy us and carry on without humanity itself.

16. “Orientation”  by Daniel Orozco

This is a humorous story in which the speaker explains the office policies to a new employee while gossiping about the staff. It’s extremely easy to read, as the sentences are short and the vocabulary is simple.

Many working English learners will relate to this story, as it explains the silly, nonsensical moments of modern office life. Modern workplaces often feel like theaters where we pretend to work rather than get actual work done. The speaker exposes this reality that few would ever admit to.

He over-explains everything from the view out the office window to the intimate details of everyone’s life—from the overweight loner to the secret serial killer. It talks about the things that go unsaid; how people at the office know about the deep secrets of our home life, but don’t discuss them.

Jack’s mother can make paper animals come to life. In the beginning, Jack loves them and spends hours with his mom. But once he grows up, his mother’s inability to speak English keeps Jack from talking to her.

When his mother tries to talk to him through her creations, he kills them and collects them in a box. After a tragic loss, he finally gets to know her story through a hidden message that he should have read a long time ago.

The story is a simple narration that touches on complex issues, like leaving your home country and the conflicts that can occur within families when different cultures and languages collide.

Thanappa is the village mailman, who is good friends with Ramanujam and his family. He learns about a failed marriage and helps Ramanujam’s daughter get engaged to a suitable match.

Just before the wedding, Thanappa receives a tragic letter about Ramanujam’s brother. To spare them heartache, he decides not to deliver the letter.

The story explores the idea that despite the best of intentions, our actions can cause more harm to our loved ones than we ever intended. If you like this and want to read more by R.K. Narayan, check out the other stories in the author’s “ Malgudi Days” short story collection.

The year is 2081, and everyone has been made equal by force. Every person who is superior in any way has been handicapped (something that prevents a person’s full use of their abilities) by the government. Intelligent people are distracted by disturbing noises. Good dancers have to wear weights so that they don’t dance too well. Attractive people wear ugly masks so they don’t look better than anyone else.

However, one day there is a rebellion, and everything changes for a brief instant.

Technology is always supposed to make us better. But in this case, we see that it can be used to disable our talents. Moreover, the writer shows us how the mindless use of a single value like equality can create more suffering for everyone.

20. “The School”  by Donald Barthelme

And that’s just the beginning of the series of unfortunate events at the school in this short story, narrated by a teacher. The story is absurd (ridiculous to the point of being silly), even though the topic is serious. By the end, the kids start asking difficult questions about death that the adults don’t quite know how to answer.

This story leaves a lot of things unsaid, which means you’ll need to “read between the lines,” or look closer at the text to understand what’s really happening.

In “Girl,” a mother tells her daughter how to live her life properly. The mother instructs the girl to do all the household chores, in very specific ways, making it seem like that’s her only duty in life.

Sometimes the mother tells the girl how to attract attention, not to talk to boys and to always keep away from men. Other times, the mother hints that the girl will need to be attractive to men to live a good life.

This story doesn’t feel like a story. There’s no plot, and nothing really happens. But read closely, and you’ll see an important message about how girls are taught to live restricted lives since childhood.

“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” is a classic tale about a Mongoose who regularly visits a family in India. The family feeds him and lets him explore their house, but they worry that he might bite their son, Teddy.

One day, when a snake is about to attack Teddy, the Mongoose kills it. This event helps the family accept the mongoose into their family.

This is a simple story about humans and animals living together as friends. It’s old, but the language is fairly easy to understand. It reminds us that animals can also experience feelings of love and, like humans, they will also protect the ones they love.

“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” is part of Kipling’s short story collection “The Jungle Book,” which was famously made into a movie by Disney.

Dorrit is a child whose father has been in prison ever since she could remember. Unable to pay their debts, the whole family is forced to spend their days in a cell. Dorrit dreams of seeing the world outside their little cell.

This excerpt (short part of a larger work) introduces you to the family and their life in prison. The novel is about how they manage to get out and how Dorrit never forgets the kindness of the people who helped her.

Injustice in law is often reserved for the poor. “Little Dorrit” shows the government jailing people for not being able to return their loans, a historical practice the writer hated since his own father was punished in a similar way.

A man travels to a freezing, isolated place called Yukon with only his dog for company. Throughout his journey, he ignores the advice other people have given him and takes his life for granted.

Finally, he realizes the real power of nature and how fragile (easily broken) human life actually is.

Nature is often seen as a powerful force that should be feared and respected. The animal in this story is the one who’s cautious and sensible in this dangerous situation. By the end, readers wonder who is really intelligent—the man who could not deal with nature, or the dog who could survive?

This is a modern-day story that describes a group of children gathering around their father to watch little spiders hatch out of their eggs. But the story gets a different meaning as it nears the end. What do you think happened?

26. “Evil Robot Monkey ” by Mary Robinette Kowal

Sly is a character who doesn’t fit into society. He’s too smart for the other chimps, but humans don’t accept him. He is punished for acting out his natural emotions.

But the way he handles his rage, in the end, makes him look more mature than most human beings. Nominated for the  Hugo award , many readers have connected with Sly since they can see similarities in their own lives.

“The Boarded Window” is a horror story about a man who has to deal with his wife’s death. The setting is a remote cabin in the wilderness in Cincinnati, and he feels helpless as she gets sick.

There’s an interesting twist to this story, and the ending will get you thinking (and maybe feeling a bit disturbed!).

If you enjoy older stories with a little suspense, this will be a good challenge for you. It talks about the event that made a hermit decide to live alone for decades, with a mysterious window boarded up in his cabin. It also uses a lot of psychology and symbolism, so you may want to read the story more than once to understand everything it has to say.

Be careful what you wish for! One man finds this out the hard way when he brings a magical monkey’s paw home from India. This paw is supposed to grant three wishes to three people. People start to wish on it, only to realize that our wishes can have severe consequences.

The characters in this story immediately regret when their wishes come true. Even though they get what they wanted, it comes at a large cost!

This short story is from the early 1900s and uses some outdated English, but it’s still easy to follow. It reminds us that there are no shortcuts in life, and to be wary if something seems too good to be true.

This story centers around Titania and Oberon, two fairy characters from Shakespeare’s famous play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The two fairies are having a rough time in their marriage when they find a human child. They decide to adopt him, hoping that he’ll help them save their relationship. However, the child develops a deadly, modern disease and the fairies have no idea what to do since they have never known illness or death.

This is a tragic tale about how they try to understand something they’ve never seen before and their deep love for a stranger who is so unlike them. The story explores the grief of parenthood and the uncertainty of knowing whether your child will ever even know you.

This story, written by a woman, is a sad look inside an unhappy marriage. Mrs. Mallard is a woman with heart troubles. When her husband dies, the people who come to give her this news tell it to her gently, so she doesn’t have a shock.

Mrs. Mallard busts into tears and locks herself in her room. At first, she’s upset by the news. But the more she considers it, the more excited she becomes about the idea of the freedom that would come from her husband’s death.

What happens, then, when her husband comes home after an hour, alive and well?

The story explores the conflicting range of the human emotions of grief and hope in a short span, and the impact it can have on a person’s mind and body.

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster was one of the deadliest accidents of the twentieth century. This is a story about that event seen through the eyes of a father and his sons, who were all unfortunate enough to be close to the disaster area.

The story exposes the whole system of corruption that led to a massive explosion taking innocent lives and poisoning multiple generations. The technical vocabulary and foreign words make this text a little more difficult. However, its plot is relatively easy to follow.

The story is divided into small parts that make it both easy and exciting to read. Its various events show what it was like to live in the former Soviet Union . And just like any other good story, it’s also about human relationships and how they change due to historic events.

A simple, stuffed rabbit toy is given to a young boy as a Christmas present. At first, the rabbit isn’t noticed, as the boy is distracted by much fancier gifts. While being ignored, the rabbit begins to wonder what it means to be “real.”

One day, a certain event brings the rabbit into contact with the boy, and changes the toy’s life forever.

Have you ever loved a toy or doll so much, that you treated it as if it were alive? This story shows the power of love from a very unexpected viewpoint: that of a fluffy stuffed rabbit. It also highlights the importance of self-value, being true to yourself and finding strength in those who love you.

Tradition is important in this school, where the boys always go to fetch water for the class. The girls are teased for being “weaker,” and are last to get other privileges, like having the first choice of magazines. One day, a girl asks the teacher why girls aren’t allowed to get the water, as well. This one question causes a big reaction and leads to a huge change.

The girl’s courage surprises everyone, but it also inspires other girls to stand up for themselves. One act from one brave person can lead to change and inspire others. The story reflects on gender equality and how important it is to fight for fairness. Just because something is accepted as “normal,” doesn’t mean it is right!

At a Spanish train station, an American man and a young woman wait for a train that would take them to the city of Madrid. The woman sees some faraway hills and compares them to “white elephants.” This starts a conversation between the two of them, but what they discuss seems to have a deeper meaning.

This is another very well-known story that asks you to “read between the lines” to find the hidden meaning behind the text. Much of the story is a back-and-forth dialogue between two people, but you can tell a lot about them just from what they say to each other.

There’s a lot of symbolism that you can analyze in this story, along with context clues. Once you realize what the real topic of the characters’ conversation is, you can figure out the quiet, sadder meaning behind it.

Short stories are effective in helping English learners to practice all four aspects of language learning: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Here’s how you can make the most out of short stories as an English learner:

• Use illustrations to enhance your experience: Some short stories come with illustrations that you can use to guess what the story is about. You can even write your own caption or description of the picture. When you finish the story, go back to your image description. How did you do?
• Explore stories related to a theme: Do you like ghost stories? Science fiction? Romance? If you’re learning about food or cooking, find a short story with a lot of food vocabulary .
• Choose the right reading level: Make sure that you always challenge yourself! One easy way to tell if a story is just right for you is to use the “five-finger test.” Hold up your fist as you read a paragraph, and put up one finger for each word you don’t know. If you have all five fingers up before the end of the paragraph, try to find an easier text.
• Practice “active reading”: Your reading will only help you learn if you read actively . You’re reading actively when you’re paying very close attention to the story, its words and its meanings. Writing with a notebook nearby and in a place with no distractions can help you focus on active reading.
• Choose only a few words to look up: You may be tempted to stop at every unknown word, but it’s actually better to try to figure out its meaning from context clues. This means looking at everything else in the sentence or paragraph to try and guess the meaning of the word. Only look up words that you can’t figure out even with context clues.
• Summarize the story: When you’ve finished reading the story, retell it in your own words or write a summary of it. This will help you to practice any new words you learned, and make sure that you understood the story well. If you’re struggling, read the story again and take notes as you read.
• Take breaks: Just because these stories are short, doesn’t mean you need to read them in one sitting! If you find it hard to focus or you’re struggling to understand the story, take a break. It’s okay to read it one paragraph at a time.

I hope you have fun with these English short stories while improving your English language skills.

Happy reading!

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South Park: Snow Day! Review

Dull, toothless, and a big step in the wrong direction for south park games..

Like being trapped indoors without power during an actual blizzard, playing South Park: Snow Day! had me frigidly wishing I could be anywhere else. A direct follow-up to the storyline of two excellent turn-based RPGs and a decent mobile spin-off , this cooperative 3D hack-and-slash admirably tries a lot of new things – but it throws the baby out with the bathwater in the process, leaving us with a monotonous, slipshod mess. The controls are awkward and clumsy, the weapons and abilities are limp and uninteresting, and even with only five levels that can be completed in as many hours, it still feels like it drags on for far too long. Worse than that though: all the humor and shocking moments for which South Park and its recent games are known is utterly missing in action, leaving little to recommend about this hollow, repetitious dud. I don’t know what we did to deserve going from a masterful Obsidian RPG that aptly captured South Park’s attitude to this, but boy does the fall hurt.

South Park: Snow Day! is a perplexingly boring third-person multiplayer game, where you and up to three of your unluckiest friends smack and blast your way through waves of samey first graders. Aside from some mildly interesting card-based leveling mechanics and an amusing one-liner here and there (like when Jimbo takes a well-deserved jab at NFTs) there are remarkably few glimmers of potential in this misadventure. But the vast majority of your time will be spent trudging through five levels of repetitive and tedious hack-and-slash combat that feels like it’s straight out of 2008 and never gets more interesting.

South Park: Snow Day! Gameplay Screenshots

Even more disappointing is that it never once made me gasp or guffaw at an outrageous situation. South Park: The Stick of Truth saw us spelunking in Mr. Slave’s large intestine, dodging genitalia in the world’s most messed up rendition of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and questing in the two-dimensional and entirely accurately represented “country” of Canada. It was filled with hilarious moments that made me question how in the heck Ubisoft avoided an Adults Only rating from the ESRB. The same was largely true in the followup from Ubisoft’s internal studio, The Fractured But Whole . Snow Day returns to the Stick of Truth’s make-believe fantasy setting, but here you just occasionally fart every once in a while in lieu of actual jokes. Sure, there are some very minor moments that made me smile, like the final boss fight being a surprisingly timely reference to Dune, but those moments are so few and far between that they only ever served to get my hopes up before dashing them all over again. This is perhaps the most toothless South Park adventure ever created, which often feels like it’s directed towards actual children rather than the revolting reprobates, like me, who came here specifically to be shocked and disgusted.

The story is straightforward and one-note, as you and the South Park gang decide to continue your fantasy adventures during a snow day, and you proceed to fight against them and their hordes of minions in battle one at a time. The whole thing lasts about five hours and very little of note happens along the way – there are no big surprises, zero horrifying gross-out moments, and even the characters you know and love behave in a bizarrely tame fashion compared to how you’d expect after all these years. The wholly unhinged Randy makes a few appearances where he’s hoarding toilet paper, but never flies off the rails or delivers any memorable one-liners; even Cartman, whose entire personality is being the biggest monster imaginable, is mostly well-behaved the whole way through, despite briefly doing a stint as the bad guy himself. That appallingly flat writing makes an already bad game not even worth pushing through for a few laughs, and that’s an extremely hard pill to swallow as a decades-long South Park fan.

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After setting the bar so low it was difficult to imagine, but the untidy, soulless combat that accounts for the vast majority of playtime is Snow Day’s biggest miss. You select one of three melee weapons (twin daggers, a sword and shield, or a battle ax) and one of three ranged weapons (a bow and arrow, a wizard’s staff, or a wand) to bring into battle, allowing for precious few options for how to play. Not that it matters, really, because thanks to the floaty and imprecise controls, none of these options feel good to begin with. Each of the ranged weapons does damage from afar, requiring a cooldown or charge time that’s so long it’s almost always not worth the trouble, while all three of the melee weapons are at least more reliable for damage, but don’t lock on to enemies, have awful hit detection, and when you do connect it feels a bit like dueling someone with a helium balloon.

The only other major tools in your arsenal are the two equally underwhelming powers you get to equip, selected from eight total options, which include stuff like a healing totem that regenerates nearby allies’ HP for a short amount of time, or a deployable turret that fires snowballs at passersby. These are at least more interesting than any of the base weapon options, but since they’re recharged by doing damage and scoring kills with your other weapons, definitely don’t solve the problems with combat.

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One of Snow Day’s only good ideas are upgradeable cards that you collect as you fight through levels. These grant passive benefits and allow you to cultivate a build throughout each stage, then disappear once that level is over, adding a minor roguelike element to the adventure. You might find interesting cards that augment your healing totem, enabling it to do things like revive downed teammates, allow you to do more damage to enemies near it, or increase its area of effect. Or you can chase riskier cards, like one that turns your otherwise weak wand attack into a high-DPS flame-spewing hose that lights you on fire too as a tradeoff. While combat never stops being a sloppy, disappointing slog, collecting cards to augment your playstyle, then strategically leveling them up to make those abilities more powerful, injects a modicum of variety into it.

The issue is that Snow Day isn’t a roguelike in any other way. You don’t have to start the entire campaign over when you die (you just start at the beginning of that level), and even on the hardest difficulty, none of the levels are so challenging that you won’t probably beat them on the first try. So there’s not a ton of pressure to create a really solid build since there’s little to optimize for. And even if you do manage to assemble a deck of cards you like, each level ends after an hour or less, at which point you lose them all just as soon as the build starts coming together and go back to zero. I would love to see a better game try this idea, because here it’s implemented in a way that only barely improves an overwhelmingly bad time.

Another example of a poorly thought-out card mechanic is the single random Bullshit Card you get at the beginning of each level that lets you activate a more powerful ability a limited number of times. These might let you call down a rain of fiery meteors for straight DPS or recover your health and make you invisible for a short period of time to escape danger, but none of them are all that interesting and they only have a minor impact on gameplay since you can usually only cast them two or three times per level. What’s worse, though, is that enemies get Bullshit Cards too, and they do things like replace the enemy’s normal weapons with high-damage laser swords, or give the bad guys protective bubble shields that make them significantly more beefy. In most cases, these cards serve only to significantly draw out the length of combat (including pausing gameplay whenever the enemy uses one to watch the animation play out) which is already pretty unbearable to begin with.

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This is especially true in the revolting horde mode (available as free DLC) in which you’re subjected to waves of enemies in an arena. This format really dials up all the worst parts of Snow Day and cuts out any hope of stumbling upon jokes or story along the way. In these nightmare scenarios, the enemies are given a whole bunch of Bullshit Cards and use them every couple of seconds, which constantly pauses the battle for the announcer to shout “bullshit” at you. It’s super cool and didn’t at all make me want to be buried alive.

Thanks to recent successes, we know exactly what a great South Park game looks like, and South Park: Snow Day! couldn’t be farther from it. I’m a huge fan of throwing out the rulebook to try something completely fresh, especially in this age of samey sequels and forever live-service games that increasingly play it safe, but this bold attempt at a new direction misses the mark so drastically I’m aghast at just how sideways things went. Whether it’s due to the thoroughly unenjoyable combat or the uncharacteristicly toothless and unfunny story, I can’t recommend anyone waste their time on this cooperative lost cause – even my fellow die-hard South Park fans.

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