Aesop’s fables · Kindness & helping others

The Lion and the Mouse

Ages 4–8 · About 2 minutes

Modernized from The Aesop for Children (1919).

Reading style

A little mouse approaches the sleeping lion beneath a tree.

A sleeping lion

A lion was asleep in the forest with his head resting on his paws. A little mouse came across him by surprise. Frightened, she tried to hurry away, but ran straight across his nose.

A sleeping lion

A lion was asleep in the forest with his head resting on his paws. A little mouse came across him by surprise. Frightened, she tried to hurry away, but ran straight across his nose.

A large tawny lion looks down at a tiny mouse beside his paw in a sunlit forest clearing.

A promise from a mouse

The lion woke up angrily and caught her under his huge paw. “Please let me go!” the mouse begged. “One day, I might be able to help you.”

A promise from a mouse

The lion woke up angrily and caught her under his huge paw. “Please let me go!” the mouse begged. “One day, I might be able to help you.”

A promise from a mouse

The lion laughed. How could such a tiny mouse ever help him? Still, he decided to be kind. He lifted his paw and let her go.

A promise from a mouse

The lion laughed. How could such a tiny mouse ever help him? Still, he decided to be kind. He lifted his paw and let her go.

The lion is tangled in a rope net as the mouse approaches.

Caught in a net

A few days later, the lion was hunting in the forest when he became tangled in a hunter's net. He pulled and struggled, but could not get free. His roars echoed through the trees.

Caught in a net

A few days later, the lion was hunting in the forest when he became tangled in a hunter's net. He pulled and struggled, but could not get free. His roars echoed through the trees.

The mouse gnaws through a rope in a net around the lion, making an opening so he can escape.

Small teeth, big help

The mouse recognized his voice and hurried over. She ran to one of the thick ropes and began to gnaw. Her little teeth worked through the fibers until the rope snapped.

Small teeth, big help

The mouse recognized his voice and hurried over. She ran to one of the thick ropes and began to gnaw. Her little teeth worked through the fibers until the rope snapped.

Small teeth, big help

Soon, the lion was free. “You laughed when I said I could help you,” the mouse said. “Now you see that even a mouse can help a lion.”

Small teeth, big help

Soon, the lion was free. “You laughed when I said I could help you,” the mouse said. “Now you see that even a mouse can help a lion.”

A little question for after the story

How was the tiny mouse able to help the powerful lion?

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A sleeping lion

A lion was asleep in the forest with his head resting on his paws. A little mouse came across him by surprise. Frightened, she tried to hurry away, but ran straight across his nose.

A sleeping lion

A lion was asleep in the forest with his head resting on his paws. A little mouse came across him by surprise. Frightened, she tried to hurry away, but ran straight across his nose.

A promise from a mouse

The lion woke up angrily and caught her under his huge paw. “Please let me go!” the mouse begged. “One day, I might be able to help you.”

A promise from a mouse

The lion woke up angrily and caught her under his huge paw. “Please let me go!” the mouse begged. “One day, I might be able to help you.”

A promise from a mouse

The lion laughed. How could such a tiny mouse ever help him? Still, he decided to be kind. He lifted his paw and let her go.

A promise from a mouse

The lion laughed. How could such a tiny mouse ever help him? Still, he decided to be kind. He lifted his paw and let her go.

Caught in a net

A few days later, the lion was hunting in the forest when he became tangled in a hunter's net. He pulled and struggled, but could not get free. His roars echoed through the trees.

Caught in a net

A few days later, the lion was hunting in the forest when he became tangled in a hunter's net. He pulled and struggled, but could not get free. His roars echoed through the trees.

Small teeth, big help

The mouse recognized his voice and hurried over. She ran to one of the thick ropes and began to gnaw. Her little teeth worked through the fibers until the rope snapped.

Small teeth, big help

The mouse recognized his voice and hurried over. She ran to one of the thick ropes and began to gnaw. Her little teeth worked through the fibers until the rope snapped.

Small teeth, big help

Soon, the lion was free. “You laughed when I said I could help you,” the mouse said. “Now you see that even a mouse can help a lion.”

Small teeth, big help

Soon, the lion was free. “You laughed when I said I could help you,” the mouse said. “Now you see that even a mouse can help a lion.”