Sometimes, the greatest blessing can be the biggest trap. This is a story about a little mouse who found everything he ever dreamed of, but didn't know when to stop, and learned a hard lesson about the consequences of greed.
The Mouse in the Corn Basket
A greedy mouse named Pippin saw a large basket full of golden corn. His eyes lit up. "What a treasure!" he said to himself. Wanting to eat it all, he made a small hole in the bottom of the basket and squeezed inside.
Once inside, he began to eat and eat without stopping. He ate until his little belly swelled up like a drum. He felt full and very happy. "Now, time to get out," he thought.
He tried to get out through the small hole, but he couldn't! His full belly was bigger than the hole. He tried again and again, but it was no use.
Pippin the mouse started to cry loudly. A rabbit named Barnaby was passing by and heard his cries. "Why are you crying, my friend?" the rabbit asked.
The mouse explained what had happened. The rabbit laughed and said, "You are stuck because you ate too much. The solution is simple: wait until your belly shrinks again." Then he hopped away.
The mouse fell asleep in the basket. The next morning, he woke up and his belly was back to its normal size. He could escape now! But he looked at the delicious corn and forgot all about escaping. "I'll just eat a little bit," he told himself.
And once again, he ate and ate until his belly was very big again. After he was full, he remembered he had to get out, but it was too late. "Oh well," he said carelessly, "I'll just get out tomorrow."
But there was no tomorrow for Pippin. A large cat named Shadow passed by the basket and smelled the mouse inside. Quietly, the cat lifted the lid, found the greedy mouse, and ate him.
🎯 Enrichment & Learning
Values and Lessons Learned
- Greed can be a trap: What seems like a great opportunity can turn into a trap if we don't control our desires.
- Lack of self-control has consequences: The mouse had a chance to escape, but his inability to resist temptation a second time cost him his life.
- The importance of learning from mistakes: The rabbit's advice was a lesson, but the mouse failed to learn from it and repeated the same mistake.
- Don't put off what you can do today: Postponing his escape "until tomorrow" was a fatal decision. Important things should be done immediately.
Comprehension Questions
- How did the mouse get into the corn basket?
- Why couldn't he get out the first time?
- What advice did the rabbit give him?
- Did the mouse follow the rabbit's advice the next morning? Why not?
- What was the greedy mouse's fate in the end?
Critical Thinking Questions
- Why do you think the mouse ate more corn even though he knew he needed to escape?
- What is the difference between being hungry and being greedy?
- If the cat hadn't come, do you think the mouse would have ever escaped?
Practical Application Questions
- Think of a time you had "too much of a good thing" (like too much candy or screen time). What happened?
- How do you practice self-control in your daily life?
- Why is it important to do something you need to do right away, instead of saying "I'll do it tomorrow"?
🎨 Interactive Content
Fun Activities
- Maze Challenge: Draw a simple maze with a mouse trying to get to cheese, but the path back is narrower. Can the mouse get out?
- Story Sequel: What happened to the rabbit? Write a short paragraph about what the rabbit thought when he passed by the next day and the mouse was gone.
- Three-Scene Drawing: Draw the three scenes: the happy mouse eating, the stuck mouse talking to the rabbit, and the cat looking into the basket.