The Cat, the Mouse and the Rooster

An Aesop fable re-told by Andrew Wright

One day a little mouse ran home.  She was frightened.  She was crying.

‘Mummy!  Mummy! Mummy!’
‘What is the matter, little mouse?’
‘Mummy!  I saw a terrible creature in the garden!’
‘Really?  Tell me about this terrible creature.’
‘It was very tall, it had feathers, it had a big red cap, it had a long, sharp yellow mouth and it had long, long, long yellow legs with big sharp claws!  And it shouted, Cock a doodle do!’
‘Oh, that is a rooster!  Rooster eats seeds.  Roosters don’t eat mice!Roosters will not hurt you!’ said the mother mouse.

The next day, the little mouse ran home.  She was happy.  She was laughing.  ‘Mummy!  Mummy!  Mummy!’
‘What is the matter little mouse?’
‘Mummy!  I’ve got a friend!’
‘Really? Tell me about this friend.’
‘She is big but she is soft.  She has soft hair and she has beautiful long whiskers.  And she has a lovely, long, hairy tail.  And she purrs.’
‘Oh, that’s a cat! Cats eat mice!’

Comment
I have re-told this story using everyday phrases and repeating them to gain rhythm and emphasis.  I have also re-told it so that the teller can act and add meaning in that way.

Activity
This story relates to descriptions of animals and the behaviour of animals.  Try the game, Describe and identify.  The children describe an animal and other children identify it.

List all the animals, in two columns,  which are dangerous or not dangerous for a mouse.
List all the animals, in two columns,  which are dangerous or not dangerous for a a cat.
List all the animals, in two columns,  which are dangerous or not dangerous for a child.
You can add to this activity if the children use the word ‘might hurt you if: A horse might hurt you if it stands on your foot.