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The Ant and the Grasshopper

An ant carrying a grain of rice back to its anthill during summer

On a bright summer day, an ant worked tirelessly, carrying grains of rice back to its anthill one by one to store for winter.

A grasshopper singing and playing music happily while the ant works nearby

A grasshopper saw the ant working so hard and laughed. "Why work so much? Come play music with me instead!" And it went on singing and playing all day.

The ant warning the grasshopper to store food for winter, but the grasshopper ignores it

The ant replied, "I'm storing food for the winter. You should do the same." But the grasshopper paid no attention and kept singing and playing every day.

Snow covering the ground in winter while the hungry grasshopper shivers alone

When winter came, snow covered everything and food was scarce. The grasshopper grew hungry and cold, with nothing stored away at all.

The kind ant sharing stored food with the grasshopper in winter

Hungry, the grasshopper went to the ant for help. The kind ant shared some of its stored food, and the grasshopper finally learned how important it is to prepare ahead.

Moral of the story

It's better to work hard and prepare ahead than to play today and suffer tomorrow.

The original plot is in the public domain. Copyright is reserved in the Hoot Tales retelling, translation, illustrations, and presentation.

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About this story

An ant works hard all summer storing food, while a grasshopper plays and sings — until winter arrives and food runs out.

⏱ About 2–4 minutes👧 Best for ages 4–8📚 Aesop's Fables

What children can learn

Perseverance & Patience
Written and retold by
Aesop's Fables — retold by the Hoot Tales team
License
Public domain · Source: Aesop's Fables
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