Once upon a time…

…there was a mouse called Rudolf who was a very bad mouse.

One day, Lucy, Rudolf´s neighbour came back from shopping and needed help carrying her bags full of food, so she asked him:

– “Hi Rudolf, Can you help me to carry these bags, please?”.

– “No!” – Rudolf replied.

The little mouse girl started crying. Just at that moment, a handsome young mouse, called Richard, was walking along the street. He saw the little mouse girl crying and felt sorry for her.

– “Let me help you” – he said.

– “Thank you so much! – Lucy said.

Rudolf was jealous, even though he didn´t want to help her in that moment.

– “That mouse shouldn´t be near Lucy, she only asks me for help”, he said.

Jealousy made Rudolf behave differently.

– “Richard, don’t, I will help her” – Rudolf said.

Richard exclaimed surprised – “As you prefer!”

And from then on Rudolf helped Lucy any time she needed it. Lucy talked to him, and advised him not to be so mean, because he had to learn to behave correctly, especially when somebody offered help.

She also told him that jealousy was bad and could give rise to many problems. Rudolf realized that his attitude was not good at all, and started to change.

Years passed and Lucy and Rudolf fell in love, got married and lived happily ever after.

In addition, they became very good friends to Richard, who was a very kind mouse.

And that is the end of the story…

Moral of the Short Story for Kids: Don’t be rude to the others, be kind and help who ever needs it, this way you will be happier.

Cuento en español

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you!

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.

Click to read: THE ADVENTURES OF THE DOG, THE BADGER AND THE CAT (SECOND PART)

…Without thinking about it, Boy-boy jumped into the car and Napoleon ran after him, because his friends were inside.

“Ooh, Boy-Boy” – Bubu said almost crying when he saw his friend – “The hunters have caught me, what´s going to happen to me!! I heard I was going to be sold for money. I can´t live locked up far from the jungle!”

“Don´t worry, I will free you ” – Boy-Boy said. – “I will also open the parrots and the toucans cage, and free the baby leopard too. But we have to do all of this in silence. Don´t worry Bubu, Napoleon is coming to help me”.

Boy-Boy cut the rope tied around Bubu´s legs and said: “Don´t speak and don’t move. Before we escape up the road, we need to wait until Napoleon arrives. Open the parrots and toucan´s cages. Tell them not to move and to be silent. Take care of the baby leopard and keep him calm to stop him crying”.

“Ooh!” – Bubu said – “But we are already near the road and Napoleon isn´t here, I am very scared”.

The hunters were putting up a sign saying: “Parrots, toucans and wild animals for sale”.

“Poor me..” – Bubu moaned – “I hope Napoleon arrives”.

Meanwhile, Napoleon met the mummy of the baby leopard, who was also following the hunter’s trails, and she joined Napoleon to rescue them. She knew a shortcut to reach the hunter’s cage faster.

They arrived where the illegal hunters had put up their shop, and hid.

– “Well” – said one of them – “We are ready”.

Suddenly, the mummy leopard jumped on one of the hunters from where she was hiding and Napoleon bit the other hunter´s leg. Boy-Boy shouted: “Everybody out of the cages, fly to freedom!”

The hunters were screaming and begging for help, pleading so the “beasts” would go away.

A police patrol appeared, Napoleon explained to them what the hunters had done, and the police took them and handcuffed them, because they had commit a crime. Wild animals are from the jungle and have to live freely.

Bubu and Boy-Boy ran towards the jungle and waited for mummy leopard and Napoleon in the middle of the path.

When mummy leopard arrived she hugged her baby happily, Napoleon arrived behind her and also hugged his friend Bubu with joy. Then they all went back to the jungle.

Bubu said excitedly: “Thank you friends, thank you!!! What would have become of me!” – he said – “Now I know we are more than friends, we are all for one and one for all. I love friendship!”

THE END

Cuento en español

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you!

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.

Our three friends lived in the jungle. They used to spend all day exploring the forest and then sleep huddled up against each other at night.

Napoleon, the dog, used to spend the day trying to catch lizards; Boy-boy, the cat, ran behind colorful butterflies, and Bubu, the badger, looked for honeycombs inside the trees and for insects on the jungle floor that he really liked to eat.

One day, they heard a strange noise. It sounded like an engine, and they also heard voices. But, who could it be? Nobody could reach that part of the jungle.

Those noises intrigued them, so they moved closer to the place where the voices were coming from and listened…

“We will be fine here! – a voice said – “It´s a good place to wait for the animals, I can see many tracks and footprints”.

Napoleon, Bubu and Boy-Boy left the place stealthily as they were afraid of being discovered. They were horrified by what they had just heard and discovered.

After recovering from their shock, Napoleon said: “How horrible! Those are illegal hunters!! I heard that they take wild cats, monkeys, parrots, toucans and other animals from the jungle, to sell them later at the edge of the road!”.

“Oops!! Thanks goodness I´m almost a pet cat and you are not in danger, Napoleon, as you are a normal dog, but Bubu is a badger, and they might want to capture him”. Then, looking at Bubu, Boy-Boy said:

“Well Bubu, we have to hide you, but not too far from us!!”

“Do not go looking for honecombs far from here! We have to stay together, this way Boy-boy and I will be able to protect you” – Napoleon said.

Then they were more relaxed and slept all together.

When daylight came, Bubu could not resist the temptation of going to look for some honey. So he went to the tree but suddenly…BAAAANG!, Bubu felt a rope around his neck and heard a terrifying voice say: “Look what I have caught! It’s a badger!”

“That is worth a lot of money, I know someone who will pay a good price for this animal”

Another voice said: “Let´s go, so we can be on the road selling our parrots, toucans, a baby leopard and this badger before midday”.

Napoleon and Boy-Boy were afraid when they noticed that Bubu had disappeared. They decided to look for him.

Napoleon smelled everything around searching for a track, while Boy-boy followed him. The track took them to the ilegal hunters campsite.

When they arrived, they heard a baby leopard crying, parrots screaming, toucans shouting and could hear the hunters putting Bubu, with his legs tied, inside the back of a car.

Without thinking about it, Boy-boy jumped into the car and Napoleon ran after him, because his friends were inside.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Click to read: THE ADVENTURES OF THE DOG, THE BADGER AND THE CAT (SECOND PART) 

Cuento en español

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you!

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.

Once upon a time…

There were a couple of dogs that had a little puppy called Aurora. She was very cute, playful and lovely. She loved sharing everything with her friends.

One day, Aurora told her parents she was going out to look for food. Another dog, bad and grumpy, was waiting for her outside. She was called Tita, and was in front of her house.

When Aurora arrived back home with the food, Tita ordered Aurora to give her the food. Aurora said no and went running inside her home. Finally, the owner came to shoo Tita away, but Tita was still angry.

Three years later…

Aurora went out with a friend and met a dog called Harry. He was a very cute, strong and handsome dog. Aurora greeted him, Harry greeted her back, then they started talking.

It was 8:30 in the evening and Aurora had to go back home. Harry asked to go with her and she accepted. When they arrived, her parents looked at Harry and Aurora introduced him to them.

Meanwhile Tita was planning to kidnap Aurora and got into the house, but when she tried to kidnap her Harry defended her. Aurora was very happy and thankful to Harry.

When harry went back home and Aurora went to sleep, Tita got into the house again and this time did kidnap her.

The next day Harry went to Aurora´s house and noticed her parents were anxious and angry. When Harry asked them what was going on, Aurora’s mother told him that Aurora had disappeared and Harry remembered what had happened the night before, suspecting that it was Tita again.

Nineteen days went by without any sign of Aurora. Harry spent day and night looking for her everywhere. Then, one day, Harry saw Tita and asked her:

– “Where is Aurora!!”

Tita laughed, and Harry shouted at her:

– “Don´t laugh!! Tell me where she is!!”

Tita confessed that Aurora was locked inside a house. Harry found her and saved her and then he took her back home to her parents.

Her parents were very happy to see their daughter and Aurora was happier than ever.

And that is the end of the story…

Values of the Short Story: Friendship and gratitude are the way to a happy ending.

Cuento en español

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you! Story for kids written by: Camila

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.

There was a country house in a beautiful valley. It was very big, beautiful, built with good taste, and full of details.

The owner was a well off landowner called John. He was a person who had a good heart, loved animals, and he liked going hunting.

He used to capture different living birds and put them into cages. He liked seeing the animals close-up, to take care of them and to protect them. Before capturing them, these wild animals lived in the valley.

John had a fifteen year old son called Josh. He also liked animals and birds, but unlike his father, he didn´t like the way his father kept them inside cages, without being able to fly around. Josh liked them to be free, in their natural environment.

Sometimes, when his father wasn´t around, Josh freed some of the animals as he could not bear to see them suffering in the cages, even if they were quite comfortable.

His father used to capture, gazelles, cats, zebras, leopards, eagles, owls and many others and he never noticed that some of the cages were open and empty. Then one day, he did.

As John knew his son´s wish was to see the animals freed, he knew that it was him.

Josh was angry and without thinking decided to leave the country house without telling his dad.

After some days, his father became worried, because Josh wasn´t back. He even started to cry thinking that his son had left him forever.

Josh was his only child, and John loved him more than anything, more than the animals, as this was just a hobby to occupy himself.

John asked some of the workers in the house to go out and look for his son. They finally found him after a long time searching. He was in another country house with a friend.

John’s workers told Josh his father´s desires, begging him to come back and saying that he could do what he wanted with the animals and the cages, if only he would come back home.

This gave Josh the permission to free all the animals, to allow them to range free around the country house and in the valley.

So Josh went to see his father and told him he was coming back to release all the animals. He said that the doors of the cages and the doors in the fence surrounding the house were alway going to stay open so all the animals living there could move as they wanted, in or out, and whether they wanted to eat there or not.

And so that is what happened. The animals went in and out when they wanted, even other animals that had never been caged, went there too. They liked going because they were well cared for.

Josh and his father were very happy because they had made the right decision letting them free. John didn’t have to go hunting anymore as the animals went to his property on their own. The country house was always full of animals.

So, this very united family lived very happily with their wild animals and birds, making sure to take care of them

Wild animals should always be free enjoying their nature and environment.

THE END

Cuento en español

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you! Story for kids written by: Luis Muñoz (Spain)

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.

One day, Martin bought a fish, a beautiful gold colored fish. His name was Billy.

Then he bought a fish bowl, to be the fish’s temporary home, as the fish was going to be released into the sea sometime in the future.

Unconsciously, Martin raised his fish so that it developd several fears. It suffered fear for life beyond its bowl, fear to swim free, fear to explore everything in the outside world.

On Saturday 8th February 2005, Martin went to the beach with a group of members of the AHA (Animal Health Association) to free Billy (the fish) because it was now an adult.

When Billy found himself in such a big, open space, he didn´t know what to do, where to go or how to react to common things, like boats and bigger fish, and he didn’t know how to feed himself or where to live.

One day, Billy was swimming between the coral at the bottom of the sea, when suddenly, between two brilliant rocks, he saw sharks approaching him. Billy trembled with fear and the sharks could hear his teeth trembling. Billy didn´t know how to react and so looked at them and said:

– “Don´t eaaaaat me. Pleeeeease!”

The two sharks looked at him, laughed and said:

– “Don´t be scared little friend. We won´t hurt you, but you have to be careful and eat something too, you are too skinny”.

Billy said sadly:

– “I know, but my owner raised me in a fish bowl, I didn´t know what to do when he brought me here, back to the sea. I don´t know what to eat or where to live. Can you help me?”

The sharks said: “Sure, little one, come with us”.

Billy followed them…

Nowadays, Billy is a strong and healthy gold colored fish, with a big smile that illuminates even the darkest of places, as he has everything he wants. Has a warm home and two shark friends that help him and are with him all the time.

THE END

Cuento en español

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you!

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.

Click to read PUSHOK (FIRST PART)

One cold winter day, Pushok went missing. Concerned, Miriam looked all over for him. “Pushok, Pushok”, she called. At last she heard a faint meowing coming from the tree next to her. She looked up and at the same time Pushok jumped into the safety of her hands. He had wounds all over his body. It turns out that as he was hunting he was ambushed by a dog that bit him. Pushok barely managed to save himself in the tree.

But staying home was not an option. Pushok had to hunt to bring in food. This time Miriam would always be by his side. She carried a heavy stick at all times and would not hesitate to use it.

Gradually life in the city was improving. The Russian Army had established a supply route to Leningrad that led through the frozen Ladoga Lake. The Germans bombed it relentlessly but they could not break the Road of Life which was the name Leningraders gave it.

As precarious as Miriam and Pushok’s situation was, they still found time to have fun. Their favorite pastime was playing checkers. Can you imagine playing checkers with a cat? No? There are a few things you need to know first. Cats are intrepid thinkers therefore you should keep up the pace. Make a move as soon as they make theirs, don’t hesitate. Cats might make two moves in a row. That’s ok because so can you. Moves in any direction are accepted. When you can’t change your opponent you change the game!

With the arrival of spring, Efim was able to come home to visit. Each time he brought food, enough food for Miriam and Pushok to stop hunting”.

“What was Efim’s job in the navy” asked Effie.
“He was a mine spotter”, said grandmother. “He would stay on the deck of a fast patrol boat called a cutter and scout for mines that the Germans were laying. Ships in the harbour were counting on Efim to find mines. A single mine could easily sink an entire ship!

One day the skipper told Efim that he could go home to see his mum and that this time he could stay overnight. As happy as Efim was to spend the evening with Miriam and Pushok, he was even happier the next day for it was special. On that very day the Russian victory over Nazi Germany was announced on the radio.

Instantly all Leningrad erupted in celebration. Every street, square and promenade was filled with survivors of the blockade. It took Efim a long time to get to the harbour. It seemed that everyone in the street was trying to hug him!

When Efim made it to the dock, the cutter had already sailed. Sadly it never returned. Sailors from another ship told the crying Efim how they saw his cutter being destroyed by a mine. Those who laid the mine may have surrendered but, as far as the mine was concerned, it did not change a thing.

Overcome by the sad news Efim signed up for a long expedition to Antarctica. All this time when he was away, Pushok kept Miriam company.Pushok lived long enough to see Efim get married and for Efim’s first daughter – your mother – to be born. As a toddler your mother often expressed her affection for Pushok by pulling hard on his tail. Not once did Pushok lash out, scratch or bite her.

Overall Efim’s time in the navy as a mine spotter, a sailor and a dock worker, amounted to more than sixty years. This was quite a milestone. One day the navy sent a reporter to interview him. The reporter published everything Efim told him about himself, about Miriam, and about Pushok.

Touched by Pushok’s bravery people started sharing stories about wartime pets. Stories that their parents or grandparents shared with them. It turns out that Pushok’s conduct, as exceptional as it was, wasn’t unique. During hard times some pets were acting in ways you would not expect from an animal.”

Grandmother then left, but Effie was still thinking about Pushok. She looked at Leo who looked straight at her. He appeared more mature to her now. Effie opened the checkers box and put pieces on the board. Intrigued, Leo sniffed them. “Let’s play Leo”, Effie said, and she made the first move.

THE END

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you! Story for kids written by: Stas Holodnak.

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.

That afternoon, grandmother could not manage to pack her suitcase because Leo the house cat was getting in her way. Each time she tried to open it, Leo squeezed his head in and mixed up her stuff with his furry paws.

“Modern cats don’t know anything about manners” observed grandmother.

“Cats don’t have manners grandma”, Effie laughed.

“I once met a cat who did”, said grandmother. His name was Pushok.

“Tell me about Pushok, please!” Effie begged. Who wouldn’t be curious to hear about a cat who had manners?

“Very well” – began grandmother surrendering the suitcase to Leo. ”Pushok was a grey tabby with short fur and green eyes. There was nothing that made him look different from any Russian street cat. In fact the street was where your grandfather Efim first met Pushok who was dwelling in a cardboard box filled with fluffy feathers from a torn old pillow. Efim was about your age at the time and Pushok was only a little kitten. Efim brought the kitten home, fed it and gave it a bath. He named it Pushok which means fluff in Russian”, said the grandmother before pausing for a moment.

Meanwhile Effie was not the only one in the room who was paying attention. The lilac colored Leo fixed his green eyes on grandmother as if interested in the other cat’s story.

“Pushok grew into a strong young cat at the worst possible time and place for a pet to live in. The time was the start of the Second World War and the place was the besieged city of Leningrad.

Invading German and Finnish armies surrounded the city from the sea and the land cutting off all supply routes. Food in Leningrad dwindled to a bare minimum in the matter of a few weeks. What was still available was rationed by the city government. Hunger set in. It was a long, deep hunger. Sensing that they themselves might be eaten, many pets escaped but not Pushok. Efim´s mother, Miriam, was sharing her own food with him.

Children, on average, have better eyesight than grown-ups and Efim put his to good use. With a slingshot he hunted small birds, pigeons, crows and sparrows. He would bring what he had caught to Miriam who made a stew for Efim, Pushok and herself.

One day a Naval officer saw Efim shooting down a tiny sparrow hiding in the tree up above.
“I believe you have a talent we could use”, the officer told him.

Efim did not want to leave Miriam but she convinced him to go with the officer. Efim was better off in the navy she felt, because sailors unlike civilians received enough nutrition.

Not very long after Efim’s departure winter came. The Leningrad winter is not winter as we know it, just a little snow and a bit of ice with a Nor’easter now and again. Situated less than five hundred miles from the Arctic Circle, the city itself is a Nor’easter. Supercharged by the Gulf of Finland the winds from the Baltic Sea can give your ears frost bite if you don’t wear a fur hat with ear flaps. You must wear layered clothing and when there is no heat in-doors you will even sleep in one.

Miriam did not eat for days. The cat Pushok left at last. She was not bitter just amazed that Pushok had stuck by her for so long. She lay in bed, now very weak when suddenly she heard scratching on the window glass. She dismissed it at first but the scratching did not stop. Mustering the last bits of strength Miriam got up and opened the window. Guess who jumped in?”

“Pushok”, cried Effie.

“That is correct”, grandmother nodded. “It was Pushok and he did not come empty pawed. He was carrying a pigeon between his teeth.

From that moment on when Miriam ran out of food, Pushok went out hunting. Miriam was grateful and very very proud of Pushok, yet she did not realize how dangerous Pushok’s hunts really were.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Click to read: PUSHOK (SECOND PART) 

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you! Stories for kids written by: Stas Holodnak

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.

Once upon a time, there was a mouse who was a mouse and a pedestrian. He was living on a farm, because he was a woodmouse, and sometimes he made trips to the city.

As a mouse, he used to run all over the floor of the barn really fast, smelling everything that was similar to cheese.

He was very happy being a mouse, but it also had disadvantages, because any time a cat pursued him, the mouse got so nervous that it walked everywhere, banging his head on the walls, getting many bumps. But, as he was a prudent observer, he only met the cat a few times when his concentration lapsed.

Being a pedestrian was a bit more complicated, for he only used this side of himself when he went to the city.

He liked being a pedestrian, but this required more concentration and mental and physical effort.

On the days he went on a trip, he ended up very tired and sleepy. He wore a hat to be a pedestrian, and tied up his tail in order not to drag it behind him and get it dirty. His way of walking was like any other pedestrian.

He stopped at the zebra crossing, made sure the traffic light was green for pedestrians, and then looked to one side and then to the other down the street. If there was no car coming, he crossed the street with a carefree heart as he did not have to run half way across.

This woodmouse was a very smart city pedestrian, because knew how to behave suitably in any situation. This quality made him very special, so at the farm, he was named the traffic education teacher of all the animals. The barn was the place designated for theory lessons, and the city was the place to do practical lessons.

They all trusted him when they went out on a trip. Thanks to his experience, he soon opened an office in the city dedicated to: “How to be an expert on traffic education?”.

He became successful all around the world and, nowadays, the pedestrian mouse manages his own company, and is the most enterprising mouse ever seen.

THE END

Cuento en español

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you!

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.

Click to read SHELL WITH WINGS (FIRST PART)

….”Follow me! I will wait for you at the top of that mountain!”

And he flew away. The turtle did not hesitate to go to that distant place.

She walked through places she had never been before, saw things she had never seen before, and heard noises that were new for her.

Finally, after making a big effort, she arrived to the top of the mountain, where the bird was waiting for her. With her head lowered, looking at the ground, tired from her difficult journey, she recognized the bird´s legs and looked up at him.

– “Are you ready to fly?”.

The turtle was shocked and amazed enjoying the beauty of the bird’s wings, sometimes blinded when they made curtains in front of his eyes.

– “Walk some steps, walk until I say… there!, now, close your eyes!

The bird flew up, leaving behind him the most beautiful view of the beach from that height.

– “Breath deeply! Feel the wind on your face!” – he was whispering into her ear flying beside her – “Now, open your eyes and enjoy your flight!”

Her body didn´t seem to be so heavy at all. She could feel the strong breeze between her legs, as if they were wings. From afar, she could see the stone where she used to sit and watch the birds flying. Her life was so beautiful from this height, part of the landscape but distant at the same time.

– “Never raise your expectations! Let the world surprise you” – said the little bird.

The turtle understood the amazing secret for the first time. She understood that kind of happiness for the first time.

Back on the beach, sitting on her stone, she was never the same never again. She could now see the birds and fly with them. She only needed to close her eyes, to feel the breeze on her body, as though she had wings.

She could feel the colours, the smells, the sounds around her. She felt like she was part of that immensity in spite of being so small.

And, above all, she never stopped hearing that soft voice whispering into her ear, saying: “Enjoy your flight!”. Making her really happy ever since.

And that is the end of the story…

Cuento en español

Share this short story for kids with your friends on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter with the buttons you’ll find at the end of the story. Thank you!

This short story appeared first on Short Stories. Thanks.