Introducing 10 Lines of Short Stories With Moral for Kids! These tales are not just entertaining; they’re packed with valuable life lessons, perfect for young minds eager to learn. As children immerse themselves in these short narratives, they absorb essential moral values that shape their understanding of the world.
Here are summaries of famous short stories for kids along with their morals:
1. The Generous Gardener
2. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
3. The Kind Sparrow
4. The Thirsty Crow
5. The Enchanted Mirror
6. The Needle Tree
7. The Elephant and Friends
8. The Ant and the Grasshopper
9. A Glass of Milk
10. The Honest Woodcutter
Let’s Start
1. The Generous Gardener
Story: The gardener was not only talented but also kind-hearted. He loved to see the joy his flowers brought to others. One day, he decided to share his blooms with the villagers. He picked a variety of flowers and distributed them among the villagers, who were delighted by the unexpected gifts. The villagers placed the flowers in their homes, brightening their days and lifting their spirits.
As word spread about the gardener’s generosity, people from neighboring villages came to admire his garden and receive flowers. The gardener’s simple act of sharing created a ripple effect throughout the community. Inspired by his kindness, the villagers started helping one another in various ways. They shared food, helped with chores, and supported each other during difficult times.
The village, once just a collection of houses, transformed into a tight-knit community where everyone looked out for one another. The gardener’s humble act of giving not only beautified the village but also fostered a sense of unity and compassion among its residents.
Moral: Sharing brings happiness.
2. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Story: One sunny day, as Jack tended to his family’s flock of sheep on the outskirts of the village, he grew bored and restless. Seeking excitement, he concocted a plan to spice up the monotony of his duties. With a mischievous grin, Jack cried out, “Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!”
Hearing the boy’s cries, the villagers rushed to Jack’s aid, armed with pitchforks and axes, ready to fend off the ferocious predator. But when they arrived at the pasture, they found no sign of a wolf, only Jack laughing at his prank.
The villagers, annoyed by Jack’s false alarm, returned to their homes, shaking their heads at the boy’s antics. Unfazed by their disapproval, Jack shrugged off their admonishments and continued to tend to the sheep.
Days passed, and Jack grew bored once again. Remembering the thrill of his previous prank, he decided to repeat his deception. Once more, he cried out, “Wolf! Wolf! Come quick! The wolf is back!”
Once again, the villagers rushed to Jack’s aid, only to find themselves fooled once more. Frustrated and angry, they scolded Jack for his foolishness and warned him of the consequences of his lies.
But Jack paid no heed to their warnings, dismissing their concerns as he continued to play his tricks. However, one fateful day, as Jack watched over the flock, a real wolf emerged from the forest, its hungry eyes fixed on the defenseless sheep.
Terrified, Jack cried out for help, but this time, no one came to his rescue. The villagers, tired of Jack’s false alarms, ignored his cries, believing them to be yet another prank.
Alone and frightened, Jack could only watch helplessly as the wolf devoured the sheep one by one, regretting the folly of his actions.
Moral: Honesty is the best policy.
3. The Kind Sparrow
Story: Feeling a pang of compassion, Lily gently picked up the sparrow and placed it in a shoebox lined with soft cloth. She took the bird home and, with her parents’ help, nursed it back to health. She fed the sparrow crumbs and water, and over time, the bird regained its strength.
As the days passed, the sparrow began to trust Lily and chirped happily whenever she was near. Once the sparrow was fully healed, Lily knew it was time to release it back into the wild. She took the shoebox to the park, opened it, and watched as the sparrow flew away into the clear blue sky. Though she was sad to see it go, she knew it was the right thing to do.
To Lily’s surprise, the sparrow returned the next morning, perched on her windowsill, chirping joyfully. This became a daily routine; the sparrow would visit Lily every day, singing beautiful songs as a way of showing its gratitude. The little bird’s unwavering friendship was a constant reminder to Lily of the importance of compassion and kindness.
Moral: Kindness never goes unnoticed.
4. The Thirsty Crow
Story: In a lush forest teeming with life, a clever crow once found itself in a predicament. Thirsty and exhausted from its travels, the crow stumbled upon a jug of water half-buried in the ground. However, the water level was too low for the crow to reach with its beak.
Undeterred by the challenge, the crow paused to ponder its options. After a moment of contemplation, inspiration struck. Gathering small pebbles nearby, the crow dropped them one by one into the jug, causing the water level to rise gradually.
With each pebble added, the water inched closer to the top, until finally, it reached a level where the crow could quench its thirst. Grateful for its resourcefulness, the crow drank deeply from the now-accessible water, satisfying its parched throat.
Moral: Necessity is the mother of invention.
5. The Enchanted Mirror
Story: One day, a curious and brave girl named Anna decided to explore the mansion. After a long climb up the creaky stairs, she found the dusty old mirror. Nervous but intrigued, she stood before it and took a deep breath before looking into its reflective surface.
To her amazement, the mirror began to glow, and she saw herself not just as she appeared on the outside but as she was on the inside. She saw her kindness, her honesty, and her courage, but she also saw her fears, her selfish moments, and her insecurities. The mirror showed her the complete truth about herself.
At first, Anna was overwhelmed and upset by the imperfections she saw. She wanted to shatter the mirror to hide the parts of herself she didn’t like. But then she realized that the mirror was a gift. It gave her the chance to see her true self and to work on becoming a better person.
Anna decided to face her flaws and improve herself. She started by being more generous and patient with others. She helped her neighbors, mended broken friendships, and stood up for what was right. Over time, she felt herself becoming stronger and more confident.
The villagers noticed the change in Anna and were inspired by her transformation. Many of them, too, braved the attic to look into the enchanted mirror. Like Anna, they learned to embrace their true selves, acknowledging their faults and striving to better themselves.`
Moral: Embrace the truth, for it sets you free.
6. The Needle Tree
Story: One day, the older brother, known for his selfishness, went deep into the forest. He found a large, majestic pine tree and decided to chop it down for more wood. As he swung his axe, the tree spoke, pleading for mercy and promising a reward in return for sparing its life. The older brother, intrigued by the promise of treasure, agreed.
The tree dropped a golden apple as a reward. Unsatisfied with just one apple, the greedy brother demanded more. The tree, disappointed by his greed, showered him with hundreds of sharp needles instead. The boy cried in pain and ran home, covered in needles.
The younger brother, who was kind and selfless, saw his brother’s suffering and carefully removed each needle despite his own fatigue. The pine tree witnessed the younger brother’s act of compassion and was moved. The next day, as the younger brother returned to the forest, the tree rewarded him with a bounty of golden apples, jewels, and precious stones.
The older brother, seeing his sibling’s riches, learned the value of kindness and generosity. From that day on, he changed his ways and treated others with respect and compassion.
Moral: Kindness will always be rewarded.
7. The Elephant and Friends
Story: Ellie first approached a monkey playing in the trees. “Hello, Monkey! Will you be my friend?” The monkey looked at Ellie and laughed, saying, “You are too big to swing on trees like me. You can’t be my friend.” Feeling dejected, Ellie moved on and met a rabbit hopping in the bushes. “Hello, Rabbit! Will you be my friend?” The rabbit glanced at Ellie and replied, “You are too big to fit in my burrow. You can’t be my friend.”
Continuing her search, Ellie came across a frog sitting by a pond. “Hello, Frog! Will you be my friend?” The frog responded, “You are too big and heavy to jump like me. You can’t be my friend.” Sad and lonely, Ellie wandered through the forest until she heard the cries of help from other animals.
A tiger was chasing the smaller animals, causing chaos and fear. Ellie rushed to the scene and, using her great size and strength, scared the tiger away. Grateful for Ellie’s help, the animals realized her worth and importance. They came to Ellie and said, “You saved us, Ellie! We are sorry we didn’t see how special you are. Will you be our friend?”
Ellie smiled with joy and agreed. From that day on, Ellie had many friends who appreciated her for who she was, and they all lived happily in the forest.
Moral: Friends come in every shape and size.
8. The Ant and the Grasshopper
Story: All summer long, the ant toiled tirelessly, gathering grains of wheat and storing them in his underground home. He knew that winter would come soon, and he wanted to be prepared. Meanwhile, the grasshopper leaped about, chirping merrily and mocking the ant for working so hard. “Why do you bother storing food?” the grasshopper laughed. “There is plenty to eat now!”
The ant replied, “I am preparing for winter when food will be scarce. You should do the same.” But the grasshopper paid no heed, continuing to sing and dance, living for the moment.
As the seasons changed and the first cold winds of winter blew through the meadow, the grasshopper found himself without food. Hungry and shivering, he went to the ant’s house and begged for something to eat. “I am starving, and I have nothing to eat,” he pleaded.
The ant looked at the grasshopper and sighed. “I warned you to prepare for the winter, but you did not listen. I am sorry, but I cannot share my food with you. It is enough only for my family and me.”
The grasshopper realized his folly and understood the importance of planning and hard work. He walked away, regretting his laziness and short-sightedness.
Moral: We can choose how we respond in difficult situations.
9. A Glass of Milk
Story: When a young girl opened the door, Howard hesitated but finally asked for a drink of water. Instead of water, the girl brought him a large glass of milk. Grateful, Howard drank it slowly and asked, “How much do I owe you?” The girl replied, “You don’t owe me anything. My mother taught us never to accept payment for a kindness.”
Years later, the young girl, now a woman, fell seriously ill. The local doctors were baffled and eventually sent her to a big city hospital where specialists could be consulted. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in to see her. He recognized her immediately and decided to do his best to save her life. After a long struggle, the battle was won.
When the bill for her treatment arrived, she feared it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. However, when she opened the envelope, she found the bill marked “Paid in full with a glass of milk.” It was signed by Dr. Howard Kelly.
Moral: No good deed goes unrewarded
10. The Honest Woodcutter
Story: One day, while cutting wood by the river, the woodcutter’s axe slipped from his hands and fell into the deep water. Distraught, he sat by the riverbank, unsure of how he would continue to make a living without his trusty tool. As he lamented his misfortune, a magical fairy appeared before him.
Seeing his sadness, the fairy asked, “Why are you so upset?” The woodcutter explained his predicament. The fairy, moved by his honesty and distress, decided to help. She dived into the river and emerged with a shiny golden axe. “Is this your axe?” she asked.
The woodcutter, though tempted by the valuable tool, replied, “No, that is not my axe.” The fairy dived again and brought up a silver axe. “Is this your axe?” she asked again. The woodcutter shook his head and said, “No, that is not my axe either.”
Finally, the fairy retrieved his original iron axe. “Is this your axe?” she asked once more. Overjoyed, the woodcutter exclaimed, “Yes, that is my axe!” Pleased with his honesty, the fairy not only returned his iron axe but also gave him the golden and silver axes as a reward.
The woodcutter returned home and shared his story with the villagers, who were impressed by his honesty and the fairy’s generosity. From that day on, the woodcutter continued to work hard, and his reputation for integrity spread far and wide.
Moral: Honesty is rewarded.
