🐒 The Monkey and the Crocodile 🐊

Read-aloud note

After the story, ask one simple question about how the friend felt.

Story

Beside a sparkling river stood a huge jamun tree. In its branches lived Minku the monkey. SWISH! BOING! WHOOSH! One afternoon, Minku spotted Kalu the crocodile resting below. “I’m very hungry,” Kalu sighed. “Then catch!” called Minku. PLOP! PLOP! PLOP! Sweet purple jamuns fell beside Kalu. From that day on, Minku shared fruit, Kalu shared river stories, and their laughter filled the forest.

One evening, Kalu carried jamuns home to his wife. “These are wonderfully sweet,” she said. Then she thought and thought. “If Minku eats these every day, his heart must be sweeter still. Bring it to me!” Kalu’s eyes grew wide. “But Minku is my friend.” His wife would not listen. With a heavy heart, Kalu swam back toward the jamun tree.

“Minku,” Kalu called, “please come to dinner at our home.” “But I cannot swim,” said Minku. “I will carry you,” Kalu promised. Minku climbed carefully onto Kalu’s back. Together they crossed the shining river, leaving the jamun tree farther and farther behind.

Halfway across, Kalu stopped smiling. “Minku, I must tell you the truth. My wife wants your heart.” Minku looked left. Water. He looked right. More water. For one tiny moment, he trembled. Then his quick mind began to work.

Suddenly Minku slapped his forehead. “Oh no! I left my heart hanging in the jamun tree!” Kalu blinked. “On the tree?” “Of course,” said Minku. “Take me back quickly so I can fetch it.” Kalu believed him. Around he turned, and back through the water he swam.

The moment they reached the tree—JUMP! Minku caught a branch and scrambled high. “Where is your heart?” asked Kalu. “Nobody leaves a heart on a tree,” said Minku. “I trusted you, but a true friend does not betray a friend.” Kalu lowered his head sadly. Safe among the purple jamuns, Minku watched the golden river. His clever mind had saved him—and now he would give his trust with care.

Scenes

Fruit for a Hungry Visitor

Beside a sparkling river stood a huge jamun tree. In its branches lived Minku the monkey. SWISH! BOING! WHOOSH! One afternoon, Minku spotted Kalu the crocodile resting below. “I’m very hungry,” Kalu sighed. “Then catch!” called Minku. PLOP! PLOP! PLOP! Sweet purple jamuns fell beside Kalu. From that day on, Minku shared fruit, Kalu shared river stories, and their laughter filled the forest.

Jamuns at Home

One evening, Kalu carried jamuns home to his wife. “These are wonderfully sweet,” she said. Then she thought and thought. “If Minku eats these every day, his heart must be sweeter still. Bring it to me!” Kalu’s eyes grew wide. “But Minku is my friend.” His wife would not listen. With a heavy heart, Kalu swam back toward the jamun tree.

Across the Shining River

“Minku,” Kalu called, “please come to dinner at our home.” “But I cannot swim,” said Minku. “I will carry you,” Kalu promised. Minku climbed carefully onto Kalu’s back. Together they crossed the shining river, leaving the jamun tree farther and farther behind.

Water on Every Side

Halfway across, Kalu stopped smiling. “Minku, I must tell you the truth. My wife wants your heart.” Minku looked left. Water. He looked right. More water. For one tiny moment, he trembled. Then his quick mind began to work.

Back to the Tree!

Suddenly Minku slapped his forehead. “Oh no! I left my heart hanging in the jamun tree!” Kalu blinked. “On the tree?” “Of course,” said Minku. “Take me back quickly so I can fetch it.” Kalu believed him. Around he turned, and back through the water he swam.

A Heart Stays Inside

The moment they reached the tree—JUMP! Minku caught a branch and scrambled high. “Where is your heart?” asked Kalu. “Nobody leaves a heart on a tree,” said Minku. “I trusted you, but a true friend does not betray a friend.” Kalu lowered his head sadly. Safe among the purple jamuns, Minku watched the golden river. His clever mind had saved him—and now he would give his trust with care.

Read-aloud note

After the story, ask one simple question about how the friend felt.