The town mouse and the country mouse

Pounce into a classic fable where two mice discover that life in the town and country are very different! “The town mouse and the country mouse” tells the story of a country mouse who visits his cousin in the city, only to realize that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

First told by Aesop in 600 BCE, this fable has been teaching readers the value of appreciating what you have for centuries. In this article, you’ll find two versions of the story: the original and a simplified graded reader for younger learners. With questions at the end, your child will build comprehension and vocabulary while enjoying this delightful fable.

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Let’s leap into the world of the town and country mice and discover the value of home!

The story of “The town mouse and the country mouse”

Once upon a time, there were two mice who were good friends—one lived in the country and the other in a big, bustling town. One day, the Town Mouse came to visit his cousin, the Country Mouse, in his quiet country home.

The Country Mouse was excited to show his friend how peaceful and relaxing life was in the countryside. He served his cousin a meal of simple food: grains, nuts, and fresh fruit. “This is what I eat every day,” the Country Mouse said with a smile. “Life here is calm, and I have everything I need.”

But the Town Mouse wasn’t impressed. “Is this all you eat?” he asked, nibbling on a piece of grain. “In the town, we have feasts with fine foods like cheese, bread, and delicious cakes! Come to the city with me, and I’ll show you how wonderful life can be.”

Curious, the Country Mouse agreed to visit his cousin in the city.

A visit to the town

When they arrived in the town, the Country Mouse was amazed by the tall buildings, the busy streets, and all the people rushing around. But what impressed him the most was the feast his cousin had prepared. There were plates of cheese, bread, cakes, and all sorts of rich, tasty food.

“This is the life!” the Town Mouse said proudly. “No more simple meals—here, we live like kings!”

The Country Mouse eagerly joined his cousin at the table and began to eat. But just as they started enjoying their feast, a loud noise interrupted them—meow! A cat entered the room, and the two mice scurried away in fear. They hid until the cat was gone, and then cautiously returned to their meal.

But before they could relax, there was another loud sound—a dog barked, and the two mice had to run and hide again. The Country Mouse’s heart raced with fear, and he could barely enjoy the food with all the danger around.

The country mouse returns home

After the cat and dog had left, the Town Mouse said, “Come back and finish the meal. You’ll get used to the noise and excitement.”

But the Country Mouse shook his head. “Thank you for the feast, cousin, but I think I’ll go back to the country,” he said. “Your life may be full of fine food and excitement, but I prefer my simple, quiet home where I can eat in peace without constantly being afraid.”

With that, the Country Mouse returned to his home in the countryside, happy with his quiet and simple life. He realized that, while the town had its luxuries, it also had dangers that made him long for the peaceful safety of the country.

The moral of “The town mouse and the country mouse”

A simple and safe life is better than one filled with luxury and fear.
The Country Mouse learned that while the town may seem exciting and full of rich food, it comes with dangers and stress. The story teaches us that sometimes, a quieter, simpler life can bring more happiness than one filled with luxury and risk.

Questions about “The town mouse and the country mouse”

1. What did the Country Mouse serve the Town Mouse during his visit to the country?
2. Why did the Town Mouse invite the Country Mouse to the city?
3. What dangers did the mice face while eating in the town?
4. Why did the Country Mouse decide to return to his home in the country?
5. What lesson does the story of The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse teach us?

Answers

1. The Country Mouse served grains, nuts, and fruit to the Town Mouse during his visit.
2. The Town Mouse invited the Country Mouse to the city to show him the luxuries and fine food he had there.
3. The mice faced dangers like a cat and a dog while trying to eat in the town.
4. The Country Mouse decided to return to the country because he preferred a simple and safe life without fear.
5. The story teaches us that a simple and safe life can be better than one filled with luxury and danger.

Words to learn

• Town: A busy place where people live and work. The Town Mouse lived in the city, where there was plenty of rich food.
• Country: A quiet place with fields and nature. The Country Mouse lived in the country, where life was simple and peaceful.
• Cheese: A rich, tasty food made from milk. The Town Mouse offered the Country Mouse fine foods like cheese.
• Cat: A small animal that hunts mice. The cat in the town scared the mice away from their meal.
• Luxury: Something that is expensive or very special. The Town Mouse’s life was full of luxury, but it also came with danger.

What type of story is “The town mouse and the country mouse”?

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse is a fable, a short story that teaches a moral lesson, often using animals as characters.

Who wrote “The town mouse and the country mouse”?

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse is a fable by Aesop, a famous storyteller from ancient Greece. Learn more about Aesop here.

When was “The town mouse and the country mouse” written?

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse was written more than 2,500 years ago, as part of Aesop’s Fables.

Who are the main characters in “The town mouse and the country mouse” mouse?

The main characters are the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, who live in very different worlds and have different views on life.

What lesson can we learn from “The town mouse and the country mouse”?

We learn that a simple and safe life can be more satisfying than a life of luxury filled with danger. The story reminds us to appreciate the peace and security of a humble life rather than chasing after wealth and excitement that may bring stress.

”The town mouse and the country mouse” story for young English learners (ages 2-5, Pre-A1 graded reader)

Once upon a time, there were two mice: a town mouse and a country mouse. They were cousins and decided to visit each other.

One day, the country mouse went to the town to visit his cousin. The town mouse welcomed him and said, “Come, let’s have a big feast!”

The country mouse was excited. The town mouse took him to a fancy house where they had delicious food: cheese, bread, and cake. But while they were eating, a cat came in! The two mice ran away quickly to hide.

After a while, the country mouse said, “This is too dangerous! I want to go home.”

The town mouse was sad to see his cousin leave. “But I have more delicious food!” he said.

The country mouse went back to the country. He was happy to be home. He had simple food, like grains and vegetables, but it was safe. He enjoyed the peace and quiet of the countryside.

Later, the town mouse visited the country mouse. The country mouse said, “I have food for you!” They shared a nice meal together, and the town mouse realized that safety and happiness were more important than fancy food.

Fun fact!

Did you know? The phrase “the grass is always greener on the other side” relates to this story—it’s often used to describe how people think other lifestyles are better, only to find out that they aren’t what they seem!