The Short Story about a Turtle and a Monkey

This is a story of a lazy and greedy monkey that was taught a lesson by a wise turtle. The monkey tricked the turtle and ate his bananas. What did the turtle do to teach the monkey a lesson? What did the monkey do? Find out more by reading this interesting story.

The Lazy Monkey and the Hardworking Turtle

Once upon a time, there was a river. A monkey used to live on a tree near the river. He always stole food from other animals as he was lazy. He was also very greedy and wanted to take everything the animals gathered to eat.

One day, he saw a turtle dragging a tree full of bananas along the shore of the river. He thought if he could trick this turtle, he could eat all the bananas.

He asked, “Why are you dragging the tree with you?”

Turtle carrying his banana tree

The turtle replied, “I will plant this tree somewhere close and will enjoy the bananas as the tree grows.”

The monkey thought, “It is great. He can trick the turtle and eat bananas from the tree.”

He said, “I will help you carry and plant the tree. You will have to give me a part of it.” The turtle agreed.

He pulled the tree lightly whereas the turtle carried the entire load. They reached a location where they could safely plant the tree.

The Monkey’s Trick

He said, “Now that everything is done. Let me take my share.” He plucked the upper portion of the tree that had the bananas and left smiling. The turtle could not do anything.

The monkey ate the bananas and planted the upper portion of the tree. The turtle knew that the upper part of the trunk would not be able to survive without the roots.

He planted the roots and took good care. The tree grew and bore bananas again. The monkey saw that the turtle was eating bananas.

The Turtle’s Lesson: Short Story about Turtle and Monkey

The monkey was annoyed. His greed made him jump and climb the tree. He ate the bananas and hurled the peels at the turtle. The turtle could not do anything as the monkey was faster.

The turtle thought the monkey would have to come down at some point. He put thorns right at the base of the tree. When the monkey was done with the bananas, he came down and hurt his feet badly.

The monkey was hurt by thorns

Writing in pain, the monkey said, “What did you do?” The turtle said, “You ate my bananas and I punished you” and entered his shell.

The monkey was angry. He said, “I will punish you now.” He started beating the shell with rocks. The turtle realised the shell is not going to protect him much longer.

He said with a fearful voice, “Whatever you do, don’t drown me in the water. I will die instantly.”

The monkey was blind in anger. He threw the turtle in the river. The turtle laughed and swam away from the greedy monkey.

Moral of The Monkey And The Turtle Short Story with pictures

The moral of this story is greed always leads to a devastating end. The monkey learned his lesson the hard way from the turtle. The turtle got his way out of the situation using his wit. The monkey underestimated the turtle and learned his lesson.

Tips for Parents

Download and read The Monkey and the Turtle Short Story PDF to the kids. Make them understand how greedy the monkey was and explain why greed is bad. They will also learn to get out of a situation using his presence of mind.