A Caterpillar's Voice

(Maasai: East Africa)

Once upon a time a caterpillar crawled inside a hare's house when the
hare was away, and set about making himself comfortable. When the
hare returned home, he noticed new marks on the ground going into the
cave. He called, "Who's in my house?"
                The caterpillar boomed out in a
loud voice, "It is I! Yes, I who crushes
rhinos to the earth and tramples elephants
into dust!"
The hare hopped about, crying, "What can a
small animal like me do with a creature
who crushes rhinos and tramples
elephants?"
                He soon met a jackal, and asked
the jackal to talk to the terrible creature
who had taken possession of his home and
to convince him to leave. The jackal agreed,
and when they reached the place, he barked
loudly and said, "Who is in the house of my
friend the hare?"
                The caterpillar replied in a voice
that rocked the earth, "It is I! Yes, I who
crushes rhinos to the earth, and tramples
elephants into dust!" On hearing this the
jackal thought, "Certainly I can do nothing
against such a creature," and he quickly left.
                The hare then fetched a leopard,
and he begged the leopard to help him. The
leopard assured the hare it would be no
trouble at all. On reaching the spot, the
leopard bared his claws and growled, "Who
is in the house of my friend the hare?" The
caterpillar replied in the same manner as he had done before. The
leopard was alarmed and thought, "If he crushes rhinos and elephants, I
don't even want to think about what he could do to me!"
                Next the hare sought out the rhinoceros. "No doubt, I am the
most fearsome of beasts," grunted the rhino. The rhino marched to the
hare's cave, where he snorted and pawed the ground with his massive
feet. But when the rhino asked who was inside and heard the
caterpillar's booming reply, he thought, "What, he says he can crush me
to the earth?" And the rhino thundered away, crashing through the
forest.
                Growing frantic, the hare tried the elephant, and asked him to
 come to his assistance. But like the others, on hearing what the
caterpillar had to say, the elephant knew that he had no wish to be
trampled underfoot like dust, and stomped off.
                In despair by this point, the hare asked a frog passing by if he
could possibly make the creature who had frightened all the other
animals leave his house. The frog went to the cave door and asked who
was inside. He received the same reply as had been given to the others.
Then the frog went nearer and shouted, "I, who
am the strongest of all, have come at last. I am the
one who crushes those who crush the rhinos! I am
the one who tramples underfoot those who
trample the elephants!"
                When the caterpillar inside the hare's
cave heard this, he trembled. He sensed the
shadow of the frog coming nearer and thought,
"After all, I am only a caterpillar!" And the
caterpillar inched out of the hare's den along its
edge, trying not to be noticed.
                The animals who had collected around
the hare's house seized the caterpillar and dragged
him out. "What, you?" they all cried in disbelief. 
                "I would never dream of staying in that cave!" said the
caterpillar with his nose in the air. "An echo like that
is far too crude for a refined creature like myself!" As
he sniffed away, all the other animals laughed at the
trouble he had given them. 

Characters:
Narrator

Little Red Riding Hood

Mother

Wolf

SCRIPT:

Narrator: Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived in a village near the forest. Whenever,
she went out, the little girl wore a red riding cloak, so everyone in the village called her Little Red
Riding Hood. One morning, Little Red Riding Hood asked her mother:

Little Red Riding Hood : Mother, can I go visit grandmother?

Mother : That’s a good idea, my dear!

Narrator: So they packed a nice basket for Little Red Riding Hood to take to her grandmother. When
the basket was ready, the little girl put on her red cloak and kissed her mother goodbye.
Mother: Remember, go straight to Grandma’s house. Don’t play along the way and please don’t talk
to strangers! The woods are dangerous.

Little Red Riding Hood: Don’t worry, mommy . I’ll be careful.

Narrator: But when Little Red Riding Hood noticed some lovely flowers in the woods, she forgot her
promise to her mother.

Little Red Riding Hood: Oh, what a beautiful flowers. I´ll pick some for my grandmother. This is such
a beautiful day!

Narrator: Suddenly, a wolf appeared beside her.

Wolf: What are you doing out here, little girl?.

Little Red Riding Hood : I’m on my way to see my Grandma who lives through the forest, near the
brook. Oh, it`s getting late, I have to go, excuse me.

Narrator: Little Red Riding Hood rushed to her grandmother`s house. The wolf, in the meantime,
took a shortcut… The wolf, a little out of breath from running, arrived at Grandma’s and knocked
lightly at the door.

Grandma: Oh thank goodness dear! Come in, come in! I was worried sick that something had
happened to you in the forest.

Narrator: The wolf let himself in. Poor Granny did not have time to say another word, before the
wolf gobbled her up!

Wolf: Oh, I am sleepy. I will put on a nightgown and I will wait for that little girl.

Narrator: A few minutes later, Red Riding Hood knocked on the door. The wolf jumped into bed and
pulled the covers over his nose.

Wolf: Who is it? .

Little Red Riding Hood: It’s me, Little Red Riding Hood.

Wolf: Oh how lovely! Do come in, my dear.

Narrator: When Little Red Riding Hood entered the little cottage, she could scarcely recognize her
Grandmother.

Little Red Riding Hood: Grandmother! You voice sounds so odd. Is something wrong?

Wolf: Oh, I have a cold.

Little Red Riding Hood: But Grandmother! What big ears you have.

Wolf: The better to hear you with, my dear .

Little Red Riding Hood: But Grandmother! What big eyes you have.

Wolf: The better to see you with, my dear .

Little Red Riding Hood: But Grandmother! What big teeth you have.

Wolf: The better to eat you with, my dear.

Narrator: The wolf roared and jumped out of the bed and began to chase the little girl. She ran
across the room and through the door, shouting.

Little Red Riding Hood: Help! Somebody Help me, please!

Narrator: A woodsman who was chopping logs nearby heard her cry and ran towards the cottage as
fast as he could. He grabbed the wolf and made him spit out the poor Grandmother.
Little Red Riding Hood: Oh Grandma, I was so scared! . I’ll never speak to strangers or stop to play in
the forest again.

Grandma: There, there, child. You’ve learned an important lesson. Thank goodness you shouted loud
enough for this kind woodsman to hear you!

Narrator: The woodsman knocked out the wolf and carried him deep into the forest where he
wouldn’t bother people any longer. Little Red Riding Hood and her Grandmother had a nice lunch
and a long chat.

THE END

characters:

Narrator

Grasshopper

Ant

SCRIPT:

Narrator: Once upon a time in a field on a summer day , there was a happy Grasshopper who liked to
play, sing, and dance all day.
Grasshopper: What a splendid day!.,,,, la,la,la,la,la. I have nothing to do, but sing and play… la, la, la,
la,la…

Narrator: As she was singing, an ant was passing by.

Ant: Don’t you ever get tired of playing?

Grasshopper: Who, me? … of course not!

Ant: Don’t you ever work?

Grasshopper: Who, me? … of course not!… Do you want to play with me?

Ant: No, I have work to do.

Grasshopper: Come on, let’s sing together.

Ant: No, I’m very busy right now.

Grasshopper: Work, work, work! … That’s all you do… You don’t have time to play or sing with me.

Ant: No, I don’t.

Grasshopper: Why are you in such a hurry?

Ant: I have to take home this kernel of corn.

Grasshopper: What for?

Ant: I have to store food for the winter.

Grasshopper: How can you think about winter on such a fine day?

Ant: Because the winter will be here soon, and food will be too hard to find… and you should do the
same.

Grasshopper: I don’t want to worry about winter right now! You just go ahead and work, work,
work… and I will just play, sing, and dance.

Ant: Soon, you will not have enough food to eat.

Grasshopper: I have plenty of food right now.

Ant: And what about tomorrow?

Grasshopper: I don’t worry about tomorrow.

Ant: I do… good-bye.

Narrator: So the Ant went on its way and continued its work. The weather soon turned cold, and all
the food lying in the field was covered with a thick white blanket of snow.

Grasshopper: I should have listened to the ant! It’s so cold that I can’t even play, or sing songs any
more… and I don’t have food to eat. I am sure the ant will help me!

Narrator: The grasshopper went to the ant’s hill.

Grasshopper: Please, ant give me something to eat… I am cold and hungry.

Ant: Why should I help you? What did you do all summer?

Grasshopper: I played, sang, and danced.

Ant: And I worked, worked, worked… so go and play, sing, and dance.

The End

Author: Aesop Fable

Adapted by Kidsinco

Moral: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

Characters:
Mrs. Anansi

Anansi

Turtle

SCRIPT:

Scene I

(Mrs. Anansi and Anansi in the kitchen.)

Mrs. Anansi: The table is set, Anansi… while you eat I’m going to visit my mother.

Anansi: The sweet potatoes smell quite delicious, I can’t wait to taste them!

Mrs. Anansi: Now sit down and eat them.  I’ll be back in about an hour.  An you better finish
everything!

Anansi: Don’t worry, I will!

(Mrs. Anansi leaves.  Anansi is about to eat a piece of potato when there’s a knock at the door)

Anansi: Who could it be at this hour?  I really don’t want to open the door, because if I do, then I
will have to share my meal… and this is my food!

(There’s another knock at the door)

Anansi: I’m coming!  I’m coming!

(Anansi opens the door)

Anansi: Turtle what do you want!… I mean, how are you?

Turtle: Oh, Anansi, I’m so tired.  I have been traveling all day, and it’s really hot out there.

Anansi: Come in….would you like a glass of water?

Turtle: Yes, that would be great!

Anansi: Wait here.

Turtle: What’s that smell?

Anansi: I don’t smell anything.

Turtle: It smells like… let me guess…sweet potatoes!

Anansi: Oh, that… would you like to join me for dinner?

Turtle: Sure!

(both sit at the table)

Turtle: Oh, my…look at all this food!  The rice looks delicious… and the meat… and the salad!  And
my favorite… sweet potatoes!

(Turtle reaches for a bowl of sweet potatoes)

Anansi: Wait!  Your hands are dirty, you must wash them before you eat.

Turtle: You’re right Anansi… I traveled all day and I didn’t have a chance to clean up.  Where’s your
bathroom?
Anansi: Go straight down the hall and then turn to the right.

Turtle: I’ll be right back.

(Turtle stands up and goes to the bathroom.  While she leaves Anansi begins to eat.)

Anansi: I better hurry before she comes back!

(Anansi fills his mouth with food.  He eats, and eats, and eats.  Turtle comes back from washing
her hands and sits).

Turtle: Oh, there is almost no food.

Anansi: Sorry, you are very slow, and the food was getting cold so I began to eat.  But you are here
now, join me, Turtle.

(Turtle reaches for what’s left of the sweet potatoes)

Anansi: Wait!  Your still have dirty hands!

(Turtle looks at her hands and sees that they are dirty from crawling on them to get back to the
table)

Turtle: Oh, sorry, Anansi.  I’ll wash my hands once again.

(Turtle goes to wash her hands.  Anansi eats what’s left of the food.   Turtle comes back and sits)

Turtle: There’s nothing left.  Anansi… you ate all the food!

Anansi: I couldn’t wait for you, the food was getting very cold.
Turtle: Oh, well… it’s getting late.

Anansi: I’m sorry that you have to go.

Turtle: Thank you anyway.

Anansi: Oh, and next time you come to visit me, wear your shoes.

Turtle: Oh, I almost forgot, would you like to have dinner with me some time?

Anansi: Sure!  When?

Turtle: How about tomorrow?

Anansi: Tomorrow is fine with me.

Turtle: Excellent!

Anansi: See you tomorrow.

(Turtle leaves.  While on her way to the river she thinks).

Turtle: Anansi tricked me!  He ate all the food while I was washing my hands!  Hmmm… I have a
plan…  Oh, Anansi I will teach you a lesson!

Scene II

(The turtle is in the bottom of the river.  The table is set for two.  Anansi is standing near the
riverbank.  Turtle sees him).

Anansi: I’m here, Turtle!

Turtle: Anansi!  I am glad you came to share the meal with me.  Come on down here!

(Turtle sits and begins to eat her meal.  Anansi jumps into the water but he can’t get down to the
bottom of the river)

Turtle: Are you having trouble getting down here?

Anansi: Just a little.

Turtle: Try diving!

Anansi: I already did, but I keep popping back up to the surface.

Turtle: Try running jump!

Anansi: It doesn’t work either, I keep floating to the top of the water.

Turtle: Hurry, dinner is getting cold!

Anansi: I can’t sink to the bottom!

Turtle: Well think of something… think, think, think!

Anansi: I have an idea!

(Anansi grabs stones and rocks and puts them inside his jacket pockets.  He jumps into the water
and sinks down to the bottom and was able to take his place at the table.)

Anansi: You are a great cook, Turtle!  You have many tasty foods…  I can’t wait to start my meal.

(Anansi reaches to take a bowl of food)

Turtle: Wait Anansi!  It’s not polite to eat with your jacket on!  Look at me…. I am not wearing a
jacket.

Anansi: But Turtle…

Turtle: Please, take off your jacket!

( Anansi takes off his jacket, and as soon as it was off of his shoulders, he went zooming like an
arrow back up to the surface and popped out onto the riverbank.  Anansi stucks his head down
into the water and sees Turtle eating all the food).

Anansi: Good-bye my friend… it’s impossible for me to join you, but I appreciate your invitation. 
Enjoy your meal!

(Anansi starts to go back home)

The End

Author:  West African Folktale

Adapted by K I D S I N C O

Moral of the story: What goes around comes around.