The Crow and the Pitcher facts for kids

The story of The Crow and the Pitcher is a famous fable, which is a short story that teaches a lesson. It was written by a very old Greek storyteller named Aesop. This clever tale is about a thirsty crow that uses its brain to solve a big problem. It shows us that thinking smart can be much better than just trying to be strong.

The crow dropping pebble into the pitcher of water

The Clever Crow and the Pitcher

This well-known fable is about a crow that is very thirsty. The crow finds a pitcher, which is like a large jug, that has some water inside. However, the water level is very low, so the crow cannot reach it with its beak.

The Crow's Problem

The crow tries its best to get to the water. First, it tries to push the pitcher over to spill the water out. But the pitcher is too heavy, and the crow is not strong enough. It seems like there is no way for the crow to drink.

A Smart Solution

Instead of giving up, the crow starts to think. It looks around and sees some small pebbles nearby. An idea pops into its head! The crow picks up a pebble with its beak and drops it into the pitcher. The water level does not change much with just one pebble.

So, the crow keeps going. It picks up another pebble, then another, and drops them into the pitcher one by one. Slowly, with each pebble that falls into the water, the water level begins to rise. The crow continues its hard work, dropping many pebbles.

The Water Rises

Finally, after dropping many pebbles, the water rises high enough. The crow can now reach the water with its beak and drink as much as it wants. The crow's clever thinking saved the day!

The Lesson of the Fable

This fable teaches us an important lesson: thinking and planning are often better than just using force. The crow could not use its strength to get the water, but it used its intelligence to find a solution. This story reminds us that being smart and resourceful can help us solve difficult problems.

Where Does This Fable Come From?

The story of The Crow and the Pitcher is very old. It was first written down a long, long time ago. One of the earliest versions of this fable appeared in a Greek collection of stories around 200 AD. Later, it was also found in a Latin poem collection around 400-500 AD. This shows how popular and timeless Aesop's fables are!