A parent might reach for this book when their child feels small, powerless, or is dealing with a bully. This classic Ladybird fable tells the story of a forest of animals terrorized by a mighty lion who demands a daily sacrifice. When it's the clever rabbit's turn, he uses his wits, not his strength, to trick the arrogant lion and save everyone. It's an excellent story for introducing themes of courage, fairness, and the power of intelligence over brute force. Appropriate for preschoolers and early elementary children, it empowers them by showing that even the smallest among us can make a huge difference with a clever idea.
The lion is portrayed as a fearsome and angry bully.
Sensitive Topics
The story's central conflict involves the imminent death of an animal each day. The resolution is the death of the antagonist (the lion). This is handled metaphorically: it is about the downfall of a bully or tyrant. The approach is secular, and the resolution is entirely hopeful for the community of animals. It presents a clear 'good versus bad' scenario where the villain receives a just punishment.
Ideal Reader
A 4 to 6 year old who is feeling intimidated by a bigger child or sibling. This story is perfect for a child who defaults to thinking that physical strength is the only way to solve a problem, or for a child who needs encouragement to believe in their own cleverness and ingenuity.
Parent Prep
A parent should be ready to discuss the core premise: animals being sent to be eaten. While it is a fable, this concept can be jarring. It is also important to preview the ending, as the lion's death is the solution. A parent can frame the conversation around problem-solving and how the rabbit's smart idea saved everyone, rather than focusing on the death itself. The parent has witnessed their child being physically or socially overpowered by a peer and heard them say something like, "He's too big, I can't do anything," or "There's no point in trying, she's stronger than me." The child is expressing a feeling of helplessness.
Age Experience
A 3 year old will enjoy the simple, satisfying narrative of a small animal outsmarting a big one. A 5 year old will begin to understand the specific strategy the rabbit used and appreciate the theme of brains over brawn. A 7 year old can grasp the more abstract concepts of justice, courage, and strategic thinking in the face of tyranny.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many stories that encourage children to seek help from an authority figure, this fable empowers the protagonist to solve the problem themself through cleverness. It is a powerful narrative of self-agency. Its classic, timeless structure gives the moral a feeling of universal truth, distinguishing it from more contemporary stories about bullying.
Read plot summary
A proud and powerful lion demands that the animals of the forest present one of their own to be eaten each day. To end this tyranny, a small but clever rabbit devises a plan. When it is his turn, the rabbit tells the lion that another, more powerful lion has claimed the forest. The rabbit leads the arrogant lion to a deep well. The lion sees his own reflection, believes it to be his rival, and leaps into the well to attack, thereby drowning.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The rabbit was much smaller and weaker than the lion. What did the rabbit have that made him more powerful in the end?
2
Why did the lion believe the rabbit's story about another lion in the well? What does this tell us about the lion?
3
All the other animals were too scared to challenge the lion. What made the rabbit brave enough to try a new plan?
4
If you were one of the animals in the forest, what kind of plan would you have made to stop the lion?
