Once upon a time
The Four Friends of the Forest
Panchatantra · Indian bedtime tale · retold for families
About 5 min read aloud · For grown-ups and children together
In a green forest lived four friends: a deer swift as wind, a crow who saw far, a mouse who knew every root, and a tortoise who moved slowly but surely.
One day hunters wove nets near the clearing. The deer ran — and tangled in rope. “Help!” he called.
The crow flew to the mouse. The mouse gnawed one knot, then another. The tortoise crawled to the deer’s side. “Do not struggle,” he said. “We are here.”
At last the net loosened. The deer stepped free, legs trembling.
Before they could rest, shouts came closer. The tortoise could not run. The deer hesitated only a heartbeat, then carried the tortoise on his back into the tall grass.
Hidden, they waited until the hunters passed. The crow watched from a branch. “All safe,” he cawed softly.
That evening they shared water and berries. “Alone, each of us is small,” said the mouse. “Together, we are a forest.”
Children in villages have heard this tale for centuries: ask for help, give help back, and no friend is too slow or too small to matter.
Classic tale retold by IRA Creations for screen-free bedtime. After the story, try a quiet craft — our painting kits or free colouring sheets.