The Crow and the Pitcher

In hot, dry weather a thirsty Crow finds a pitcher with a little water at the bottom, too deep for his beak. He drops in small pebbles one by one until the water rises high enough to drink.

Scene 1: A Spell of Dry Weather

The Crow and the Pitcher. It was a spell of hot, dry weather, and the birds could find very little to drink. A thirsty Crow flew far and wide, looking for water. At last he saw a pitcher, and he flew down to it with delight.

Scene 2: Out of Reach

There was a little water in the pitcher, down at the very bottom. But the pitcher was tall, and it had a narrow neck. No matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.

Scene 3: One by One

Then an idea came to him. He picked up some small pebbles, and he dropped them into the pitcher, one by one. With each pebble, the water rose a little higher. And higher… and higher.

Scene 4: A Good Use of Wits

At last the water was near enough, and the Crow could drink. He drank and drank, and so he saved his life. In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out. Or, as another old book says: necessity is the mother of invention.

Moral: In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Questions about The Crow and the Pitcher

More stories to read aloud

• The Lion and the Mouse — A Lion catches a little Mouse but laughs and lets her go when she promises to repay him.
• The Hare and the Tortoise — A boastful Hare laughs at the slow Tortoise, so the Tortoise challenges him to a race.
• Belling the Cat — The Mice hold a council and a young Mouse has a clever plan: hang a bell about the Cat’s neck.