Listen or read along. “The Lion and the Mouse” is a free
classic fairy tale for ages 4–6, narrated aloud in about 4 minutes.
The full text is below, and the Sleepfox app reads it to your child with a
calm voice, a dimming screen and a gentle sleep timer.
Once upon a time, a little mouse lived in a sunny meadow.
One warm afternoon, the mouse went exploring.
She scurried through the tall, soft grass…
And found a big, golden lion, fast asleep under a shady tree.
The mouse was so curious.
She tiptoed closer and closer.
Then she climbed right up onto the lion's big, warm paw.
The lion's eyes opened slowly.
"Oh my," he said in his rumbly voice.
The little mouse squeaked, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to wake you."
The lion yawned a great big yawn.
"You're such a tiny thing," he said softly.
"Please don't worry, little one. You can go."
The mouse smiled up at him.
"You're very kind," she whispered. "Someday I'll help you too."
The lion chuckled gently.
"How could someone so small help someone so big?"
But he said it in a friendly way.
The mouse waved goodbye and scurried home.
Many days later, the lion was walking through the forest.
His paw got tangled in some thick, scratchy vines.
He tugged and pulled, but he couldn't get free.
"Oh dear," he said quietly.
Just then, the little mouse came running by.
She saw her friend and hurried over.
"Don't worry," she said. "I can help."
She nibbled and nibbled at the vines with her tiny, sharp teeth.
Nibble, nibble, nibble…
Soon the vines fell away.
The lion stepped free.
"Thank you, little friend," he said warmly.
"You were right. Even someone small can help someone big."
From that day on, the lion and the mouse were the best of friends.
On quiet evenings, they would sit together under the stars.
The mouse would curl up on the lion's soft, golden mane.
And they would both close their eyes…
Feeling safe and happy and loved.
And they would drift off to sleep, dreaming peaceful dreams.
The end.
Listen to it free in the app
Sleepfox narrates every story aloud, dims the screen, and fades out with a
gentle sleep timer. A brand-new story is added free every night.
Black Beauty
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Pinocchio
The Ebony Horse