In a lush and vibrant garden, a plain black crow sat in the branches of a tall tree, watching in awe as a magnificent peacock strutted by. The peacock’s feathers shimmered in the sunlight, displaying a fan of brilliant colors. The crow sighed, feeling envious. “If only I had feathers like that, I’d be admired by everyone.”

Determined to change his appearance, the crow flew around the garden, collecting fallen peacock feathers. He carefully stuck them into his own feathers, hoping to look as grand as the peacock. Once he was finished, he gazed at himself and felt proud. “Now I’m just as beautiful as a peacock!” he thought.

But when he tried to fly with the extra feathers, he found it awkward and heavy. His movements were clumsy, and the other crows, seeing his strange appearance, cawed with laughter. “Look at you! You’re no longer a crow and certainly not a peacock!”

Feeling rejected by his own kind and still not truly fitting in with the peacocks, the crow finally understood. Pretending to be something he was not didn’t make him any happier or more admired.

Moral:

Be proud of who you are.

Additional Lessons:

Kindness: The crow’s experience teaches him the value of self-acceptance, which ties into being kind to oneself and others.
Jealousy: The crow’s envy of the peacock leads to his attempt to imitate it, which ultimately brings him unhappiness.
Wisdom: The crow learns that being true to oneself is more important than trying to be something else.

Parenting Tip: Encourage your child to celebrate their unique qualities instead of comparing themselves to others. Building self-confidence starts with embracing who they are.

Fun Questions For Curious Kids

Why did the crow want to look like the peacock?
How do you think the crow felt when he couldn’t fly well with the peacock feathers?
Why didn’t the other crows accept the crow with the peacock feathers?
What do you think the crow learned by the end of the story?
If you were the crow, what advice would you give to yourself?
What’s something special about you that makes you different from others?
How can you make someone feel better if they’re comparing themselves to others?
Why is it important to love yourself just the way you are?

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Crows And Peacocks!

Crows are super smart: They can recognize human faces and even use tools to solve problems.
Peacocks’ feathers are made for show: The dazzling colors help attract mates, but they’re not as useful for flying.
Crows can mimic sounds: Just like parrots, crows can imitate human voices or other noises they hear.
Peacocks don’t fly far: Their large feathers make it hard to fly long distances, but they can soar short distances to escape predators.
Crows have strong social bonds: They live in groups called murders and work together to protect each other.
Peacocks’ feathers look magical: The shimmer comes from microscopic structures that reflect light, creating the beautiful colors.
Crows adapt to almost anywhere: From cities to forests, they can survive in diverse environments.
Peacocks have a unique cry: Their call is loud and sounds like “meow” or “kee-ow,” which can be heard from far away.
Crows are problem solvers: In one study, a crow used sticks to get food out of a jar—a sign of impressive intelligence!
Peacocks shed their feathers: Every year, peacocks lose their fancy feathers, but they grow back even more beautiful ones.

Download Free Coloring Pages Related To This Story

Bring the story to life with coloring pages designed to spark creativity and make story time even more fun. Coloring helps kids express their creativity, improve focus, and reinforce the story’s themes in a fun, engaging way. After reading together, let them bring the story to life with colors!

Click on any of the free coloring pages below to download or print it!

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