One afternoon, two friends were walking through a dense forest, chatting and enjoying the fresh air. Suddenly, they spotted a large, growling bear coming toward them. Terrified, one of the friends quickly climbed the nearest tree, leaving the other friend on the ground with no place to hide.

The friend left behind had to think fast. He remembered hearing that bears don’t bother with things that seem lifeless, so he quickly lay down, closed his eyes, and held his breath, pretending to be dead.

The big bear lumbered over, sniffing and nudging him with its wet nose. But after a few moments, the bear walked away, deciding the motionless traveler wasn’t a threat.

Once the bear was gone, the friend who had climbed the tree scrambled down, breathing a sigh of relief. “That was close!” he said, trying to laugh. “What did the bear say to you while it was sniffing around?”

The friend who had pretended to be dead stood up, dusted himself off, and replied, “The bear told me to choose my friends more wisely. True friends don’t leave each other behind in times of danger.”

The first friend looked ashamed, realizing how selfish he had been.

Moral:

True friends stick together in times of trouble.

Parenting Tip: Teach children the value of true friendship by encouraging empathy, loyalty, and standing by others in tough situations.

Fun Questions For Curious Kids

• Why do you think one friend climbed the tree instead of helping the other?
• How did the friend on the ground outsmart the bear?
• What do you think the bear thought when it sniffed the motionless friend?
• How would you feel if your friend left you behind in a dangerous situation?
• Why is it important to stick together when facing challenges?
• If you were in the story, how would you have helped your friend?
• What makes someone a true friend?
• Can you think of a time when you helped a friend or they helped you?

Did You Know? Fun Bear Facts!

1. Bears have an amazing sense of smell: They can sniff out food from miles away—better than a dog!
2. Bears are great climbers: Most bears can climb trees quickly to escape danger or find food.
3. Playing dead can work: Some wild animals, including bears, often lose interest in prey that doesn’t move.
4. Bears are fast runners: Despite their size, bears can run up to 35 miles per hour—faster than most humans!
5. Bears communicate through body language and sounds: Growls, grunts, and even sniffing help them send messages.
6. Bears can be loners: Unlike the friends in the story, bears usually prefer being alone, except for mothers with cubs.
7. Hibernation isn’t sleep: During winter, bears slow down their body functions but are still alert to danger.
8. Bears use their noses to explore: When the bear sniffed the traveler in the story, it was trying to figure out if he was alive.
9. Bears live all over the world: From polar bears in icy regions to brown bears in forests, they adapt to many environments.

Activity Idea:

“Bear Survival Roleplay”

• What You’ll Need: A toy bear or a stuffed animal and some pillows or trees drawn on paper.
• How to Play: One person pretends to be the bear, while the others are travelers. Practice climbing “trees” (pillows) or pretending to stay still to outsmart the bear.
• Purpose: Encourages teamwork, quick thinking, and roleplaying in a fun way.

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!