Once upon a time, in a peaceful old barn, there lived a tiny mouse named Milo. Milo was always scurrying around, looking for food and trying to stay out of trouble. The barn was home to many animals, but the one that frightened Milo the most was the loud, crowing rooster. Every morning, the rooster would let out a thunderous “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” that echoed through the barn, sending Milo into hiding.

“Oh, that rooster is so scary!” Milo would say to himself, his little heart racing every time he heard the rooster’s crow. “He must be dangerous with such a loud voice. I’d better stay far away from him.”

One sunny morning, after the rooster’s usual wake-up call, Milo crept out of his little hole in the barn wall, hoping to find some crumbs to nibble on. As he tiptoed across the barn floor, he noticed something. Sitting quietly in a patch of sunlight was a sleek, quiet cat. The cat was grooming herself, her soft fur gleaming in the light.

“Ah, the cat seems so calm and gentle,” Milo thought. “She’s not loud like the rooster, and she looks so peaceful. Maybe she’s safe to be around.”

Feeling a bit braver, Milo scurried closer to the cat. “Hello, Miss Cat,” he squeaked, trying to be friendly. “You seem very kind and quiet. Would you mind if I stayed near you? The rooster’s crow frightens me so much.”

The cat lifted her head and gazed at Milo with her big, green eyes. She gave a slow, soft purr, which made Milo feel even more at ease. “Of course, little mouse,” the cat said, her voice smooth and gentle. “Come closer. I won’t harm you.”

Milo smiled, feeling relieved. “Thank you! You’re so much nicer than that noisy rooster,” he said, inching closer and closer.

But just as Milo reached the cat’s paws, something terrible happened. Quick as a flash, the cat pounced! Her sharp claws pinned Milo to the ground, and her eyes no longer looked kind and gentle. They were sharp and full of hunger.

“Please! Let me go!” Milo squeaked in terror. “I thought you were kind!”

The cat grinned slyly. “Oh, little mouse,” she purred. “You should never judge someone by how they look or sound. The rooster may be loud, but he’s harmless. Me? I may seem quiet and calm, but I’m a hunter, and you are my prey.”

Just then, the rooster let out another loud “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” Startled, the cat loosened her grip just enough for Milo to wriggle free. The little mouse darted back to his hole, his heart pounding in his chest.

From the safety of his hiding spot, Milo peeked out and watched the rooster strut around the barnyard. “I was so scared of him just because he’s loud,” Milo thought, “but he’s not dangerous at all. The cat, who I thought was safe, nearly caught me! I’ve learned my lesson—I won’t judge anyone just by how they look or sound ever again.”

And from that day on, Milo was much more careful about whom he trusted, and he never judged anyone by appearances alone.

Moral:

Don’t judge by appearances alone. Things aren’t always as they seem, and it’s important to look deeper to understand others.

Parenting Tip: Help your child understand that first impressions can be misleading. Teach them to observe and understand someone’s actions rather than making judgments based on appearances or behavior alone.

Fun Questions for Curious Kids:

• Why was Milo afraid of the rooster?
• What made Milo think the cat was safe?
• How did the cat trick Milo?
• Why was the rooster’s loud crow helpful in the end?
• Can you think of a time when you judged someone too quickly? What happened?
• What’s a better way to decide if someone is trustworthy?
• How did Milo become wiser by the end of the story?

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Cats, Roosters, and Mice

1. Cats are natural hunters and have sharp claws and teeth to catch prey.
2. They purr not just when happy but also when they are scared or trying to heal.
3. Cats can rotate their ears 180 degrees to hear better!
4. Roosters crow to mark their territory and to signal the start of a new day.
5. They have excellent eyesight, even better than humans, especially during the day.
6. Roosters often protect their flock of hens from predators.
7. Mice have an excellent sense of smell, which helps them find food and avoid danger.
8. They can squeeze through tiny holes as small as a pencil to escape predators.
9. Mice are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night.

Activity Idea:

Trust or Trick? A Discussion Game

• Think of a list of characters (like a fox, a rabbit, or a tiger) and describe how they look or sound.
• Ask your child: “Would you trust this character? Why or why not?”
• After each answer, reveal a hidden truth about the character, such as a fox being clever or a rabbit being fast.
• Discuss why it’s important to understand actions and intentions instead of relying only on first impressions.

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!