The Donkey and the Salt

Once upon a time, in a sunlit village, there lived a hardworking donkey named Danny. Danny was known for carrying heavy bags of salt for his master. One day, while crossing a sparkling river, Danny accidentally slipped and fell right in! To his surprise, the salt dissolved in the water, making his load much lighter. “Wow! This isn’t so bad at all!” he thought, happily trotting to the other side.

The very next day, Danny had a clever idea. “If falling in the river made my load lighter before, I should do it again!” He thought it would be an easy way to make his job easier. So, as he approached the river, he purposely tipped over into the water, hoping for the same lightness.

But this time, Danny was carrying sponges instead of salt! When he fell into the river, the sponges soaked up the water, and suddenly, his load became much heavier than before! As he struggled to get out, Danny realized that he had made a big mistake. He huffed and puffed, learning that shortcuts don’t always turn out as planned.

With a sigh, Danny trudged home, realizing that sometimes, it’s best to do your work the right way instead of trying to take an easy route.

Moral:

Shortcuts may not always work.

Additional Lessons:

• Wisdom: Danny learns an important lesson about the consequences of taking shortcuts.
• Honesty: The story reflects the importance of being honest and diligent in work instead of resorting to deceptive tactics.

Parenting Tip: Use Danny’s story to teach your child about responsibility and the importance of doing tasks the right way. Share how shortcuts might seem easier but often lead to unexpected challenges. Encourage them to take pride in hard work and perseverance.

Fun Questions For Curious Kids

• Why did Danny like falling into the river the first time?
• What happened when Danny carried the sponges instead of salt?
• If you were Danny, what would you do differently next time?
• Can you think of a time when you tried to take a shortcut and it didn’t work out? What did you learn?
• Why do you think Danny wanted to avoid carrying the heavy load?
• What would you say to Danny if you saw him struggling with the heavy sponges?
• How do you think Danny felt when his shortcut didn’t work?
• If you could help Danny, what advice would you give him about work and responsibility?

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Donkeys and Salt!

1. Donkeys are super strong! Donkeys can carry up to 20% of their body weight, making them great helpers for farmers and travelers.
2. Salt is essential! Did you know that animals, including donkeys, need salt to stay healthy? Salt helps them stay hydrated and energized.
3. Sponges are natural! Most sponges we use today are synthetic, but real sea sponges come from the ocean and have been used for cleaning for thousands of years.
4. Donkeys are intelligent! Donkeys are known for their problem-solving skills and great memory. They can remember people and places even after many years.
5. Salt can “disappear”! Salt dissolves in water because its particles break apart into tiny pieces, making it lighter and invisible in the water.
6. Donkeys have amazing ears! Donkeys can hear another donkey bray from up to 60 miles away in the desert.
7. Sponges can hold a lot! A sponge can soak up many times its weight in water, which is why Danny’s load became so heavy in the story.
8. Donkeys are social! They form strong bonds with their companions and can become very attached to their owners.

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!