Monkey and Crocodile One day a monkey wanted to cross a river.

He saw a crocodile in the river, so he asked the crocodile to take him across the other side. The crocodile told the monkey to jump on its back. Then the crocodile swam down the river. Now, the crocodile was very hungry, so when it was in the middle of the river, it stopped and said to the monkey, Monkey, my father is very sick. He must eat the heart of the monkey. Then he will be strong again. The monkey thought for a while. Then he told the crocodile to swim back to the river bank. Whats for? asked the crocodile. Because I didnt bring my heart with me, said the monkey. I left it under the tree, near some coconuts. So, the crocodile turned around and swam back to the bank of the river. As soon as they reached the river bank, the monkey jumped off the crocodiles back and climbed up to the top of a tree. Where is your heart? asked the crocodile. You are foolish, the monkey said to the crocodile. Now I am free and you have nothing. The monkey told the crocodile not to try to fool him again. The crocodile swam away, hungry.

A fox fell into a well and couldnt get out. By and by a thirsty goat came along. Seeing the fox in the well it asked if the water was good. Good, said the fox Its the best water Ive tasted in all my life. Come down and try it yourself. The goat was thirsty so he got into the well. When he had drunk enough, he looked around but there was no way to get out. Then the fox said, I have a good idea. You stand on your hind legs and put your forelegs against the side of the well. Then Ill climb on your back, from there. Ill step on your horns, and I can get out. And when Im out, Ill help you out of the well. The goat did as he was asked and the fox got on his back and climbed out of the well. Then he coolly walked away. The goat called out loudly after him and reminded him of his promise to help him out. The fox merely turned to him and said; If you only had thought carefully about getting out, you wouldnt have jumped into the well. The goat felt very sad. He called out loudly. An old man walking nearby heard him and put a plank into the well. The goat got out and thanked the old man.

Kancil dan Buaya Tersebutlah kisah kancil dan buaya yang masih terkenal hingga saat ini. Di sebuah sungai yang airnya tenang, terdapat sekelompok buaya yang besar. Suatu hari si kancil ingin menyeberangi sungai tersebut dan menemukan bahwa tak ada kapal atau jembatan yang bisa membawanya ke seberang sungai. Dilihatnya seekor buaya sedang berjemur di pinggir sungai. Dengan gagah berani, dihampirinya buaya tersebut dan mengatakan bahwa dia ingin membagikan daging segar untuknya dan teman-temannya. Maka buaya tersebut memanggil teman-temannya untuk berbaris agar si kancil dapat menghitung jumlah mereka. Setelah buaya berbaris dengan rapi, kancil melompat dari buaya pertama hingga buaya terakhir sambil menghitung dengan suara lantang, satu, dua, tiga begitu seterusnya hingga sampai di seberang sungai. Setelah sampai, Kancil menertawakan buaya dan mengatakan bahwa sebenarnya dia tak memiliki daging segar, melainkan hanya butuh menyeberang sungai. Berkat para buaya, kancil berhasil menyeberangi sungai tersebut dengan selamat. Hikmah Cerita Dongeng kancil dan buaya sarat dengan hikmah yang dapat digunakan untuk mengajarkan anak-anak mengenai kecerdasan. Kancil yang berbadan kecil terkenal dengan kecerdasannya, sehingga mampu menipu daya makhluk yang tubuhnya lebih besar darinya. Sementara Buaya yang bertubuh besar, ternyata tak sepintar Kancil sehingga dengan mudah diperdaya oleh hewan yang lebih kecil tersebut. Bagaimana menjelaskan moral cerita kepada anak tanpa terkesan menggurui? Dongeng kancil dan buaya ini dapat membantu dengan cara menjelaskan bagaimana kancil terus menerus mengasah kepandaiannya dengan banyak membaca buku mengenai hewan-hewan lain yang hidup di hutan. Kalau tidak membaca buku, darimana lagi si kancil mendapat ilmu pengetahuan, kan? Mendongeng sebelum tidur selain bertujuan mengajarkan moral yang baik kepada anak, juga efektif dalam mendekatkan emosi anak dengan orang tuanya.