Grumpy Toad and the Missing Pond

Grumpy Toad and the Missing Pond

Short story for kids

Grumpy Toad and the Missing Pond

A selfish toad doesn’t share his pond with anyone. When the pond dries up and he gets thirsty, the animals he had previously rejected help him, teaching him the importance of sharing and friendship.

Based on: i charco! -¡es que el lago queda un poco lejos y mis cinco patitos tienen mucha sed! –volvió a explicar mama pata. -¡baaaaaasta! –gruño el sapo y abrió tan grande la boca que los cinco patitos se pusieron a llorar. -¡sapo egoísta!, ¡algún día te arrepentirás! –dijo la pata enfadada y continuó su camino. El sapo volvió a acomodarse para dormir la siesta, pero cerró solo un ojo y el otro lo dejó abierto para vigilar su charco. De pronto en el agua se escuchó un “!PLAF!” y un montón de gotitas cayeron sobre él y lo despertaron. - ¡hola don sapo! –saludó una linda ranita mientras chapoteaba. - ¡sal inmediatamente de mi charco! –chilló el sapo. - ¡ay, que mal genio! ¿puedo por lo menos tomar un poquito de agua? - ¡noooo! Ya te he dicho que no. - ¡te arrepentirás, sapo egoísta! –dijo la ranita y se fue saltando. Estaba el sapo acomodándose nuevamente cuando se acercaron dos pajaritos. Antes de que pudieran meter las puntitas de sus picos en el agua para tomar un poquito de agua, el sapo dio un gran salto y con su fea y ronca voz gritó: - ¡no quiero más visitas molestas, este es mi charco! ¿me habéis oído bien? ¡mi charco! – grito más fuerte aún. Los pajaritos se fueron volando. El lago estaba un poco lejos pero valía la pena llegar hasta allí, donde la pata, los patitos, la rana y los pájaros tomaban agua y jugaban alegremente. El sapo se quedó solo durmiendo su siesta. Hacía cada vez más calor. Tanto calor que el charco se secó. El sapo se despertó y sintió mucha, mucha sed: - desapareció mi charco, ¡voy a morir de calor y de sed! ¡fui un tonto sapo egoísta y gruñón! – se lamentaba y avergonzado se puso a llorar. Tan fuerte era su llanto que se pudo escuchar hasta en el lago, donde t odos los animalitos jugaban felices. - ¡está llorando el sapo egoísta!, - gritó la ranita. - ¡vamos a ver que le pasa! – dijo mama pata. Todos corrieron y al llegar, vieron que el charco ya no estaba y que el sapo egoísta ahora parecía triste y enfermo. - te llevaremos hasta el lago, - dijo la ranita. - ¿me llevaréis con vosotros? preguntó asombrado el sapo. - si, - dijo mama pata, - no está bien dejarte solo aquí, muriéndote de sed y de calor- . - es que yo fui un sapo muy malo, no tendrías que portaros bien conmigo. - creemos que ya has aprendido la lección - dijeron los pajaritos. - tenéis razón, de ahora en adelante nunca más seré egoísta, vosotros me habéis enseñado lo importante y hermoso que es compartir. ¡Gracias amigos! Y así se fueron todos juntos a disfrutar el agua fresca del lago.

Start readingPublished on 09/22/2026

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Grumpy Toad and the Missing Pond

¡I pond! –It’s just that the lake is a bit far and my five little ducklings are very thirsty! –explained Mama Duck again. –Baaaaaastaaa! –grumbled the toad and opened his mouth so wide that the five ducklings started to cry. –You selfish toad! One day you’ll regret it! –said the angry duck and continued on her way.

The toad went back to settle down for his nap, but he only closed one eye and kept the other open to watch over his pond. Suddenly, a “PLAF!” was heard in the water and a bunch of droplets fell on him, waking him up. –Hello Mr. Toad! –greeted a lovely frog while splashing around. –Get out of my pond right now! –shouted the toad. –Oh, what a bad temper! Can I at least have a little water? –Nooo! I already told you no. –You’ll regret it, selfish toad! –said the frog and skipped away.

The toad was settling down again when two birds approached. Before they could dip their beaks into the water to take a sip, the toad jumped high and with his ugly, raspy voice shouted: –I don’t want any more annoying visitors! This is my pond! Have you heard me? My pond! –he shouted even louder. The birds flew away. The lake was a bit far, but it was worth it to get there, where the duck, the ducklings, the frog, and the birds drank water and played happily.

The toad was left alone, taking his nap. It was getting hotter and hotter. So hot that the pond dried up. The toad woke up and felt very, very thirsty: –My pond has disappeared! I’m going to die of heat and thirst! I was a foolish, selfish, grumpy toad! –he lamented and, ashamed, started to cry. His crying was so loud that it could be heard even at the lake, where all the little animals were playing happily. –The selfish toad is crying! –shouted the frog. –Let’s see what’s wrong with him! –said Mama Duck.

Everyone ran and when they arrived, they saw that the pond was gone and that the selfish toad now looked sad and sick. –We’ll take you to the lake, –said the frog. –Will you take me with you? –asked the surprised toad. –Yes, –said Mama Duck, –It’s not right to leave you alone here, dying of thirst and heat. –It’s just that I was a very bad toad. You shouldn’t be nice to me. –We think you’ve already learned your lesson, –said the birds. –You’re right, from now on I will never be selfish again. You’ve taught me how important and beautiful it is to share. Thank you, friends! And so they all went together to enjoy the fresh water of the lake.

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Published on 09/22/2026

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