Once upon a time, there was a bird who fell in love with a whale, and a whale who fell in love with a bird. The bird loved the whale’s big, happy smile and how she swam so smoothly in the water. The whale loved the bird’s bright white feathers and enjoyed watching him fly high in the sky. They both liked eating tiny fish.
During the summer, the bird and the whale met in the bay. They talked about the moon, the waves, and the ships on the ocean. The bird told funny jokes that made the whale laugh, and the whale sang beautiful songs that made the bird feel happy.
“One day, you could meet my family in the ocean,” said the whale.
“And you could meet my friends on the land,” said the bird.
Everything seemed perfect, but the seasons changed. Summer turned into autumn, and autumn into winter. The ocean became cold, and the other whales left for warmer waters.
“Come with me to warmer waters,” said the whale. “It’s a wonderful place, always warm, with lots of fish to eat.”
“I love to eat fish,” said the bird. “And I love you. I will follow you anywhere. But first, teach me to be a whale?”
“Like this!” said the whale. “Follow me!” She dove deep into the water.
“OK!” said the bird, and he dove deep too. Deeper and deeper he went.
“I’m swimming!” he laughed. “I’m a whale!”
But soon he couldn’t breathe and returned to the surface, gasping. He tried again and again, but he ran out of breath each time.
“I don’t think a bird can become a whale,” said the bird.
“Come with me instead! I live up on the cliffs. It’s a wonderful place, warm and cozy, and every morning you can watch the sunrise.”
“I love to watch the sunrise,” said the whale. “And I love you. I will follow you anywhere. But first, teach me to be a bird?”
“Like this!” said the bird. “Follow me!” He flapped his wings and soared into the sky.
“OK!” said the whale. She squeezed her eyes shut and flapped her fins, trying to mimic the bird. Water splashed everywhere!
“I’m flying!” she laughed. “I’m a bird!”
But when she opened her eyes, she realized she was still in the water. She tried again and again, but she could not fly.
“I don’t think a whale can become a bird,” said the whale.
“But if you can’t fly, and I can’t swim, where can we live together?” asked the bird.
“We will stay here — in the waves!” said the whale.
But the bird shook his head sadly.
“You love to swim deep in the ocean,” he said. “That is your favourite thing to do. You would never be happy here.”
The whale sighed.
“And you love to fly and soar into the sky,” she said. “That is your favourite thing to do. You would never be happy here either.”
And so, because the bird and whale loved each other so much, they said goodbye. But they never forgot each other. Every time the whale saw a bird flying high in the sky, she thought of her bird and hoped he was enjoying the skies. And every time the bird saw a whale diving deep in the ocean, he thought of his whale and hoped she was enjoying the ocean.
Bird and Whale Role Play: Gather some friends or family members and act out the story of the bird and the whale. Take turns being the bird and the whale. Think about how each character feels at different parts of the story. What do you think the bird feels when he tries to swim like a whale? How does the whale feel when she tries to fly like a bird? Share your thoughts with your group.
Nature Observation Walk: Go on a walk in your neighborhood or a nearby park. Look for birds in the sky and any water bodies where you might spot fish or other sea creatures. Observe how birds fly and how fish swim. Can you see any similarities or differences between them? Draw a picture of what you see and write a sentence about how birds and fish are different or similar.
Creative Drawing: Imagine a place where both the bird and the whale could live happily together. Draw a picture of this place. What would it look like? Would it have water, trees, or something else? Share your drawing with a friend or family member and explain why you think both the bird and the whale would like living there.
**The Bird and the Whale**
*(An original tale by TheFableCottage.com)*
Once there was a bird who fell in love with a whale, and a whale who fell in love with a bird. The bird admired the whale’s beautiful smile and the way she swam gracefully through the water. The whale loved the bird’s handsome white feathers and enjoyed watching him soar through the sky. They both shared a fondness for eating tiny fish.
All summer, the bird and the whale met in the bay. They talked about the moon, the tides, and the ships on the ocean. The bird told jokes that made the whale laugh, while the whale sang beautiful songs that moved the bird deeply.
“One day, you could meet my family in the ocean,” said the whale.
“And you could meet my friends on the land,” said the bird.
Everything seemed perfect, but the world continued to change. Summer turned into autumn, and autumn into winter. The ocean grew cold, and the other whales left for warmer waters.
“Come with me to warmer waters,” said the whale. “It’s a wonderful place, always warm, with plenty of fish to eat.”
“I love to eat fish,” said the bird. “And I love you. I will follow you anywhere. But first, teach me to be a whale?”
“Like this!” said the whale. “Follow me!” She dove deep into the water.
“OK!” said the bird, and he dove deep as well. Deeper and deeper he went.
“I’m swimming!” he laughed. “I’m a whale!”
But soon he couldn’t breathe and returned to the surface, gasping. He tried again and again, but he ran out of breath each time.
“I don’t think a bird can become a whale,” said the bird.
“Come with me instead! I live up on the cliffs. It’s a wonderful place, warm and cozy, and every morning you can watch the sunrise.”
“I love to watch the sunrise,” said the whale. “And I love you. I will follow you anywhere. But first, teach me to be a bird?”
“Like this!” said the bird. “Follow me!” He flapped his wings and soared into the sky.
“OK!” said the whale. She squeezed her eyes shut and flapped her fins, trying to mimic the bird. Water splashed everywhere!
“I’m flying!” she laughed. “I’m a bird!”
But when she opened her eyes, she realized she was still in the water. She tried again and again, but she could not fly.
“I don’t think a whale can become a bird,” said the whale.
“But if you can’t fly, and I can’t swim, where can we live together?” asked the bird.
“We will stay here — in the waves!” said the whale.
But the bird shook his head sadly.
“You love to swim deep in the ocean,” he said. “That is your favorite thing to do. You would never be happy here.”
The whale sighed.
“And you love to fly and soar into the sky,” she said. “That is your favorite thing to do. You would never be happy here either.”
And so, because the bird and whale loved each other so much, they said goodbye. But they never forgot each other. Every time the whale saw a bird flying high in the sky, she thought of her bird and hoped he was enjoying the skies. And every time the bird saw a whale diving deep in the ocean, he thought of his whale and hoped she was enjoying the ocean.
