Welcome to the Turtle Tales series.
The Dancing Turtle is a folktale from Brazil.
In today’s Story: The Turtle loves to dance and play the flute. But her exuberance puts her at risk when her music attracts the attention of a hunter who brings her home for turtle stew. After she is caught, her only hope for escape wit.
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Transcript
Once upon a time, on the banks of a river, there lived a very musical Turtle who enjoyed playing her flute. When Turtle played, lions, elephants, butterflies, snakes, and monkeys danced to the Turtle's music.
The turtle was very famous in the forest and all around the neighbouring towns.
Children, put on the thinking caps and tell me what other instruments do you think that Turtle played?
Yes, that’s right.
One day, a hunter heard Turtle's music. "Ahh," he thought. “That must be the famous Turtle making music. The turtle would make a perfect turtle soup. Let me try to catch him," he thought.
He cooked up a plan and called out, "Turtle! Show me your beautiful flute."
Children, Why do you think that the man called out for the turtle? What does he want to do?
That’s true, he wanted to make a perfect turtle soup.
But that our turtle did not know
He was very excited to show his flute and slowly walked towards the hunter. He held out her beautiful flute to the hunter.
But the moment the hunter saw Turtle, he grabbed her by the neck and began to run. The turtle tried to cry for help, but she couldn't make a sound.
She closed her eyes, holding tightly to her flute for good luck.
When the hunter reached his hut, he put Turtle into a cage and shut it.
Then he turned to his children: "Don't let Turtle out of her cage." And off he went to the forest.
Children, what do you think the children will do next?
The children began to play outside.
Turtle sat very still inside her cage, thinking about the hunter’s words.
To calm herself she began to play a sweet tune on her flute, and the children ran to the cage. "Is that you playing that pleasing music, Turtle?" they asked, their eyes wide with wonder.
"Yes," Turtle said. She kept on playing, for she could see the children were delighted. At last, she stopped.
“That was the most wonderful music we have ever heard,” said the children in unison.
"I can dance even better than I can play," she said. "Would you like to see?"
"Oh, please!" the little boy cried.
"I'll show you how I dance and play at the same time," said Turtle.
Children, why do you think Turtle wants to dance?
Let’s listen ahead.
The turtle lifted her flute but before even playing a single note, she stopped.
“What happened, please dance for us. We have never seen a dancing turtle,” pleaded the children.
"You must open the cage. There is no room in here."
Excitedly, and ignoring their father’s word, the little children opened the cage.
The Turtle began to dance and play her melodious music on the flute.
The children were enchanted, and they laughed and clapped their hands, for never had they seen such a wonderful thing.
Then the Turtle stopped.
"Don't stop!" the children cried.
"Oh," Turtle groaned. "My legs are stiff. If I could just walk a little bit to loosen them.”
"Sure! But don't go too far," the little girl cautioned.
“Come right back," said the little boy.
"Never fear," said Turtle. "You wait right here."
Children, where do you think that Turtle will walk?
Turtle crawled off toward the jungle. The moment she was out of sight, she raced all the way back to her house.
Nobody ever found the Turtle again. But to this day, if you strain your ear, you can hear the sweet sound of a flute in the forest.
