The Cock and the Pearl
Quick Answer
A rooster finds a shining pearl in the straw—but he’d rather have one grain of barley. The story reminds us that value depends on what you truly need.
Why This Story Works for Bedtime
A tiny, quiet fable—perfect for winding down. It invites gentle thinking about usefulness versus sparkle.
Story at a Glance
RECOMMENDED AGES
5-8 years
READING TIME
2 min
Story Synopsis
A cock struts through a busy farmyard each morning, pecking for food in the dust and straw. He loves what is useful: grains, seeds, and anything that keeps a belly warm and full. One day something gleams in the straw. Excited, he scratches and pecks until the object rolls into the light. It is smooth and shining—a pearl. The cock studies it for a moment. He knows people would call it a treasure, and someone might prize it dearly. But the cock is honest about what he needs. A pearl cannot feed him. He turns away, saying he would rather have one grain of barley than a whole peck of pearls.
Story Excerpt
A cock lived in a busy farmyard with many hens. Each morning, he liked to strut this way and that, stepping proudly through the dusty ground. He pecked here and there, looking for good things to eat. One day, as he walked among the hens, he saw something shining in the straw. “Ho! ho!” said the cock. “That’s for me!” He scratched with his feet. He poked with his beak.
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In One Glance
A rooster finds a pearl while scratching in the straw. He recognizes it might be valuable to people, but it is useless to him because he cannot eat it. He says he would rather have a single barley-corn than a peck of pearls and walks away. The story shows that value depends on need.
Frequently Asked Questions
A rooster finds a pearl but chooses simple food, showing that value depends on what you need.
Ages 5–8.
About 2–3 minutes.
Yes—short, quiet, and reflective.
No.