How To Catch a Fish The Tiger Way

Toby the tiger cub was very hungry, and more than anything, he wanted a fish for dinner. He sat by the edge of the river, watching the silvery fish zip back and forth. He tried to pounce, but he was too slow. He tried to grab them with his paws, but they were too slippery!

Discouraged, Toby sat on the grassy bank and waited.

Suddenly, a bright blue bird soared through the sky. With a quick whoosh, the bird nose-dived into the water. A second later, it popped back up with a shimmering fish clamped tightly in its beak.

Toby’s eyes went wide. "Oh! So that's how you do it!" he whispered. But then he looked in a puddle and saw his own reflection. He didn't have a pointy beak; he had a fuzzy snout.

Toby sat back and began to howl. "I'll never catch a fish! I don't have a beak!"

Hearing his loud cries, his mother came trotting through the tall grass. "Toby, what's the matter, little one?" she asked gently.

"I’m going to be hungry forever!" Toby sobbed. "The bird caught a fish with its beak, but I don't have one!"

His mother let out a warm, rumbling laugh. "Oh, Toby. You don't need a beak to be a great fisher. Watch me."

With a powerful leap, his mother dove into the river. Splash! When she climbed back onto the bank, she held a large fish firmly in her mouth.

Toby hopped up and down, his tail wagging. "Wow, Mom! You did it! Can you show me how?"

"Of course," she smiled. "It just takes a little practice and a lot of patience." And right there by the river, Toby’s mom taught him his very first fishing lesson.