Russian folk tale

The Turnip

A short repeating story about how small help becomes big help when everyone works together.

Once upon a time, there lived a grandfather and a grandmother. In spring, Grandfather planted a tiny turnip seed in the garden.

Grandfather and Grandmother sit at a table in a cozy village house
Grandfather plants a tiny turnip seed in the garden

Grandfather watered the garden bed, the sun warmed it, and the rain washed it. And a turnip grew: very, very big, round, yellow, with a green tail.

Grandfather went to pull up the turnip. He took hold of the tail, pulled and pulled, but he could not pull it out.

Grandfather called Grandmother:

“Grandmother, please help me!”

Grandmother took hold of Grandfather, and Grandfather took hold of the turnip. They pulled and pulled, but they could not pull it out.

Grandfather and Grandmother pull the big turnip together

Grandmother called the granddaughter:

The granddaughter comes to help Grandfather and Grandmother pull the turnip

“Dear granddaughter, please help us!”

The granddaughter took hold of Grandmother, Grandmother took hold of Grandfather, and Grandfather took hold of the turnip. They pulled and pulled, but they could not pull it out.

The granddaughter helps Grandmother and Grandfather pull the turnip

The granddaughter called Zhuchka the dog:

Zhuchka the dog runs over to help pull the turnip

“Zhuchka, please help us!”

Zhuchka took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of Grandmother, Grandmother took hold of Grandfather, and Grandfather took hold of the turnip. They pulled and pulled, but they could not pull it out.

Zhuchka helps the whole family pull the turnip

Zhuchka called Murka the cat:

Murka the cat runs over to help pull the turnip

“Murka, please help us!”

Murka took hold of Zhuchka, Zhuchka took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of Grandmother, Grandmother took hold of Grandfather, and Grandfather took hold of the turnip. They pulled and pulled, but they could not pull it out.

Murka helps Zhuchka and the whole family pull the turnip

Murka called the little mouse:

“Little mouse, please help us!”

The mouse took hold of Murka, Murka took hold of Zhuchka, Zhuchka took hold of the granddaughter, the granddaughter took hold of Grandmother, Grandmother took hold of Grandfather, and Grandfather took hold of the turnip.

One, two, three! They all pulled together and pulled out the turnip!

Grandfather, Grandmother, the granddaughter, Zhuchka, Murka, and the mouse pull out the turnip

Grandfather, Grandmother, the granddaughter, Zhuchka, Murka, and the mouse were so happy. Even the tiny mouse had helped with a big job.

That evening, everyone sat at the table and said to one another:

“Thank you for helping! When we are together, everything works out.”

All the characters sit at the table and feel happy about helping together

The End.