Once upon a time, there was an old donkey who had served his master faithfully for many years. But as he grew weak and could no longer carry heavy loads, his master decided he was no longer useful. Fearing for his future, the donkey ran away. “I will go to Bremen,” he thought, “and become a town musician.”
On his way, he met a hunting dog lying by the road, panting with exhaustion. “Why are you so tired, friend?” asked the donkey. The dog replied, “I am too old to hunt, and my master wants to get rid of me.” The donkey said, “Come with me to Bremen. We can make music together!” The dog agreed.
A little further along, they found a cat sitting sadly by the path. “What troubles you?” asked the donkey. “I am old, my teeth are dull, and I can no longer catch mice,” sighed the cat. “Then join us,” said the donkey. “We are going to Bremen to become musicians.” The cat happily joined the company.
At last, they met a rooster crowing loudly. “Why do you crow so miserably?” asked the donkey. “The cook plans to eat me tomorrow,” the rooster cried. “Better come with us to Bremen,” said the donkey. “A fine voice like yours will be useful in our band.”
So the four animals set off together, dreaming of a new life as musicians.
That evening, they came to a forest and saw a light shining from a house. Inside, robbers were feasting. The animals made a plan. The donkey stood by the window, the dog climbed onto his back, the cat climbed onto the dog, and the rooster perched on top. Together, they gave a loud, strange concert—braying, barking, meowing, and crowing all at once!
The robbers were terrified. Believing it to be a monster, they fled into the night. The animals rushed inside, ate the feast, and made themselves comfortable.
When the robbers tried to return later, the animals chased them away with noise and claws. From then on, the donkey, dog, cat, and rooster lived happily in the robbers’ house. They never did reach Bremen, but they had found a home and a band of their own.
📖 Introduction
The Bremen Town Musicians is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm.
It is a humorous story about four old animals who, though abandoned by their masters, find strength in friendship and cooperation.
Children love the comic scenes, while the deeper message reminds us that working together makes us stronger.
🎯 Themes / Takeaway
- Teamwork and cooperation can overcome challenges.
- Everyone has value, even when they grow old.
- Friendship can turn weakness into strength.
🏡 How to Use This Story
🎤 Activity 1: Read Aloud
- Use different animal voices: bray for the donkey, bark for the dog, meow for the cat, and crow for the rooster.
- Pause to let children guess how the robbers will react.
- Build excitement by describing the noisy “concert.”
❓ Activity 2: Ask Children
- “Why did the donkey decide to leave his home?”
- “How did the animals meet each other?”
- “What did the animals do to scare the robbers?”
- “What lesson can we learn about teamwork?”
🎭 Activity 3: Role-Play
- Assign roles: Donkey, Dog, Cat, Rooster, and Robbers.
- Stack cushions or chairs to act out the animal pyramid at the window.
- Let children perform the noisy “concert” together.
🎨 Activity 4: Creative Expression
- Drawing: Draw the four animals standing on top of each other by the robber’s house.
- Craft: Make animal masks or paper puppets.
- Music: Let children use instruments or voices to make their own “Bremen concert.”
💡 Activity 5: Connect to Real Life
- “Have you ever worked together with friends to solve a problem?”
- “Why is teamwork important in school or at home?”
- “What special talents can each person bring to a group?”