The Very Hungry Lion

**Philip** (0:00)
Okay, our friends.

**Lisa Bueno** (0:03)
So yesterday, we read you a story about a lion that lived in Ethiopia and was tamed. And today, we're going to read another lion story because one good lion deserves another. This lion, however, is not very tame at all. In fact, what he is, is very hungry. And he wouldn't be in Ethiopia, he's actually going to be in India. So this story is actually based on an ancient East Indian fable.
And the artwork for this book is absolutely gorgeous. My friends, if you don't have it, grab a copy of it. I'll put it on my Amazon affiliates page. If you would like to learn about the art form that we're seeing here, it's really beautiful. This is adapted from the Warley style of painting from Western India. And the images here are silk-screened by hand onto paper made from rice husks and recycled cotton fibers. And I am really excited to look through this book and read you this fable. It is called The Very Hungry Lion. And this was adapted by Gita Wolf. And the art is by Indra Pramit Roy.
And it is read today by Mommy.

**SPEAKER_3** (1:26)
And what's your name, kid?

**Philip** (1:30)
Philip. Philip. And by the way, I have a riddle for you that we can do before the story.
It has to do with a lion.

**SPEAKER_3** (1:41)
Okay.

**Lisa Bueno** (1:42)
Let's hear your riddle about lions before we read.

**Philip** (1:48)
You're stuck in a maze. And you must escape the maze. And you've gotten to the end of the maze. And there are three doors. Each have a number, one, two and three. And what's behind them? Behind number one is lava.
Okay. Behind number two are three ninjas.
And behind number three is a hungry lion that hasn't eaten in four months. Months? Which one do you choose to escape?

**Lisa Bueno** (2:20)
Goodness. None of those sound good. Can I turn around and came back the way it came from?

**Philip** (2:28)
Which one of those three doors do you pick?

**Lisa Bueno** (2:30)
Oh, man. Um, do I have like a pocketful of meat that I could throw at the lion?
Because if I do, I'll go that way.

**Philip** (2:41)
It hasn't eaten in four months. It would have been dead by now. That's the answer.

**Lisa Bueno** (2:48)
Oh, that's a pretty good riddle. You're right.

**SPEAKER_3** (2:51)
It would have eaten.

**Lisa Bueno** (2:52)
It would be definitely dead by now.

**SPEAKER_3** (2:55)
You got to eat more than once every four months, it turns out.

**Philip** (2:59)
It would be like, I'm so hungry, bleh.

**SPEAKER_3** (3:03)
Bleh, yeah.

**Philip** (3:04)
Wow.

**Lisa Bueno** (3:05)
Let's see if this one has that same problem, shall we?

**SPEAKER_3** (3:08)
You ready?

**Lisa Bueno** (3:10)
Okay. One peaceful morning in the forest, Syngam the lion sat under his favorite tree.

**SPEAKER_6** (3:20)
I wish I had a fat juicy deer to eat, he thought, or a goat, or even a sparrow.

**SPEAKER_3** (3:31)
But Syngam was a very lazy lion.

**SPEAKER_6** (3:34)
Who wants to chase deer through the forest? He grumbled, there must be an easier way.

**Lisa Bueno** (3:44)
So he just sat there and thought, and thought about things to eat.

**SPEAKER_3** (3:52)
Then, he had an idea.

**SPEAKER_6** (3:56)
Today is market day. People tie up their goats, so they can't run away.
All I have to do is scare off all the people and eat up the goat.

**Lisa Bueno** (4:13)
So he set off towards the village. He went past the mango grove, crossed the stream, and came to a rice field.
There, he saw Kourouvi, the sparrow, picking at grains of rice. Ah, roared Singham.

**SPEAKER_6** (4:34)
Now I don't have to go to the village. I'm hungry, and I'm going to eat you up right now.

**Lisa Bueno** (4:43)
Now, Kourouvi was a clever bird.

**SPEAKER_6** (4:48)
Yes, of course, do help yourself, she said.

**Philip** (4:53)
But look, I'm picking rice to make rice cakes. Why not let me make you some, and then you can eat me up with them.

**Lisa Bueno** (5:06)
Oh, Singham said.

**SPEAKER_6** (5:10)
You must make me some, but hurry up. I'm very hungry. Then give me the things I need to make them, said Karuvi.
What do you need?

**Lisa Bueno** (5:25)
Singham asked.

**Philip** (5:26)
I want sugar, Karuvi said, and bananas and milk and butter and pots and pans and firewood.

**SPEAKER_6** (5:38)
All right, said Singham.
Wait here. I'll go along to the market and get you everything.

**Philip** (5:48)
Hurry up, said Karuvi.

**SPEAKER_6** (5:51)
Take a train to the market.