The Empty Pot

5 pages · 2 min · ages 4+

Based on: Chinese Folk Tale

The kind Emperor loved flowers. He gave out tiny seeds. Ping got a seed too. "Grow a flower," he said. "The best flower wins," he said. Ping took his seed home. He put it in soil. Ping wanted to do well.

Ping watered his seed daily. He gave it bright sun. One day went by. Two days went by. Nothing grew in the pot. Ping used a bigger pot. He used very good soil. Still, no flower came out.

A whole year passed by. The other children had flowers. Their flowers were very big. Their flowers were very bright. Ping had only a pot. Ping felt very sad today. "I am sorry," Ping said. He walked to the palace.

The Emperor looked at flowers. He saw red and blue. He saw pink and yellow. Then he saw Ping's pot. The pot was very empty. Ping was very, very brave. "My seed did not grow." The Emperor gave a smile.

The Emperor spoke to Ping. "The seeds were all cooked." Cooked seeds cannot ever grow. Ping told the true story. Ping was a good boy. The Emperor was very happy. Now Ping learns from him. Ping stays at the palace.