"The Enormous Turnip" is a classic folk tale of Russian origin, widely known and retold in many cultures. It is a cumulative tale, meaning it builds repetition as the story progresses. The story emphasizes themes such as teamwork, cooperation, and community effort. Though simple, it teaches children the value of working together to achieve a common goal, no matter how big or small each person’s role may seem.

An old man plants a turnip in his garden, and it grows to be enormous—so large that he cannot pull it out on his own. He calls for help: first the old woman, then the granddaughter, the dog, the cat, and finally a mouse. They all hold onto each other in a long chain and pull together. Only when everyone works together—even the smallest mouse—are they finally able to pull the enormous turnip from the ground. The story ends happily, showing that even the smallest helper can make a big difference when people work as a team.

4-5 year old children.