Ferdinand

Listen to “Ferdinand” on Spreaker.

In a beautiful valley filled with colorful flowers and gentle breezes, lived a gentle-hearted bull named Ferdinand. With his quiet way of being and love for sitting under his favorite cork tree, Ferdinand was often misunderstood by those around him. But his most special adventure began when he followed his own way.

From the moment he was a calf, Ferdinand’s fellow bulls would play fierce games of charging and showing off their strength. But Ferdinand preferred to sit in the shade of his beloved cork tree, smelling the flowers and enjoying the beauty of the world around him.

As Ferdinand grew older, he became the largest bull in the pasture. The other bulls were sure that Ferdinand would be the bravest and strongest of them all, and they eagerly awaited the day of the bullfights.

But Ferdinand had a secret—he didn’t want to fight. He had no desire to prove his strength by battling in the arena. Instead, he found happiness in the simple pleasures of life—gazing at the stars, appreciating the song of birds, and caring for the flowers that grew around him.

One day, as the bullfighters arrived to select a bull for the upcoming bullfight, Ferdinand’s size caught their attention. They thought he would be the fiercest fighter. However, when they tried to make Ferdinand charge, he simply sat down and smelled the flowers.

The bullfighters were confused and disappointed. They wanted a fierce and combative bull, not one who preferred flowers to fighting. And so, they left Ferdinand behind, considering him unsuitable for the bullfight.

As the day of the bullfight approached, Ferdinand’s fellow bulls were taken away one by one, leaving him alone in the pasture. Ferdinand continued to sit under his cork tree, content with his peaceful life.

But then, something unexpected happened. A group of children arrived at the pasture, looking for the perfect bull to take to the bullfight. Among them was Nina, a kind and smart girl. When she saw Ferdinand, she noticed his calm and gentle nature.

“Nina, this bull is different,” said her friend. “He doesn’t seem interested in fighting.”

Nina smiled and approached Ferdinand. She looked into his eyes and saw a friend—a bull who valued the beauty of life and the importance of staying true to oneself.

“He’s perfect,” Nina declared, and Ferdinand was chosen to be taken to the bullfight.

On the day of the bullfight, the arena was filled with excitement and anticipation. But when Ferdinand entered the arena, he didn’t charge or snort. Instead, he simply sat down and enjoyed the view.

The audience was bewildered at first, but as they watched Ferdinand’s peaceful way of being, a transformation occurred. The crowd began to appreciate the uniqueness of Ferdinand’s character. They realized that bravery can be different—standing up to a challenge, but also staying true to oneself and finding joy in simple pleasures.

Ferdinand’s quiet presence touched the hearts of everyone in the arena. The bullfight turned into a celebration of individuality and self-acceptance. Ferdinand had shown that he didn’t need to do what others expected to be extraordinary.

And so, in the beautiful valley where colorful flowers swayed in the breeze, Ferdinand learned that being true to oneself was the bravest and most admirable choice of all.

The end!

Follow-Up Questions:

• What did Ferdinand prefer to do instead of playing fierce games with the other bulls?
• Why did the bullfighters choose Ferdinand for the bullfight?
• How did the audience react to Ferdinand’s peaceful behavior in the arena?