“The Rolling Rice Ball” explained in 4 pictures

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When you have a kind heart, happy things come back to you. If you are too greedy, you may trouble others.

2026-07-02 · Picture books
Once upon a time, a kind old man went to the mountain.
When it was lunchtime, he was about to eat a rice ball.
Then the rice ball went roll, roll, roll...
Into a little hole it went—plop!

💬 Rice Ball, Roll, Roll

Once upon a time, a kind old man went to the mountain. When it was lunchtime, he was about to eat a rice ball. Then the rice ball went roll, roll, roll... Into a little hole it went—plop!

🤔 The rice ball rolled away. Where do you think it went?

The old man listened carefully beside the hole...
“Rice ball rolling, tumbling down!”
He heard a cute little song.
The old man felt happy and smiled.

💬 The Mice’s Song

The old man listened carefully beside the hole... “Rice ball rolling, tumbling down!” He heard a cute little song. The old man felt happy and smiled.

🤔 What kind of voices do you think the mice are singing with? Let’s say “tumbling down” together.

The mice invited the old man into their home.
“Thank you for the rice ball!”
The mice sang and danced and made the old man happy.
Then they gave him a small box to thank him.

💬 Thank You, Old Man

The mice invited the old man into their home. “Thank you for the rice ball!” The mice sang and danced and made the old man happy. Then they gave him a small box to thank him.

🤔 The old man was kind to the mice, so the mice felt happy too.

When the old man opened the box at home, there was a happy thank-you gift inside.
The old man and old woman smiled with joy.
But the old man next door wanted too much and ended up troubling the mice.
Having a kind heart is the most important thing.

💬 A Kind Heart Is Best

When the old man opened the box at home, there was a happy thank-you gift inside. The old man and old woman smiled with joy. But the old man next door wanted too much and ended up troubling the mice. Having a kind heart is the most important thing.

🤔 What kind of old man made the mice so happy?