The Musicians of Bremen (2005)

In this story a set of animals, all aging and done wrong by unfaithful owners, leave home and gather on the road to Bremen. They stop under a tree in the forest, until the Cock sees a light and they agree that it must be a house. After following the light they find a house inhabited by robbers, who they scare away. The robbers later believe it was a fluke and send a scout back to the house. The scout was disorientated in the darkened house and believing the attacks of the animals to be supernatural warns the others they should not go back. The animals decide they like the house and discontinue their travels to Bremen, instead living in the house in the woods.

I liked this story, I felt the emotional portrayal the animals was wonderful. I enjoyed the story very much; though I tend to love Grimm Brothers stories. Overall very well written and worth taking the time to read!

I could use the story as a way to introduce a section on how to care for senior pets. It is also a good basis if you needed to explain karma to children. The robbers had a nasty surprise from the animals, but they were generally nasty people to steal things. You can also open a unit to music, or old world travel with this story in ways that will rivet the attention of children.