Story

The Tale of Jeremy Fisher

15 minAges 7-9

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The story

Introduction

Have you ever met a frog who loves to fish, but doesn't actually like to eat fish very much? Well, gather 'round, little listeners, because today we're dipping our toes into a delightful tale about a very particular frog named Jeremy Fisher! He lives in a rather damp, cosy little house amongst the reeds, and he's about to embark on a grand fishing adventure. Will he catch a magnificent supper for his friends, or will something unexpected happen out on the water? Get ready for a splashy story filled with tiny boats, buzzing insects, and perhaps a very big fish indeed!

Jeremy's Cosy Home and Grand Plan

Now, Master Jeremy Fisher was a rather particular frog. His little house, as I mentioned, was not just damp, but beautifully snug, built right into the bank of a lovely pond, with a sandy floor and a tiny, green door. Every morning, he’d wake up, stretch his long, sticky legs, and think about all the exciting things he could do. But his favourite thing, oh, his absolute favourite, was fishing! One sunny Tuesday morning, Jeremy looked out of his little door. The sun was shining, and the air felt just right – not too hot, not too cold. 'Perfect fishing weather!' he croaked to himself. He had invited his friends, Sir Isaac Newton, a newt, and Alderman Ptolemy Tortoise, for supper. And what better supper than a delicious dish of minnows straight from the pond? He carefully packed a little basket with a worm for bait and his brand-new rod. Today, he was determined to catch something truly special!

A Lily-Pad Voyage

Jeremy Fisher hopped onto a large, green lily pad. It was his very own little boat, floating gently on the water. He pushed off from the bank with a tiny twig, and soon he was drifting out into the middle of the pond. The sun felt warm on his back, and a gentle breeze tickled his whiskers. He looked up at the big, fluffy clouds that looked like giant cotton wool balls, slowly sailing across the blue sky. Below him, the water was so clear he could see tiny pebbles at the bottom and little fish darting here and there. He hummed a happy tune as his lily pad swayed softly. "Right," he thought, "time to get to work!" He unfurled his brand-new fishing rod, which was just the right size for a frog. He carefully tied the worm onto the hook. It was a rather wriggly worm, but Jeremy was very patient. He cast his line into the water with a little flick, sending tiny ripples across the surface. He sat down comfortably on a big water-lily flower that had just bloomed, its petals a lovely pale pink. He loved fishing. It was so peaceful. All around him, dragonflies with shimmering wings zipped past, making little buzzing sounds. A plump water beetle scurried across the surface nearby, looking very busy indeed. Jeremy waited, his eyes fixed on his float, a tiny red-and-white bobber that danced on the gentle waves. He imagined a magnificent minnow, perhaps even a plump stickleback, nibbling at his bait. The air smelled fresh and green, like damp earth and blooming flowers. He watched a fluffy dandelion seed float past, heading off on its own little adventure. He began to feel a little bit sleepy, lulled by the quiet sounds of the pond and the gentle rocking of his lily pad. But he knew he had to stay awake. His friends were coming for supper, and he had a very important job to do! He gave a little shake, stretched his legs, and focused intently on his fishing line once more.

The Perilous Catch

Jeremy Fisher waited patiently on his green lily pad, his little fishing rod held firmly in his paw. The sun felt warm on his back, and the water sparkled all around him. He thought about the lovely supper he would prepare – delicious fried minnows for his friends, Mr. Alderman Ptolemy Tortoise and Sir Isaac Newton. Oh, what a grand meal it would be! He closed one eye, concentrating very, very hard on his float, which bobbed gently on the water’s surface. He hardly dared to breathe. Then, all of a sudden, his float began to wriggle! It danced and twitched, then slowly, slowly, it disappeared right under the water! "Aha!" thought Jeremy, pulling with all his might. "A fish! A big one, I hope!" He reeled in his line, feeling a good tug at the end of it. But when he pulled it out of the water, it wasn't a nice, plump minnow at all. Instead, it was a tiny, cross-looking stickleback fish, all covered in sharp, spiky fins! "Ouch!" cried Jeremy, shaking his little paw. The naughty stickleback had pricked his finger, and it stung quite a bit. "Well, you're no good for supper, you prickly thing!" he grumbled, letting the stickleback drop back into the pond with a little *plink*. He rubbed his sore finger and sighed. Fishing was harder work than it looked! He carefully re-baited his hook with a fresh, juicy worm, trying to be more hopeful this time. He cast his line out again, watching the little red float with renewed determination. He really, really wanted to catch those minnows for his friends. The minutes ticked by, slow as a snail. Jeremy started to feel a bit drowsy again, his head nodding slightly. He gave a little shake, reminding himself of his important task. And then, just as he was about to give up and try a new spot, something extraordinary happened! His float didn't just wriggle or twitch this time. Oh no! It dived straight down, deep, deep under the water, and his fishing rod was pulled with such a tremendous jerk that Jeremy nearly lost his balance! "Whoa!" he gasped, holding on with both paws. This was no ordinary minnow! This was something much, much bigger! The line pulled harder and harder, dragging Jeremy and his lily pad boat along the surface of the water at quite a speed. Faster and faster they went, Jeremy holding on for dear life! "What in the world have I caught?" he wondered, his heart going *thump-thump-thump* in his chest. He pulled and pulled, but whatever was on the end of his line was incredibly strong. It was pulling him! Suddenly, with a great big *WHOOSH*, the line snapped! But before Jeremy could even blink, he felt an enormous tug, and the next thing he knew, he was pulled right off his lily pad! Down, down, down he went, tumbling into the cold, dark water! He splashed and gurgled, trying to remember which way was up. His beautiful, waterproof macintosh jacket felt heavy and cumbersome in the water. He kicked his little froggy legs as hard as he could, trying to swim back to the surface. It was very murky down there, and he couldn't see a thing! He tumbled down, down, down, right to the very bottom of the pond. His fishing rod was gone, lost somewhere in the depths. He bumped against something soft and squishy, and then, a huge, shadowy shape appeared right in front of him! It had enormous, staring eyes and a great big, gaping mouth! It wasn't a minnow, or even a big fish he could eat. It was a truly colossal, frighteningly enormous trout! And this trout, oh dear, looked very, very hungry. The big trout opened its mouth wide, wider than Jeremy had ever seen, and tried to swallow him in one gulp! Jeremy, quick as a flash, wriggled and squirmed with all his might. He kicked and pushed and tried to get away! The trout snapped its jaws shut with a mighty *CHOMP*, but Jeremy was too quick! He just managed to slip out of the trout's mouth, leaving only his lovely, shiny, new macintosh jacket behind. The trout, disappointed, was left with nothing but a mouthful of waterproof fabric. Jeremy shot upwards through the water, feeling quite a fright, but also very relieved to be free! He burst out of the surface with a big *SPLASH*, gasping for breath. His little lily pad boat was floating nearby, looking very inviting. He scrambled back onto it, soaking wet and a little bit shaky. He was safe! But oh, his beautiful macintosh was gone, and his fishing rod too! This had been quite the adventure, but certainly not the kind of fishing trip he had planned.

Dinner with Friends

Jeremy Fisher, dripping wet and feeling rather sorry for himself, paddled his lily-pad boat back to the bank. The setting sun cast long, orange shadows across the water, making everything feel a little bit magical, even though Jeremy wasn't feeling very magical at all. He pulled himself out of the water, a soggy mess, and hopped towards his little house under the bank. "Oh dear, oh dear," he mumbled to himself, shaking water from his whiskers. "What a day! First the minnow that got away, then the stickleback that pricked my finger, and then... that enormous trout! And now my lovely macintosh and my favourite fishing rod are gone forever." He sighed, a big, croaky froggy sigh. But then, a thought popped into his head like a little bubble. "Dinner!" he exclaimed, suddenly remembering his guests. "My friends will be here soon!" He hurried inside his cosy little house. It was a lovely, warm place, filled with all sorts of froggy comforts. There was a big, comfy armchair by the fireplace, a little table set for three, and shelves packed with interesting things Jeremy had found in the river. He quickly peeled off his wet clothes, hung them by the fire to dry, and then found a fresh, dry suit of clothes. He combed his green hair, polished his tiny boots until they gleamed, and made sure his white waistcoat was sparkling clean. He loved having friends over, even if his fishing trip had been a complete disaster. He looked at the table. He had planned to serve the fish he caught, but now... Well, he'd have to make do. Luckily, Jeremy was a very organised frog and always had a larder full of tasty treats. He took out a lovely fat roasted grasshopper, which he'd prepared earlier, and a pot of his famous lady-bird sauce. Then he chopped up some tender, juicy worms for a salad – a real delicacy amongst frogs, you know! He arranged everything beautifully on little green plates, and then he waited. Tick-tock, tick-tock went the tiny clock on his mantelpiece. Jeremy straightened his tie one last time. He listened for the familiar sounds of his friends approaching. Soon enough, there was a gentle tapping at the door. *Tap-tap-tap.* "Ah!" Jeremy croaked, his heart giving a happy little hop. He opened the door. Standing on his doorstep was Mr. Alderman Ptolemy Tortoise. Mr. Tortoise was a very distinguished gentleman, with a slow, deliberate manner and a shell polished to a magnificent shine. He wore a smart blue jacket and carried a small, neat walking stick. "Good evening, Jeremy," said Mr. Tortoise, his voice a low, rumbling sound. "I trust I am not late?" "Not at all, not at all, Ptolemy!" Jeremy replied, ushering him in. "Come in, come in! It's lovely to see you." Just as Mr. Tortoise was settling into the comfy armchair, there was another knock. *Rap-rap-rap.* This time, it was Sir Isaac Newton. Sir Isaac was a newt, and a very clever one at that! He was always bubbling with exciting ideas and stories, and he moved with a quick, energetic twitch. He wore a rather dashing little green suit and tiny spectacles perched on his nose. "Jeremy! Ptolemy!" Sir Isaac exclaimed, darting in. "What a delightful evening for a dinner party! The air is just perfect for philosophising, wouldn't you agree?" "Indeed, Sir Isaac," Mr. Tortoise rumbled, adjusting his spectacles. Jeremy led his friends to the table, which looked absolutely splendid. The candlelight shimmered on the little plates and the shiny cutlery. "Please, make yourselves comfortable," he said, gesturing to their seats. They all sat down, and Jeremy began to serve the dinner. Mr. Tortoise carefully picked up his fork, while Sir Isaac Newton practically bounced in his seat with excitement. "My dear Jeremy," Sir Isaac began, his eyes bright, "do tell us about your day! Any grand adventures on the river?" Jeremy cleared his throat. "Well, Sir Isaac, my dear Ptolemy, I certainly did have an adventure! I set out this morning, you see, hoping to catch a lovely mess of minnows for our supper. The sun was shining, the river was calm... a perfect day for fishing!" He went on to describe his peaceful start, the tiny minnows that nibbled his bait, and the unfortunate stickleback incident. "Then," Jeremy continued, lowering his voice slightly, "as I was sitting on my favourite lily-pad, a truly enormous trout appeared!" Mr. Tortoise raised an eyebrow slowly. Sir Isaac Newton leaned forward, utterly captivated. "This trout," Jeremy explained, making his voice a little bigger, "was simply colossal! It swallowed my bait, my line, and then, would you believe it... it tried to swallow *me*!" Sir Isaac gasped. "Good heavens, Jeremy! How utterly terrifying!" "Indeed!" Jeremy agreed, nodding his head vigorously. "I was pulled right off my lily-pad! Under the water I went, holding on for dear life! And then, the most remarkable thing happened. The trout, it seemed, didn't much care for my macintosh!" He paused for effect, taking a sip of his elderberry wine. "It spat me out!" he declared. "Right out into the river! But alas, my beautiful macintosh, and my trusty fishing rod... they were gone. Swallowed by the great fish, I fear." Mr. Tortoise looked thoughtful. "A most perilous encounter, Jeremy. You were very fortunate to escape with your life." "Fortunate indeed!" Sir Isaac chimed in. "To face such a beast and live to tell the tale! A true testament to your bravery, Jeremy!" Jeremy puffed out his chest a little, feeling rather proud now. "Well, I certainly had quite a fright. But here I am, safe and sound, and ready to enjoy this delicious dinner with my wonderful friends!" They all chuckled, and the conversation turned to other matters. They talked about the latest news from the riverbank, the tastiest insects of the season, and Sir Isaac even shared some fascinating new theories about the movement of water snails. The roasted grasshopper was a great success, and the lady-bird sauce was particularly praised. The chopped worm salad, too, was declared simply divine. As the evening wore on, the little house under the bank was filled with warmth, laughter, and the gentle clinking of tiny cutlery. Jeremy, surrounded by his good friends, felt all the anxieties of his day wash away. Even though he had lost his macintosh and his fishing rod, he had gained something much more valuable: a thrilling story to tell, and the joy of sharing it with those he cared about. Eventually, Mr. Tortoise announced it was time for him to slowly make his way home. Sir Isaac, after one last burst of enthusiastic conversation, also bid his farewells, promising to share a new discovery about pond weed next time. Jeremy stood at his doorway, waving goodbye to his friends as they disappeared into the starlit night. He closed the door, tidied up the few remaining dishes, and then settled into his comfy armchair by the fire. He smiled to himself. It had been quite a day, full of surprises and a touch of danger, but ending with the best kind of warmth. He might not be the most successful fisherman, but he was certainly a very good host. And that, he decided, was just as important. He closed his eyes, already dreaming of new adventures, and perhaps, a new fishing rod.

Outro

And so, Jeremy Fisher drifted off to sleep, his little heart full of daring plans for tomorrow! We hope you've thoroughly enjoyed joining us on this splishy-splashy adventure today. Thank you ever so much for listening! Do let Sonacasts know if you have any feedback or if there's another exciting tale you’d love to hear. Now, go on and make your own wonderful adventures, just like our friend Jeremy. Until next time, cheerio!