Grumble, grumble! Today's draw-along folktale from Malaysia and Indonesia is Sang Kancil Counts the Crocodiles, starring a teeny-tiny mouse-deer with a great big hungry belly. Across a wide, muddy river sits a tree dripping with juicy red bell fruits — but between Sang Kancil and his lunch is a river full of snappy, hungry crocodiles. He isn't big, and he isn't strong, but he's about to learn that a quick, calm brain can be the mightiest muscle of all. So how in the world does one little mouse-deer get across a river full of crocodiles… without becoming their lunch?

🎨 What You'll Draw Today (4 Drawing Prompts):

1. Sang Kancil the mouse-deer at the river's edge, staring across at the fruit tree
2. The crocodile rising out of the river to face Sang Kancil
3. The crocodiles lined up across the river
4. Sang Kancil safe on the other side, munching his fruit while the crocodiles swim away in the river

📦 Supplies You'll Need:

• 4 pieces of drawing paper
• Your favorite coloring materials (crayons, markers, colored pencils — anything that adds a little pizzazz!)

🌿 Words to Know in This Episode:

• Mouse-deer (Kancil) — a teeny-tiny, deer-like animal that lives in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, and the clever hero of lots of Malay folktales
• Sang Buaya — the crocodile! (say it: sung boo-AH-yah)
• Bell fruit — a juicy red fruit that grows on trees in the story's rainforest

🔗 Links & Resources:

• 📬 Join the Fairy Snail Art Cart Club — a monthly old-school envelope stuffed with a bonus episode, art projects, stickers, stationery & more → [LINK]
• 📧 Sign up for the Fairy Tale Art Cart Newsletter — podcast news, early access to live event tickets & newsletter exclusives → [LINK]
• 🍊 Love this one? Listen next to The Magic Orange Tree, another folktale with a fruit tree and a character who uses a clever idea to get out of a tricky spot

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