Peach Boy

It is summer in a small village in Japan. An old man and an old woman live together. One day, the old man goes to cut wood in the forest. The old woman goes to the river to wash clothes. Suddenly, she sees something strange in the water. It is not a fish. It is not a boat. It is a very big peach! The woman is surprised. She says, "What a big peach! Why is it here in the river?" She catches the peach and takes it home happily.

At home, the old man looks at the big peach. He is very happy. He says, "What a wonderful peach! Let's eat it right now." But before they cut the peach, they hear a small voice. "Stop! Don’t cut me!" The old man and woman look again. There is a baby inside the peach! The baby is a boy. He smiles and is very happy. The old man and woman call him Momotaro, which means Peach Boy. They give him food and care for him like their own son.

Momotaro grows big and strong. He is a kind boy and helps his parents every day. But one day, something bad happens. Big, scary ogres come to the village. They stamp loudly, "Stamp! Stamp! Stamp!" They take the people's treasure and break many things. The villagers are afraid. The ogres run away to their home on Ogre Island with all the treasure. Momotaro sees this and says, "Mother, Father, I want to fight the ogres. Please give me dumplings and a big stick."

Momotaro walks to Ogre Island. On the way, he meets a big dog. He says, "Hi, dog! Take a dumpling and help me fight the ogres." The dog eats the dumpling and joins him. Later, they see a pheasant. Momotaro gives it a dumpling too, and it joins them. Then they meet a monkey. He also eats a dumpling and comes with them. Together, Momotaro, the dog, the pheasant, and the monkey walk to Ogre Island. They see the big castle where the ogres live. It is very strong and closed.

The pheasant flies up into the castle and fights the ogres. The monkey climbs and opens the big door. Momotaro and the dog run inside. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" They all fight bravely. The ogres are scared. They cry, "We are sorry! Please go. Take the treasure and leave us alone." Momotaro and his friends win. They take the treasure and return to the village. The villagers shout, "Hurray! Hurray!" The ogres never come back again. Momotaro, the dog, the pheasant, and the monkey are all heroes.