Easy riddles for little ones

Told in English, Telugu.

The sun had gone to sleep behind the coconut trees, and the sky over the village was turning soft and blue. Little Chinni sat on the veranda with Ammamma. Her tummy was full of warm rice and pappu, but her eyes were still wide awake.

"Ammamma, tell me something fun," said Chinni.

Ammamma smiled. "Tonight, let us play a riddle game. I will give you little clues about an animal or a fruit, and you will guess what it is. Ready?"

Chinni clapped her hands. "Ready!"

Ammamma sang a little song. "Riddle, riddle, one, two, three. Tell me, tell me, what can it be?" Can you say it with me? Riddle, riddle, one, two, three. Tell me, tell me, what can it be?

"Here is the first one," said Ammamma. "I live in the shed near your house. I have two horns on my head. I eat green grass all day long. In the morning, I give you warm white milk. And I say moo."

Think... think...

"A cow!" shouted Chinni. Yes! It is a cow, just like Lakshmi in our shed, because a cow eats grass, gives milk, and says moo.

Riddle, riddle, one, two, three. Tell me, tell me, what can it be?

"I wear a yellow coat," said Ammamma. "You take off my coat before you eat me. Monkeys love me very, very much."

Think... think...

"A banana!" said Chinni. Yes! A banana has a yellow peel, like a coat, and we peel it off before we eat the soft fruit inside.

Riddle, riddle, one, two, three. Tell me, tell me, what can it be?

"I am very, very big. My ears are like two big fans. My nose is so long that I can drink water with it, and splash water on my back."

Think... think...

"An elephant!" Chinni laughed. Yes! An elephant has big flappy ears and a long trunk, just like the gentle elephant we saw at the temple festival.

Riddle, riddle, one, two, three. Tell me, tell me, what can it be?

"I am green all over, and my beak is red. I sit in the guava tree and nibble the fruit. If you teach me, I can even say your name."

Think... think...

"A parrot!" said Chinni. "Chinni, Chinni!" she squawked, and Ammamma laughed. Yes! A parrot is green with a red beak, and it can copy the words it hears.

Riddle, riddle, one, two, three. Tell me, tell me, what can it be?

"I come to every home in the hot summer. When I am young, I am green and sour. When I am ripe, I am golden and sweet and juicy. People call me the king of fruits."

Think... think...

"Mamidi pandu! A mango!" Chinni licked her lips. Yes! A mango turns from green to golden when it is ripe, and it is the sweetest fruit of summer.

"One more riddle," said Ammamma softly. "Riddle, riddle, one, two, three. Tell me, tell me, what can it be? I have soft fur and a long tail. I drink milk from a little bowl. I say meow. And when the night comes, I curl up and fall fast asleep."

Think... think...

Chinni looked down. There, next to her feet, was their little cat, curled up in a round, fluffy ball, fast asleep.

"A cat," Chinni whispered, so she would not wake her. Yes! A cat has soft fur, drinks milk, says meow, and sleeps all curled up.

Chinni gave a big, big yawn. Because the cat was sleeping, and the stars were coming out, Chinni felt sleepy too. She put her head in Ammamma's lap.

"Riddle, riddle, one, two, three," sang Ammamma very gently. "Who is sleepy? I think it is Chinni."

And Chinni closed her eyes and smiled. Good night, little one. Good night.