Bella the Bunny Learns the Power of Kindness - A Children's Story

Bella the Bunny Learns the Power of Kindness

By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral of the Story

Kindness attracts friends, just like honey attracts more flies than vinegar. When we choose to be sweet, loving, and gentle, others want to be near us. Harsh words and sour behavior drive people away, but kind words and loving actions bring joy and friendship.

Bella the Bunny lived in a cheerful meadow surrounded by flowers that swayed in the breeze. She was curious and clever, always hopping around with questions. One bright morning, her teacher, Mr. Owl, gathered the class of woodland animals together under the shade of a tall oak tree.

“Today,” Mr. Owl announced, “we’re going to do an experiment. I want you to see something important with your own eyes.”

The animals perked up. Bella’s ears twitched. Sammy the Squirrel clapped his paws. Penny the Puppy wagged her tail.

Mr. Owl set down two bowls on the wooden stump in front of them. One bowl was filled with golden honey that glistened in the sunlight. The other bowl held sour, sharp-smelling vinegar.

“Class,” said Mr. Owl, “what do you think will happen if we leave these bowls out for a few days?”

The animals looked at each other. “Maybe nothing,” Bella guessed.

“Maybe the flies will like the vinegar better!” Sammy said, wrinkling his nose.

Penny the Puppy barked, “I bet they’ll like the honey. It smells sweet, just like Mama’s muffins!”

Mr. Owl chuckled. “Let’s wait and see. Sometimes lessons are best learned with patience.”

The Waiting Game

For the next three days, the animals kept sneaking back to peek at the bowls.

On the first day, Bella hopped over with Sammy and Penny. To their surprise, five flies were buzzing happily around the honey bowl. The vinegar bowl? Only one lonely fly hovered nearby.

On the second day, there were even more—ten flies crowded at the honey, dipping their tiny feet and buzzing with delight. The vinegar still only had one or two, and even they seemed unhappy.

By the third day, the results were clear: the honey bowl had nearly twenty flies, while the vinegar had just one.

Mr. Owl gathered the class once more. “Well, little ones, what do you see?”

“The honey caught way more flies!” Penny barked proudly.

“The vinegar hardly caught any at all,” Sammy added.

Bella tilted her head. “So honey is better than vinegar… but what does that mean for us?”

The Lesson of Honey

Mr. Owl’s eyes twinkled. “This experiment is a picture of how our behavior affects others. Think of the honey as kindness, love, and gentleness. Think of the vinegar as unkindness, bitterness, and mean words. Which one would you rather be around?”

“The honey!” the animals shouted.

“Exactly,” Mr. Owl said. “When we are kind—when we smile, help others, or speak gently—we ‘attract’ friends and joy into our lives. But when we are sour, mean, or rude, people don’t want to be near us. Just like the flies didn’t want to be near the vinegar.”

Bella’s ears drooped a little. She remembered times when she had been impatient with her little brother. She sometimes snapped at him instead of helping him. “So if I say mean things,” she whispered, “it’s like vinegar?”

“Yes,” Mr. Owl said softly. “And when you speak with kindness, it’s like honey. Which one do you think your brother would prefer?”

Bella’s face lit up. “The honey!”

Putting It Into Practice

That very evening, Bella hopped home thinking about the experiment. Her little brother Benny was trying to build a tower of blocks, but it kept falling over.

Normally, Bella might have rolled her eyes and said, “You’re doing it wrong!”—like sharp vinegar. But this time, she knelt beside him.

“Here, Benny,” she said kindly. “Try stacking the bigger blocks on the bottom first. You’re doing great!”

Benny’s face glowed, and together they built a tall tower. “Thank you, Bella! You’re the best!” he cheered.

Bella smiled. Her heart felt light, just like the golden honey.

The Change in the Meadow

The next day at school, Bella decided to try being “honey-like” with her classmates too.

When Penny tripped and dropped her book, Bella hopped over quickly. “Here, let me help you pick it up.” Penny wagged her tail happily.

When Sammy boasted a little too much about how fast he could climb trees, Bella didn’t snap at him. Instead, she said, “Wow, you’re really quick! Maybe you can teach me sometime.” Sammy’s chest puffed with pride, but instead of bragging, he offered to show her his climbing tricks.

Soon, Bella noticed something amazing: she was attracting more friends, just like the honey had attracted more flies. Her kindness spread smiles wherever she went.

Mr. Owl’s Final Words

At the end of the week, Mr. Owl gathered the class again.

“Did you notice something, Bella?” he asked.

Bella nodded. “Yes. When I was kind, others wanted to be around me. When I was helpful, they smiled. It was like… I was the honey.”

“Exactly,” said Mr. Owl. “The way you treat others has consequences. Kindness multiplies, just as honey drew the flies. But bitterness pushes people away, just as vinegar did. Remember, little ones—”

And together the whole class finished his sentence:

“You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!”

Moral of the Story Poem

Sweetness wins and kindness grows,
Like honey where the sunlight glows.
But vinegar, sharp and unkind,
Leaves loneliness for you to find.
Choose the path of love each day,
And friends will gather around your way.

Discussion Questions

1.     What did the honey-and-vinegar experiment show, and how does it relate to the way we treat people?

2.     Think of a time someone used “honey” words with you (kind, encouraging). How did it make you feel—and what happened next?

3.     What are three “sweet” things you can say or do this week to attract more friendships?

The Honey and Vinegar Experiment

Discovering Why Kindness Attracts More Friends

Would you like to see for yourself why the old saying goes, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”? Here’s a simple experiment you can try outdoors with a grown-up’s help.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 small bowls or cups
• A spoonful of honey (or sugar water if honey isn’t available)
• A spoonful of vinegar
• A safe outdoor spot where flies might be around
• A notebook and a pencil to record what happens

What To Do:

1.     Place one spoonful of honey in the first bowl.

2.     Place one spoonful of vinegar in the second bowl.

3.     Set both bowls outside in the same spot at the same time.

4.     Wait patiently. You may want to check after a few hours, and then again each day for several days.

5.     Count how many flies (or other bugs) are drawn to the honey and how many are drawn to the vinegar.

What To Notice:

• Which bowl has more flies?
• Why do you think the honey attracted more?
• How is this like the way kindness and sweetness attract more friends than meanness or bitterness?

Important Reminders:

• Always do this experiment outdoors.
• Do not touch the flies. Just observe and record.
• When you’re finished, wash the bowls well and throw away any leftover honey or vinegar.

Reflection: What Did We Learn?

Did you notice how many more flies were drawn to the bowl of honey than the bowl of vinegar? Just like the flies preferred the sweetness of honey, people are also drawn to kindness, gentleness, and love.

When we use sweet words—like “thank you,” “I’m glad you’re my friend,” or “you did a great job”—we make others feel happy and valued. That happiness makes them want to be near us, just like the flies wanted to be near the honey.

But when we use sour or hurtful words, people may feel sad or upset. Just like the vinegar bowl hardly attracted any flies, meanness or bitterness doesn’t bring people close—it pushes them away.

So remember this lesson: Kindness attracts friends. Love builds peace. Sweetness brings joy.
Choose your words wisely, and you will always be surrounded by people who enjoy your company.

Discussion Questions

4.     What did the honey-and-vinegar experiment show, and how does it relate to the way we treat people?

5.     Think of a time someone used “honey” words with you (kind, encouraging). How did it make you feel—and what happened next?

6.     What are three “sweet” things you can say or do this week to attract more friendships?