Aesop's Fables
Moral:
A Bird in the Hand
is Worth Two in the Bush

Another way of saying it:
Better to have a sure thing than take a major gamble.

Aesop's Fable:

A Nightingale, perched on an oak, was spotted by a Hawk, who swooped down and snatched him.

The Nightingale begged the Hawk to let him go, insisting he wasn't big enough to satisfy the hunger of a Hawk, who ought to pursue bigger birds.

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The Hawk said, "I'd be crazy to release a bird I've already caught in favor of birds I don't even yet see."

Comment: I'm not sure this one is for the little kiddies! Nightingale doesn't want to die and Hawk is telling him he's about to. That seems a little cruel in this day and age. We may eat meat, but we don't usually talk to it first.

A thought: You might try a less murderous version of this story. Perhaps Hawk is instead a Horse eating hay, who is advised - by another horse - that there are yummier oats over the hill. Horse prefers the hay that is in front of him over oats that might not even be there when he gets there.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

How to use Aesop's Fables.

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