The Enormous Turnip (Campfire Story)

Once upon a time, an old grandfather planted a turnip seed in his garden. He patted down the soil, he watered it, and he whispered to it every morning.

'GROW, little turnip. Grow sweet, and grow strong.'

And it did. It grew, and it grew, and it grew. It grew as big as a melon. Then as big as a barrel. Then as big as a wheelbarrow. By the end of the summer, it was the most enormous turnip anyone had ever seen, with leaves as tall as the cottage.

'Time for turnip soup,' said Grandfather. He grabbed the turnip by its leafy top, and he PULLED, and he PULLED.

But the turnip wouldn't BUDGE.

So Grandfather called Grandmother. Grandmother held onto Grandfather, and Grandfather held onto the turnip, and they PULLED, and they PULLED.

But the turnip wouldn't BUDGE.

So Grandmother called their granddaughter. The granddaughter held onto Grandmother, Grandmother held onto Grandfather, Grandfather held onto the turnip, and they PULLED, and they PULLED.

But the turnip wouldn't BUDGE.

speed up a little each round as the chain gets longer

But the turnip wouldn't BUDGE.

So the dog called the cat. The cat held onto the dog, the dog held onto the granddaughter, the granddaughter held onto Grandmother, Grandmother held onto Grandfather, Grandfather held onto the turnip, and they PULLED, and they PULLED.

But the turnip wouldn't BUDGE.

Everyone flopped down in the dirt, out of breath. 'It's no use,' said Grandfather. 'That turnip is stuck forever.'

Then a tiny little voice squeaked from under the garden fence. 'Can I help?'

It was a mouse. A small, gray, whiskery mouse, no bigger than your thumb.

The dog laughed. The cat laughed. 'You? You're too small to help!'

'Everybody's big enough to help,' said Grandfather. 'Come on, little one. Grab hold.'

slow down, and get the whole crowd leaning back

And POP! Out came the enormous turnip, and everybody tumbled over backward in a heap, with the mouse on top.

That night they made the biggest pot of turnip soup the village had ever seen, and everybody came to share it. And the guest of honor, sitting at the head of the table with the very first bowl, was the littlest helper of all: the mouse.

Storyteller tips: have everyone grab an invisible rope and really lean into each PULLED. For a bigger version, call real Scouts up to act out each character in a chain, holding each other around the waist. Save your smallest Scout to be the mouse.

A Russian folk tale, best known from Alexei Tolstoy's 1860s retelling. A good one to tell before a big troop service project.