The Tortoise and the Hare
A speedy hare laughs at a slow tortoise, so the tortoise challenges him to a race.
Hare was the fastest animal in the meadow, and he never let anyone forget it. "Nobody can beat me!" he bragged, zipping in circles around the other animals.
One day he laughed at Tortoise. "You are so slow! It takes you all morning just to cross the path."
Tortoise blinked calmly. "Fast is not everything," he said. "I will race you to the big oak tree on the hill."
Hare laughed so hard he fell over. But all the animals gathered to watch, and Owl called, "Ready, set, GO!"
Hare shot off like an arrow. In no time, Tortoise was just a little brown dot far behind him.
"This is too easy," Hare yawned. The sun was warm, and the grass was soft. "I will take a quick nap. I can still win with my eyes closed."
Meanwhile, Tortoise kept going. Step, step, step. He did not stop. He did not hurry. He just kept going.
He passed the sleeping Hare. He climbed the hill. Step, step, step.
When Hare finally woke up, the sun was low in the sky. He raced up the hill as fast as he could — just in time to see Tortoise touch the oak tree.
All the animals cheered. Hare hung his long ears. "I was faster," he said quietly, "but you never gave up."
⭐ The End ⭐
💬 Talk about it
- Why did Hare stop to take a nap?
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He was so sure he would win that he did not think he needed to hurry. - How did Tortoise win the race?
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He kept going step by step and never stopped. - What did Hare learn?
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That being fast is not enough if you stop trying or show off.
