The hare and the tortoise

A very old fable from Greece, told by a storyteller called Aesop about 2,500 years ago.

News Nibbles Edition 3 · Saturday 24 October 2026· Page 19 of the paper

1. Hare could run very fast, and he loved to show off. “You are so slow, Tortoise!” he laughed.

2. Tortoise just smiled. “Then let’s have a race,” she said. All the animals came to watch.

3. “Ready, steady, go!” Whoosh! Hare zoomed far ahead. Tortoise walked slowly, step by step.

4. Hare looked back. Tortoise was far, far behind. “I have lots of time,” he yawned, and lay down for a nap.

5. Tortoise did not stop. Step, step, step… She walked right past the sleeping hare.

6. Hare woke up and ran as fast as he could. Too late! Tortoise crossed the finish line first.

The lesson: slow and steady wins the race. Keep going, even when it is hard!

Think about it

1. Why did Hare lose the race?

2. Was it kind of Hare to laugh at Tortoise? How do you think Tortoise felt?

3. Tortoise never gave up. Who else in this paper kept trying? (Look at pages 2 and 9.)

Act it out!

One person is Hare and one is Tortoise. Race across the room: Hare must stop for a “nap” and count to 20 before running again. Who wins?

Draw a new ending: what if Hare did not fall asleep?