Classic tales · for 1–2 years · 1 min read

The Tortoise and the Hare: hop, hop, step, step

An old fable told by Aesop, retold softly for the very youngest. Say “Hop, hop, hop!” and “Step… step… step…” together as the two friends race through the meadow.

In a sunny meadow, a small green tortoise in a red scarf and a tall brown hare in a blue sweatband smile at the start line while a fox lifts a yellow flag.

Here is Tortoise. Here is Hare. “Let’s race!” they say.

“Ready, steady, go!” says Fox.

The hare leaps far ahead along the meadow path with his ears flying back, while the little tortoise walks calmly on four legs near the start.

Hare goes fast. Hop, hop, hop!

Tortoise goes slow. Step… step… step…

The hare naps peacefully in the shade of a big oak tree while the little tortoise walks past on the sunny path, smiling.

Hare sees a big, shady tree. Time for a little rest. Zzz.

Tortoise keeps going. Step… step… step…

The tortoise reaches the string of coloured flags as the fox waves a yellow flag, and the hare hops up the path looking happily surprised.

Look! Tortoise is at the flags. Fox waves his yellow flag. Hooray!

Hare wakes up. Hop, hop, hop!

At sunset the hare and the tortoise sit close together, each nibbling half a carrot with sleepy smiles, while the fox yawns nearby.

“Well done!” says Hare. “Thank you, friend!” says Tortoise.

They share a carrot in the golden sun. Little steps, all the way. Night-night!

the end

let’s play: hop like hare, step like tortoise

  1. Hop like Hare, or bounce holding a grown-up’s hands: hop, hop, hop!
  2. Step like Tortoise: step… step… step…
  3. Lie down for a little rest under a pretend tree. Zzz.
  4. Sit together and share a pretend snack. Well done, friend!

talk about it

  • Who went hop, hop, hop?
  • Who went step… step… step…?
  • What did the two friends share?

for grown-ups

What this story helps with: Slow and steady keeps going, and friends can be kind to each other whoever wins.

This little retelling practises joining in with sounds (“Hop, hop, hop!”, “Step… step… step…”) and shows that small steps keep you going, and that friends can be kind whoever wins. In Aesop’s old fable the Hare laughs at the Tortoise’s short feet and then lies down and falls asleep in the middle of the race; here nobody teases, the nap is just a cosy rest, and the friends end the day sharing a snack, so that winning and losing are both treated kindly. To carry it on, notice when your child keeps trying at something and say, “Little steps, all the way!”

Retold from: The Hare and the Tortoise (in Three Hundred Æsop’s Fables, literally translated from the Greek), Aesop; translated by George Fyler Townsend (1867). The tale is in the public domain; our words and pictures are new, and gentler for little ones. This is an independent retelling, not affiliated with or endorsed by any publisher, studio or trade mark owner connected with the tale or its later versions.

sources we checked

Written and illustrated by the wishyou.today team. Every story is checked for age, kindness, safety and facts before it is published. Spotted something? Tell us on Instagram.

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