The Gold-Giving Snake

by Mick Gowar

Published 28 May 2009
Exciting stories from around the world told in fewer than 180 words, suitable for children who are starting to read independently. The series introduces readers to stories from other cultures and encourages them to find where the story comes from on a map. This tale comes from India. Haridatta is a poor farmer. He works extremely hard, but his son and wife are very lazy. Then, one day, Haridatta meets a snake who gives him gold every day...The tale has echoes of The Goose That Laid a Golden Egg - will greed ruin all the good luck? Puzzles at the back of the book encourage children to reread and retell the story in their own words, and helps build vocabulary by matching words to characters.

Exciting stories from around the world told in fewer than 180 words, suitable for children who are starting to read independently. The series introduces readers to stories from other cultures and encourages them to find where the story comes from on a map. This tale comes from Japan. Issun Boshi is a tiny boy, but he is very brave. He sets out to serve the emperor. Can he save the emperor's daughter from the evil ogre? The tale has echoes of Tom Thumb, another miniature hero with a gigantic heart! Puzzles at the back of the book encourage children to reread and retell the story in their own words, and helps build vocabulary by matching words to characters.