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Home LanguageGrade 210 min

Story Time: The Clever Hare (Listen Along)

A listen-along African folk tale. Open this resource and press 'Generate Audio Narration' to hear the story read aloud — perfect for resting your eyes and listening.

The Clever Hare

Once, in the grasslands of Africa, there lived a hare who was small but very clever.

One hot day, Lion stood at the only waterhole and roared, "This water is mine! No one may drink!"

The animals were thirsty and afraid. But Hare hopped forward and said, "Lion, I saw a bigger, braver lion at the well down the road. He says he is the king, not you!"

Lion growled and raced to the well. He looked down and saw another lion glaring back at him — his own reflection! Lion roared at the water, and the water roared right back.

Then Lion leapt at the stranger and fell — splash! — into the well. He climbed out, wet and embarrassed, and never again chased the animals from the waterhole.

The animals drank happily. "Small does not mean weak," said Hare, "when you use your brain."

The End.

After listening

  1. Why were the animals afraid?
  2. What did Hare tell Lion to make him run to the well?
  3. What was really in the well?
  4. What is the lesson of the story?

Follow along (device voice)

Listen and follow along as each word is spoken

The Clever Hare Once, in the grasslands of Africa, there lived a hare who was small but very clever. One hot day, Lion stood at the only waterhole and roared, "This water is mine No one may drink " The animals were thirsty and afraid. But Hare hopped forward and said, "Lion, I saw a bigger, braver lion at the well down the road. He says he is the king, not you " Lion growled and raced to the well. He looked down and saw another lion glaring back at him — his own reflection Lion roared at the water, and the water roared right back. Then Lion leapt at the stranger and fell — splash — into the well. He climbed out, wet and embarrassed, and never again chased the animals from the waterhole. The animals drank happily. "Small does not mean weak," said Hare, "when you use your brain." The End. After listening 1. Why were the animals afraid? 2. What did Hare tell Lion to make him run to the well? 3. What was really in the well? 4. What is the lesson of the story?