What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hare and the Tortoise
Recounts the race between the boastful hare and the persevering tortoise. Events are cleverly foreshadowed by a die-cut hole on each page in this retelling of a favorite Aesop's fable.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1962
15 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Paul Galdone
279 books88 followersPaul Galdone (1907 - November 7, 1986) was a children's literature author and illustrator. He was born in Budapest and he emigrated to the United States in 1921. He studied art at the Art Student's League and New York School for Industrial Design. He served for the US Army during world War II.
He illustrated nearly all of Eve Titus' books including the Basil of Baker Street series which was translated to the screen in the animated Disney film, The Great Mouse Detective.
Galdone and Titus were nominated for Caldecott Medals for Anatole (1957) and Anatole and the Cat (1958). The titles were later named Caldecott Honor books in 1971.
He died of a heart attack in Nyack, New York. He was posthumously awarded the 1996 Kerlan Award for his contribution to children's literature. His retellings of classic tales like "The Little Red Hen" or "Three Billy Goats Gruff" have become staples.
He illustrated nearly all of Eve Titus' books including the Basil of Baker Street series which was translated to the screen in the animated Disney film, The Great Mouse Detective.
Galdone and Titus were nominated for Caldecott Medals for Anatole (1957) and Anatole and the Cat (1958). The titles were later named Caldecott Honor books in 1971.
He died of a heart attack in Nyack, New York. He was posthumously awarded the 1996 Kerlan Award for his contribution to children's literature. His retellings of classic tales like "The Little Red Hen" or "Three Billy Goats Gruff" have become staples.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 13, 2022
The classic Aesopian fable of The Tortoise and the Hare is retold by author/illustrator Paul Galdone in this picture-book from 1962. When the boastful Hare declares that he can beat anyone in a contest of speed, the calm Tortoise accepts his challenge, proving in the end that "slow and steady wins the race..."
Fable number 226 in the Perry Index of Aesopica, this particular tale is one that is as familiar to me as any, well-known and loved since childhood. This retelling from Galdone is the fifth such picture-book I have picked up——the previous four being: The Hare and the Tortoise by Caroline Castle and Peter Weevers, The Race by Caroline Repchuk, The Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens, and The Hare and the Tortoise by Helen Ward——since beginning to record my reading online, but is not one I recall ever encountering, when young. Needless to say, the story needed little introduction. I found the narrative simple but engaging, and the artwork, mostly in black and white, with color accents, quite appealing. I found Galdone's animal characters very expressive, and thought their depiction was well done. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for good, solid retellings of this fable.
Fable number 226 in the Perry Index of Aesopica, this particular tale is one that is as familiar to me as any, well-known and loved since childhood. This retelling from Galdone is the fifth such picture-book I have picked up——the previous four being: The Hare and the Tortoise by Caroline Castle and Peter Weevers, The Race by Caroline Repchuk, The Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens, and The Hare and the Tortoise by Helen Ward——since beginning to record my reading online, but is not one I recall ever encountering, when young. Needless to say, the story needed little introduction. I found the narrative simple but engaging, and the artwork, mostly in black and white, with color accents, quite appealing. I found Galdone's animal characters very expressive, and thought their depiction was well done. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for good, solid retellings of this fable.
January 18, 2020
Read it more than a thousand times, still a favorite.
November 8, 2016
As I was wandring through the internet, I came to find this:
We all know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, but usually we are told that the moral is that “slow and steady wins the race.” This moral is simply wrong. It’s the wrong lesson to derive from the story, and is a foolish lesson at that. Rarely does going slow win any races. Going slowly is a good way to be careful, but that’s not what races are about. In fact, the real lesson is not about the tortoise at all, it’s about the hare.
The hare believes that he’s faster than the tortoise, and he’s right. In a flat out run, the hare will beat the tortoise every time. But the hare makes a huge mistake, believing in his ability but then not actually proving it. In life you may have great skill, one which everyone acknowledges, but you must still use that skill in competition to actually win competition. Overconfidence that leads to a lackadaisical attitude will often be punished by embarrassing failure.
While it is true that somebody with few skills but who works his ass off will sometimes beat out somebody lazy with lots of skills, the real lesson here is that you must use your abilities when they are called upon.
Jacob Davenport
I re-read the fable and I think it's an interesting point of view.
We all know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, but usually we are told that the moral is that “slow and steady wins the race.” This moral is simply wrong. It’s the wrong lesson to derive from the story, and is a foolish lesson at that. Rarely does going slow win any races. Going slowly is a good way to be careful, but that’s not what races are about. In fact, the real lesson is not about the tortoise at all, it’s about the hare.
The hare believes that he’s faster than the tortoise, and he’s right. In a flat out run, the hare will beat the tortoise every time. But the hare makes a huge mistake, believing in his ability but then not actually proving it. In life you may have great skill, one which everyone acknowledges, but you must still use that skill in competition to actually win competition. Overconfidence that leads to a lackadaisical attitude will often be punished by embarrassing failure.
While it is true that somebody with few skills but who works his ass off will sometimes beat out somebody lazy with lots of skills, the real lesson here is that you must use your abilities when they are called upon.
Jacob Davenport
I re-read the fable and I think it's an interesting point of view.
October 24, 2017
"Slow and steady wins the race."
loved this one :) .....One of the most famous fables ever in the history of fables....childhood memories hehehehehehe
loved this one :) .....One of the most famous fables ever in the history of fables....childhood memories hehehehehehe
November 2, 2012
A classic story retold about a Hare who thinks he is the fastest runner around. He suggests a race with a Tortoise, who everybody thinks will lose the race. The confident Hare ran much faster than the Tortoise and was ahead of him. The Hare wanted to take a rest under the tree because he was sure the he will win, he then fell asleep. The Tortoise moved slowly but steadily without any rest and to everyone surprise the Tortoise won the race.
I like this story because there is a moral to it; slow but steady wins the race. This moral can be applied to the classroom by telling the children if you work slowly but consistently at a challenging task you can achieve the success criteria.
To help children understand the moral of the book they can be given a task to complete but each child will have a different time scale to complete it. From this task children will understand that the quality of the task is more important than how fast you complete the task.
This book is appropriate for children between 4 – 11 years.
This book can be read to the class or during guided reading so that children can understand that there is always a lesson to be learned when things go wrong and to help them understand the difference between right or wrong. This book can also be on the book shelf for independent reading.
I like this story because there is a moral to it; slow but steady wins the race. This moral can be applied to the classroom by telling the children if you work slowly but consistently at a challenging task you can achieve the success criteria.
To help children understand the moral of the book they can be given a task to complete but each child will have a different time scale to complete it. From this task children will understand that the quality of the task is more important than how fast you complete the task.
This book is appropriate for children between 4 – 11 years.
This book can be read to the class or during guided reading so that children can understand that there is always a lesson to be learned when things go wrong and to help them understand the difference between right or wrong. This book can also be on the book shelf for independent reading.
October 1, 2013
Traditional Childhood Story. :)
December 1, 2016
Slow and steady wins the race.
March 17, 2025
Are you looking for a story that teaches students about the importance of patience? The Tortoise and the Hare by Aesop is the perfect book! This book tells the story of a race between a Hare and a Tortoise. Follow along as the overconfident Hare underestimates the patience and skill of the slow Tortoise. This story helps to show students that the key to success is a positive attitude and patience. Pick up a copy of this classic folktale at your local bookstore today!
November 18, 2018
Reading Level: 2.3
Guided Reading Level: 2.6
This story is about an arrogant hare and a determined tortoise. The hare declares that no one can beat him in a race, but the tortoise thinks otherwise. In the end, the hare loses the race because he was so conceited and the tortoise wins the race because he was so determined.
This story is a piece of traditional literature because it is often read to young children to teach them a lesson about modesty.
Writing Trait:
Ideas- This story focuses on the theme of being modest in one's abilities. The hare was so arrogant that he decided to take a nap during a race, thinking he could make it even more insulting to the tortoise that he can beat him even if he naps during the race. However, the tortoise's ambition powers him through and he ends up winning the race.
Classroom Integration/Mentor Text:
This story can be used to help students enhance their social skills during play with peers. In kindergarten and first grade, many students do not have a sense of modesty or good sportsmanship. For many class activities, modesty and good sportsmanship are necessary. By reading this text, providing students access to it as a mentor text, and hosting a grand discussion, teachers can make students aware of how they should handle situations involving competition. Students will learn to not be arrogant and not to underestimate others.
Guided Reading Level: 2.6
This story is about an arrogant hare and a determined tortoise. The hare declares that no one can beat him in a race, but the tortoise thinks otherwise. In the end, the hare loses the race because he was so conceited and the tortoise wins the race because he was so determined.
This story is a piece of traditional literature because it is often read to young children to teach them a lesson about modesty.
Writing Trait:
Ideas- This story focuses on the theme of being modest in one's abilities. The hare was so arrogant that he decided to take a nap during a race, thinking he could make it even more insulting to the tortoise that he can beat him even if he naps during the race. However, the tortoise's ambition powers him through and he ends up winning the race.
Classroom Integration/Mentor Text:
This story can be used to help students enhance their social skills during play with peers. In kindergarten and first grade, many students do not have a sense of modesty or good sportsmanship. For many class activities, modesty and good sportsmanship are necessary. By reading this text, providing students access to it as a mentor text, and hosting a grand discussion, teachers can make students aware of how they should handle situations involving competition. Students will learn to not be arrogant and not to underestimate others.
Read
June 21, 2021"Slow and Steady wins the race," is the theme of this story and a very impressive one at that. This is a grand lesson to teach students in school. Children often rush to get their work done as fast as they can whether it be completing their homework, cleaning their room, or doing their chores. This leaves unfinished work and leads to silly mistakes that can cost them a grade or outside play time to correct it. All over something that could have been prevented if they took the time to do it right the first time. Another lesson this story outlines is not to be too over confident because once you start to praise yourself too early for winning the race, your opponent already passed you.
March 8, 2020
The story is about a hare and a tortoise that race each other. The hare believed he was so fast that during the race, he decided to relax a bit and take a nap. During the hare's nap, the tortoise began to catch up and when the hare woke up, the tortoise was almost to the finish line. In the end, the tortoise beat the hare in the race, because the hare was overconfident in his racing abilities.
October 8, 2018
I absolutely loved this story about the Hare and the Tortoise. It speaks upon the lesson of slow and steady wins the race. Sometimes the facts don't matter as long as you try your best. Arthur does a wonderful illustration of the race.
December 5, 2018
It's a classic! The poor hare lost the race. That's what you get for sleeping while running! Anyways, This is a great fable for kids. I really liked this fable. It's nice, short, and has a good moral. It's also kinda funny! Sometimes slow and steady wins the race!
March 3, 2025
This rating is for the edition adapted and illustrated by Paul Galdone.
Read
December 4, 2020واو! قصة الأرنب والسلحفاة طلعت ذات أصل مكتوب فعلًا! مش مجرد قصة تناقلتها الألسن وخلاص
Read
October 19, 2021Just did.
February 16, 2022
It is a very nice book tells us about a hare and a tortoise challenge a race highly recommend this book for storytime
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2022
A classic.
Going to study this in the summer.
Going to study this in the summer.
October 20, 2023
A simple adaptation of a timeless classic. Very easy to read aloud and the my Kindergarten and Grade 1 students enjoyed it. We talked about perseverance.
January 15, 2024
I’ve never thought that this famous story from Aesop
October 29, 2024
Cine nu e de acord că somnul de prânz nu e așa de bun
December 20, 2024
I prefer this kids version
December 28, 2020
Love this classic tale of keeping your mind on the task at hand in order to accomplish your goals.
June 18, 2014
A hare, confident in winning, challenges anyone to beat him in a race. The tortoise accepts the challenge and the hare thinks of it as a joke. But the race still pushed on, and the hare was leading. To tease the tortoise, the hare took a nap. The latter is clouded with so much arrogance that he failed to think that the former may outsmart him.
Everyone is familiar with this fable. This is introduced to us when we were children yet the lesson still applies to us today. We must not be like the hare who assumes that everything will go in favor of us just because we are good at something. We must be like the tortoise who strives to be better all the time. Life is not a single competition. It is composed of multiple competitions and the ones who can endure all of it can succeed. The hare believed he is the fastest animal, but in reality he isn't and there are others who are smarter and stronger than him. In life, it is not enough that you achieve one thing because there is more to life. The hare was arrogant about his abilities because that's the only thing he knew. The turtle, how lacking he may be physically, is smart and determined because he knew that if he challenges his abilities, he can continue to improve. He also learned to be humble because he knew that there is so much to discover about life. We need to grow more and overcome struggles because that is how we learn to be better.
There's always something to learn about children's stories. If people would read them often and think about what they truly meant then the world would be a better place.
Everyone is familiar with this fable. This is introduced to us when we were children yet the lesson still applies to us today. We must not be like the hare who assumes that everything will go in favor of us just because we are good at something. We must be like the tortoise who strives to be better all the time. Life is not a single competition. It is composed of multiple competitions and the ones who can endure all of it can succeed. The hare believed he is the fastest animal, but in reality he isn't and there are others who are smarter and stronger than him. In life, it is not enough that you achieve one thing because there is more to life. The hare was arrogant about his abilities because that's the only thing he knew. The turtle, how lacking he may be physically, is smart and determined because he knew that if he challenges his abilities, he can continue to improve. He also learned to be humble because he knew that there is so much to discover about life. We need to grow more and overcome struggles because that is how we learn to be better.
There's always something to learn about children's stories. If people would read them often and think about what they truly meant then the world would be a better place.
March 16, 2015
In this fable from Aesop, a tortoise became the reason for laughter from a hare. Though the tortoise is mocked for his “slowness,” he challenges the hare to a race. The hare accepts and they choose a fox to referee. They begin the race and the hare leaves the tortoise far behind. Confident in herself, the hare stops to take a nap halfway and enjoy the early spoils of victory. When she awakes, she continues with the race only to find the tortoise at the finish line.
The archetype of the hare is generally a trickster, and a tortoise can be seen as old/wise. So, in this story, who tricked who? The hare knew that victory would come easy, so the challenge was laughable. This confidence turned into arrogance, a gross underestimation. The tortoise (who has also been described as a trickster like character in Aesop’s fables) being generally wise could surmise the hare’s naivety. Overall, it could be seen that this tale could revolve around the old expression of “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”
This trickster motif from Aesop is an interesting concept that has been appropriated many times over the years. Anyone remember the old Bugs Bunny cartoons between him and the tortoise? Just tell your kids that this is the “prequel.” Anyways, this version of the tale was taken from Aesop's Fables. Illustrated by Ernest Griset. With text based chiefly upon Croxall, La Fontaine, and L'Estrange. Revised and re-written by J. B. Rundell. London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, [1869.] Shelfmark: 12305.i.26. (Also later editions). I would recommend this story for pre-K-2 classrooms.
The archetype of the hare is generally a trickster, and a tortoise can be seen as old/wise. So, in this story, who tricked who? The hare knew that victory would come easy, so the challenge was laughable. This confidence turned into arrogance, a gross underestimation. The tortoise (who has also been described as a trickster like character in Aesop’s fables) being generally wise could surmise the hare’s naivety. Overall, it could be seen that this tale could revolve around the old expression of “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”
This trickster motif from Aesop is an interesting concept that has been appropriated many times over the years. Anyone remember the old Bugs Bunny cartoons between him and the tortoise? Just tell your kids that this is the “prequel.” Anyways, this version of the tale was taken from Aesop's Fables. Illustrated by Ernest Griset. With text based chiefly upon Croxall, La Fontaine, and L'Estrange. Revised and re-written by J. B. Rundell. London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, [1869.] Shelfmark: 12305.i.26. (Also later editions). I would recommend this story for pre-K-2 classrooms.
Read
March 12, 2015The story of The Hare and the Tortoise is a classic that most people learn when they are young. The arrogant hare is constantly laughing at the slowness of the tortoise. The tortoise then challenges the hare to a race and the hare, thinking he is the best and the fastest, agrees. As the race starts, the hares thinks that he will be able to overtake the tortoise and win easily so he decides to lay down and take a nap. The hare oversleeps and when he wakes up, the tortoise is nowhere to be found! The tortoise has won the race while the hare was asleep in the forest. This is a classic fable made up of only animal characters and presents the moral that slow and steady wins the race. Also, not to be arrogant and judge people on one ability or piece. I didn't realize when I read this class Aesop fable that it was so short. It barely took up one page of the book. I think this story would be best for elementary school who are learning of morals or how to treat others and would be easy for them to understand as well as probably already know. I don't see any weaknesses to this story as it's a classic tale and accessible to all children. I would recommend this for pre-K - 2nd grade.
November 22, 2019
This book I picked because it was a book I read as a child and I believe it is one that should continue to be read by children. I am not sure exactly what genre this book would qualify as for sure, but it incorporates a lot of themes similar to a few different genres. The idea of animals being able to talk and make bets seems like a blasphemous concept but again adds the aspect of intrigue and sparks the imagination of the students.
Similar to the books I have read for this assignment this book has a major theme, and a few smaller underlying themes. The idea that boasting is not very nice and sometimes it is not always about winning or being the fastest at something. These are especially important things to teach to children.
Of course, I would use this book to teach those lessons to my students because it is easier to show them why something is not good through a story rather than just telling them out right. Especially in today’s day and age when it seems that winning is all some people care about, I believe this book is particularly important.
Similar to the books I have read for this assignment this book has a major theme, and a few smaller underlying themes. The idea that boasting is not very nice and sometimes it is not always about winning or being the fastest at something. These are especially important things to teach to children.
Of course, I would use this book to teach those lessons to my students because it is easier to show them why something is not good through a story rather than just telling them out right. Especially in today’s day and age when it seems that winning is all some people care about, I believe this book is particularly important.
March 29, 2016
Fable
Growing up, we were always told as kids that "slow and steady wins the race" but how many know it comes from this famous Aesop fable of the Hare & the Tortoise. There are many versions of this traditional tale but this version illustrated by Arthur Friedman is brightly colored with overly large animal characters, much to big to be in proportion with the rest of the setting (i.e. the trees). This makes it the perfect version for a younger audience read aloud as the characters of the hare and the tortoise seem to jump off the page. Children will like the happy ending of the tortoise winning over the mean hare. An opportune time to discuss with younger students the concept of kind words and teasing. Although the illustrations of this version appeal to a younger audience, I would examine this with 3rd and 4th graders asking them to apply the moral of "slow and steady wins the race" to an area of their life in a journaling topic. Target audience: PreK-4th
Growing up, we were always told as kids that "slow and steady wins the race" but how many know it comes from this famous Aesop fable of the Hare & the Tortoise. There are many versions of this traditional tale but this version illustrated by Arthur Friedman is brightly colored with overly large animal characters, much to big to be in proportion with the rest of the setting (i.e. the trees). This makes it the perfect version for a younger audience read aloud as the characters of the hare and the tortoise seem to jump off the page. Children will like the happy ending of the tortoise winning over the mean hare. An opportune time to discuss with younger students the concept of kind words and teasing. Although the illustrations of this version appeal to a younger audience, I would examine this with 3rd and 4th graders asking them to apply the moral of "slow and steady wins the race" to an area of their life in a journaling topic. Target audience: PreK-4th
September 3, 2012
I am embarrassed to say I had no idea that The Hare and the Tortoise was written by Aesop! I grew up knowing this classic tale by heart, but I know from asking around last semester that some of my former third graders had never heard the story. I think the language Aesop uses in his original work may be hard to understand for some younger students, like those in grades K-3. But I know many authors have adapted the tale to a younger audience by changing the language, which may make the moral resonate better with kids. There is a clear lesson at the end of the story that could easily become a theme in the classroom (take your time, don't rush, etc.) and younger children could do art projects, such as drawing the tortoise and hare for fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews