Axel Scheffler's Fairy Tales: The Hare and the Hedgehog

A retelling of the classic "The Hare and the Tortoise" story, where Hedgehog challenges Hare to a race despite having little legs. With the help of his wife, Hedgehog comes up with a plan to beat Hare and prove that hedgehogs are the smartest of all. Illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the book is perfect for little hands and is part of a new series of fairy tale stories published by Scholastic.

Format: Hardback
Length: 32 pages
Publication date: 13 April 2023
Publisher: Scholastic

Rewritten text:

Once upon a time, in a lush green forest, there lived a hare named Hare and a hedgehog named Hedgehog. Hare was known for his long, slender legs and his quick pace, while Hedgehog was known for his short, spiky legs and his slow, steady walk. Despite their differences, they were good friends and often spent their days playing together.

One day, Hare decided to tease Hedgehog about his little legs. He laughed and said, "Hedgehog, your legs are so short and stubby. You can't even run as fast as I can. Why don't you just give up and walk?"

Hedgehog was offended by Hare's words and challenged him to a race. Hare, being confident in his speed, accepted the challenge without hesitation. The two friends set off on their race, with Hare leading the way.

As they raced through the forest, Hare looked back at Hedgehog and laughed. "Ha! Look at you, Hedgehog. You're barely keeping up. I'm going to win this race in a heartbeat."

Hedgehog, however, was determined to prove Hare wrong. He dug deep and found a reserve of strength he didn't know he had. With each step, he grew faster and faster, until he was finally catching up to Hare.

Hare was surprised by Hedgehog's sudden burst of speed and tried to speed up even more. But Hedgehog was too quick, and soon he passed Hare and crossed the finish line first.

Hare was stunned. He had never been beaten in a race before. He congratulated Hedgehog on his victory and asked him how he had managed to beat him.

Hedgehog smiled and said, "It's all about strategy, Hare. I may not have your long legs, but I have a sharp mind and a quick wit. I knew that if I kept moving and never gave up, I could beat you."

Hare was impressed by Hedgehog's determination and realized that he had underestimated his friend's intelligence. From that day on, he respected Hedgehog even more and they continued to play together, but Hare never teased him about his short legs again.

The story of Hare and Hedgehog teaches us an important lesson about the power of intelligence and determination. It shows us that we should never judge someone based on their appearance or physical abilities, but rather on their character and skills. Hedgehog's victory over Hare proves that even the smallest and most underestimated creatures can achieve great things if they are willing to work hard and never give up.

As for Hare and Hedgehog, they continued to be the best of friends, and their story became a legend in the forest. People would often tell their children about the clever hedgehog who beat the fast hare in a race, and the two friends would be proud of their achievement.

In conclusion, the story of Hare and Hedgehog is a classic tale that teaches us valuable lessons about the power of intelligence, determination, and friendship. It reminds us that we should never underestimate the abilities of others, and that even the smallest and most unlikely creatures can achieve great things if they are willing to work hard and never give up.

Weight: 106g
Dimension: 116 x 153 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780702318290