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The Greedy Python & The Foolish Tortoise
In this humorous tale about manners, respect, and friendship, a greedy python eats every creature he comes across in the jungle. From a tiny mouse to an enormous elephant, the eaten animals eventually befriend one another in the belly of the snake where they team up and kick the inside of the python until he spits them out. Rather than learning his lesson, the python sticks to his greedy ways. When he spots his own tail and mistakes it for food, he swallows himself and...disappears!Last published as a board book in 1998, this classic story whimsically illustrated by Eric Carle returns with refreshed colors and layout, and a fresh new cover design. Children and adults alike will enjoy this hilarious tale of a snake too greedy for his own good!
- GenresPicture Books
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
12 people want to read
About the author
Richard Buckley
117 books12 followersRichard Buckley is a freelance writer and editor as well as being a chartered accountant.
In addition to his poetry he has written short stories, children's books, and on business and professional subjects.
He worked in New York for five years and has also travelled in North and South America, Central Asia and Europe.
At the time of writing 'The Dutiful Penguin' he was living in Gloucestershire, married to his Austrian-born wife Elfie and their two sons, Sebastian and Benedict.
In addition to his poetry he has written short stories, children's books, and on business and professional subjects.
He worked in New York for five years and has also travelled in North and South America, Central Asia and Europe.
At the time of writing 'The Dutiful Penguin' he was living in Gloucestershire, married to his Austrian-born wife Elfie and their two sons, Sebastian and Benedict.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 25, 2019
Incorporating two stories into one book, The Greedy Python and The Foolish Tortoise is an excellent children's picture book.
Having an animal as the main character in both stories, helps children to enjoy the story, whilst still being able to understand the moral of each story. The greedy python focusses on greed, showing children that if you continue to constantly take, in the long run, it will impact you negatively. The Foolish Tortoise, however, focusses on being grateful for what you are given, allowing children to remember to always be grateful as once you do not have it, you may miss it. Additionally, it encourages children to look at different people's perspectives as they may have things that others do not.
Richard Buckley is an excellent author. He focusses on children's current interests, while still incorporating important issues or morals within the story, as well as having good literal devices like rhyme and speech within each text.
Having an animal as the main character in both stories, helps children to enjoy the story, whilst still being able to understand the moral of each story. The greedy python focusses on greed, showing children that if you continue to constantly take, in the long run, it will impact you negatively. The Foolish Tortoise, however, focusses on being grateful for what you are given, allowing children to remember to always be grateful as once you do not have it, you may miss it. Additionally, it encourages children to look at different people's perspectives as they may have things that others do not.
Richard Buckley is an excellent author. He focusses on children's current interests, while still incorporating important issues or morals within the story, as well as having good literal devices like rhyme and speech within each text.
October 6, 2008
This book is a rhyming poem, and it has some realistic and non-realistice aspects. Both stories in the book have good lessons for children: accept yourself for who you are, and do not be greedy. The Foolish Tortoise is about a tortoise who is tired of being slow so he ditches his shell. He soon realizes how much he relies on his shell for protection. The Greedy Python is about a snake who is greedy and eats way too much, then feels sicks and coughs all the animals back up. The snake does not learn his lesson and ends up eating himself.
Activities:
1) After reading the stories, the students can discuss the morals of the stories. They can then brainstorm in small groups about rhyming poem ideas, morals to go with their poems, and what animal they want to write about. Then each group can work together to write a new story with a moral and draw pictures for their story as well. Then the groups can share their stories with the class.
2)The students can create a board game based on the poems, using the obsticals that came their way. For example, in the game for the turtle, the beginning of the game can be when he leaves his shell. The end of the game can be where the turtle reaches the shell. Various spaces could be: "The sun came out and there is too much heat, go back two spaces." "Seek shade under the tree, move forward one space." The students will also write a list of rules on how to play their game. After the students complete their games, they can get in groups and rotate around to different centers to play each others games.
Activities:
1) After reading the stories, the students can discuss the morals of the stories. They can then brainstorm in small groups about rhyming poem ideas, morals to go with their poems, and what animal they want to write about. Then each group can work together to write a new story with a moral and draw pictures for their story as well. Then the groups can share their stories with the class.
2)The students can create a board game based on the poems, using the obsticals that came their way. For example, in the game for the turtle, the beginning of the game can be when he leaves his shell. The end of the game can be where the turtle reaches the shell. Various spaces could be: "The sun came out and there is too much heat, go back two spaces." "Seek shade under the tree, move forward one space." The students will also write a list of rules on how to play their game. After the students complete their games, they can get in groups and rotate around to different centers to play each others games.
May 29, 2014
I don't have this particular book with both of these stories, but I do have both stories, illustrated by Eric Carle. They both have good moral lessons in them.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews