Anthology

A collection of Fairy Tales, Folklore,

Poems, Songs and Short Stories
in

ENGLISH

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 Sharing stories with children
is fun and powerful!
A ll of us can remember listening to stories when
we were children. It may have been a parent or a
teacher or a librarian reading to you, or your
grandmother telling a story she remembered
from when she was a child. You still
remember the excitement that gripped you
as the plot developed. You wondered if the
wolf would eat the little pig or whether the
lion would eat the little mouse or whether
Winnie the Pooh would ever get his head out
of the honey jar.
When you listened to the story, you connected
the characters to the setting of the story and you
probably predicted how the story would end. At the time,
you would not have known that, by doing these two things, that is, predicting and
making connections, you were developing the skills necessary for being a good reader.
Reading aloud to learners is a very important component of learning to read and,
apart from helping children to develop a love for reading, it enables learners to build
many important skills: it demonstrates or models reading with expression and fluency,
introduces new vocabulary and develops the learners’ comprehension and listening
skills. By engaging with stories and allowing themselves to become swept up into a
world of fantasy, children are, in fact, developing their imagination and creativity as
they meet different characters in different contexts.
Reading aloud helps learners to understand the relationship between the printed
word and meaning. It teaches children that the text tells a story, thus inviting the
listener to engage with the story and explore the illustrations. Because children can
listen to stories at a language level higher than what they can read, reading aloud
exposes children to many varieties of sentence structures that are not part of everyday
speech. They are also introduced to a range of new vocabulary. Storytelling, and read
alouds by the teacher are therefore very important activities to stimulate language
development and model fluent and expressive reading.

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 How to do a read aloud
S torytelling and read alouds by the
teacher, are very important activities
that stimulate language development and
model fluent and expressive reading. It is
important that you read aloud to learners at
least once a week.
Teachers are encouraged to use this
Antholog y as a resource for classroom
storytelling. Storytelling should be a fun and lively activity. While telling or reading the story
you, the teacher, should use props, puppets or masks to support the story. Use expression,
varying your voice, speed and tone. Use gestures and facial expressions.
Let learners participate in the story by joining in on a recurring phase (e.g. “Run, run, run as
fast as you can, you can’t catch me – I’m the gingerbread man!”).
The same story should be read two to three times to give learners the opportunity to chorus
language chunks, to role-play activities or to retell parts of the story in their own words. Of
course, the pace of storytelling and read aloud activities should be informed by the learners’
language proficiency level.
Let learners act out rhymes, poems, songs and stories. Rhymes and songs are essential
components of language development, especially for second and third language development.
We have included a number of songs and rhymes in this Antholog y. One new song or rhyme
should be introduced each week.
Children who have enjoyable storytelling and reading experiences are more likely to be
motivated to read and to be successful learners at school.
Reading aloud to children is important for developing children’s listening, speaking, reading,
thinking, reasoning and writing skills as required by the CAPS.

Develop listening and speaking skills Develop emergent reading skills

• Listen to a story for enjoyment. • Hold the book the right way up.
• Draw a picture about the story. • Turn pages correctly.
• Listen for the detail, identify the main idea. • Use pictures to predict what the story is about.
• Answer questions about the story. • Interpret pictures to make up own story.
• Participate in discussions, taking turns to speak. • Develops basic concepts of a book – cover, front,
• Act out or role play a story. back, title.

Reading aloud is an important activity for building the knowledge and skills children
require for learning to read. We hope that you will find this Anthology useful
in supporting you to read aloud to your learners.

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 Contents
Folktales Fairy Tales
1 The Hare and the Tortoise .............. 2 1 The Little Red Hen ............................... 24
2 The Sun and the Wind .......................... 4 2 Pooh Bear Gets Stuck ........................ 28
3 Robbie Rabbit Tricks 3 The Ugly Duckling ................................ 32
Freddie Fox .............................................................. 6 4 Goldilocks and the
4 The Lion and the Mouse .................10 Three Bears ....................................................... 36
5 The Ant and the Dove ......................... 11 5 Jack and the Beanstalk ..................... 40
6 Anansi the Greedy Spider 6 The Gingerbread Man ..................... 46
and the Turtle ...................................................12 7 The Three Little Pigs ......................... 48
7 The Boy Who Cried “Wolf!” .... 14 8 The Wolf and the Seven
8 Jabu and the Lion ........................................16 Little Goats ......................................................... 52
9 How the Spider Got Such
Thin Legs ............................................................... 20
10 The Ant and the Grasshopper ..... 22

Short Stories
1 Ben Finds a New Friend ................... 56 10 Wendy Whale to the Rescue ......90
2 Chuck the Truck ...........................................60 11 The Great Escape ....................................... 94
3 Dudu’s Dream ..................................................64 12 The Leaf of Many Colours ........... 98
4 How The Zebra Got its Stripes ... 68 13 Mandu’s Secret Diary ....................... 100
5 Bubu gets Lost .................................................. 72 14 Oh No Mr Lion! ....................................... 102
6 It’s a Dog’s Life ................................................ 76 15 Bheki’s New Bike ...................................... 106
7 Gone Fishing ......................................................80 16 There’s a Monster in
8 Super Swift Suzy Saves the Day .....84 My Cupboard ................................................ 110
9 Animals to Sea ................................................ 86 17 A Sea Adventure ....................................... 114

Songs and poems

1 Twinkle, Ttwinkle Little Star 118 8 Old MacDonald had a Farm .... 125
2 Head and Shoulders ............................. 119 9 Rain, Rain Go Away ......................... 126
3 Happy Birthday ......................................... 120 10 The Wheels of the Bus ..................... 127
4 Five Little Chickens ..............................121 11 Two Little Dicky Birds .................... 128
5 Five Little Monkeys .............................. 122 12 Incy Wincy Spider ................................. 129
6 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe ..... 123 13 Thula, Thula Baba ............................... 130
7 The Animals went in 14 The Lion Sleeps Tonight ............... 131
two by two ...........................................................124

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 Folktales
The Hare and The Sun and Robbie Rabbit
the Tortoise the Wind tricks Freddie Fox

The Lion and The Ant and Anansi the Greedy

the Mouse the Dove Spider and the Turtle

The Boy Who Jabu and How the Spider The Ant and
Cried Wolf! the Lion Got Such Thin Legs the Grasshopper

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 1. The Hare and the Tortoise
A long time ago a hare and a
tortoise lived in the green forest.
The brown tortoise walked very
slowly and so the hare always
laughed at her. One day the hare
said to the tortoise, “Let’s have a
race.” The tortoise agreed and the
hare laughed loudly. All the other
animals came to see the race.

The hare ran very fast and

was soon far ahead of the
tortoise. He looked back but
he couldn’t see the tortoise
because she was far behind.

“The tortoise is very slow,” thought

the hare. “She’ll take a long time
to get here. I’m going to have a
rest and when I see the tortoise
coming I’ll run quickly and win the
race.” The hare lay down,
but he fell fast asleep.

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 Unfortunately for hare, he
heard the animals cheering, as
tortoise crossed the winning line.
That day hare learned two very
important lessons.
One must never think he/she is
better than someone else.
Everyone has something unique
and special about themselves or
what they can do.
While he was sleeping he heard the Secondly he learned that
other animals cheering. He thought commitment and hard work is
he was dreaming. But when he woke important to achieve success.
up he saw the tortoise was near the
winning line.
The hare jumped up
thinking he would be able
to catch up with
the tortoise.

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 2. The Sun and the Wind

Once upon a time the wind blew The sun

came out
strongly across the town. The trees from behind
bent over and the windows rattled. a cloud and said,
The wind was very proud. He said, “Oh no, Wind.
“I am even stronger than the trees. I am much stronger than you.”
I am even stronger than “Let’s have a contest to see who is
the Sun!” the stongest,” said the wind.

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 “I’ll start,” he said. “Look how “Wow!” said the man. “I’m so hot,
strong I am. I will make that man let me take off my coat.”
take off his coat.”
The sun smiled again and said,
The wind huffed and puffed and “I am the winner!”
blew so hard that the trees bent over.
But the man just pulled his coat It is not good to boast
tighter and said, “I am so cold.” about yourself.

The sun came out from behind a

cloud. She smiled and everything
became warmer. “Oh,” said the
man. “It’s much warmer now.” The
sun shone brighter and brighter.

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 3. Robbie Rabbit tricks Freddie Fox

This year it did not rain water or his fruit and

vegetables with anyone.
and the crops were very dry.
One hot day, Robbie
The farmers looked up at Rabbit decided to
the sky, hoping it would sneak onto Freddie
rain but there was not a Fox’s farm for lunch.
cloud in sight. Within minutes the fox
Freddie Fox, whose farm saw him.
was close to the river, had lush “Grrr! If you eat my fruit I
green crops. He had lots of fruits will catch you and munch you up!”
and vegetables because he was able shouted Freddie Fox.
to pump water from the river.
But Freddie Fox did not share his Robbie Rabbit darted off with the
angry farmer on his heels. Then
Robbie Rabbit vanished!
He turned into a big yellow pumpkin.

“When I find that bad rabbit,

I will eat him like a pumpkin,”
growled the angry fox and he tossed
the pumpkin to the ground.

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 As the pumpkin hit the ground it “I will get you Robbie Rabbit!”
turned back into Robby Rabbit, shouted the angry fox. “Just you wait!”
who ran off looking for something
The farmer then saw the rabbit
else to eat.
eating his watermelon.
The fox chased the fleeing rabbit
“Hey! Those are my prize
and grabbed him by the tail.
watermelons,” he shouted
“Now, I am going to eat
as he ran towards the
you …”
rabbit.
But this time the
The hungry rabbit
rabbit turned into
chomped up two
a big juicy mango.
watermelons in
“Wow, look at this no time! “What a
mango!” exclaimed delicious lunch,”
the farmer. “If I can the rabbit said, as he
grow lots of delicious licked his lips. “Just
mangoes I can sell what I needed on such a
them and I can become hot day!” When Robbie saw
very rich,” he thought. the farmer he began to run.
“I will eat this mango and then The farmer chased Robbie Rabbit.
plant the pip. I will then have a “I will get you this time!” he yelled,
good crop of mangoes to sell.” but the rabbit disappeared.
As Freddie Fox was about to bite This time the rabbit turned into a
into the mango a bee stung his hand log of wood. As the fox chased the
and he dropped the mango. rabbit, he tripped over the log of
wood.
“Go away you nasty bee!”
Just then the mango turned back “Ouch!” he yelled, as he stumbled,
into Robby Rabbit, who, with a “I must catch that little rabbit!”
hop, skip and a jump, got away.
“How can a clever fox like me be
Freddie Fox chased the rabbit. The tricked by a silly little rabbit?” he
rabbit dived through the bushes and thought as he brushed the dust off
escaped. his clothes.
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 Angrily the farmer picked up the log “Aagh!” shouted the farmer.
and threw it away.
He picked up the stone and threw
As the log hit the ground it changed it as far as he could. The stone flew
back into Robbie Rabbit who darted like a black bird. It went over the
off towards the river. river and landed with a bump on
the other side.
“Now I will catch him because
Rabbits can’t swim,” thought the As it landed the stone changed back
angry farmer. into Robbie Rabbit who squealed
with delight.
“Help!” screamed the frightened
rabbit. “You helped me cross the river! You
helped me cross the river!” sang the
The farmer was about to catch the
excited rabbit as he did a little dance
rabbit when he tripped over a black
and then ran away.
stone.

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 Freddie Fox watched the He helped the villagers
rabbit as he ran off. to help themselves.
Freddie wondered
They could now
how he could stop
pump water from
the villagers from
the river to their
eating his crops in
own farms.
future.
The next day, Freddie
Fox made a plan.

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 4. The Lion and the Mouse
One day a tiny mouse accidently “Thank you, Mr Lion,” squeaked
the mouse. “One day I will help
woke a sleeping lion. The lion you.” “Ha ha ha!” roared the big
growled and said, “I have been lion. “How can a tiny little mouse
woken by a tiny mouse. I will eat it like you help a big, strong lion
for a snack.” like me? I am the king of all the
animals. I can help myself.”

Then one day the lion was taking a

walk. He walked into a hunter’s net
and was trapped. “Help!” he yelled.
“I can’t get out. I’m trapped.”

The tiny mouse heard the lion. He

ran to the trap and said, “I’ll help
you!” “You’re too little to help me,”
growled the lion.

The little mouse began biting the

net and made a big hole. Soon the
lion was out. He smiled and said,
“You may be a little mouse, but
you’re a big help.”

He trapped the mouse’s tail under You can make a

his big paw. difference
“Oh no, Mr Lion,” squeaked the no matter
mouse. “Please don’t eat me. I am how
just a little mouse.” small
you
“You’re right,” growled the lion. are.
“You are too small to fill
my tummy.”

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 5. The Ant and the Dove
One hot day, an ant was sitting
next to a river. “How lovely it will Ouch!
be to swim,” she thought. She put Ouch!
one leg into the river, then another
and another. Suddenly, she fell in.
The water was flowing so strongly
she could not get out.
“Help!” she shouted. “I am
drowning!” But no one heard her
shout. Just when the ant felt sure she
would drown, a dove flew past.

Many months went by. Then, one

I amning! day, the ant saw the dove sitting in
drow
a tree. Before she could say “Hello”
a boy came with a bow and arrow.
He was going to shoot the dove.
Quickly, the ant climbed onto the
She saw the ant was in danger and boy’s leg and bit him. “Ouch!”
dropped a leaf into the water. It was shouted the man and dropped
like a little boat and the ant climbed his arrow.
on. “Thank you dove. One day I “Thank you,” the dove called as she
will help you.” The dove laughed. flew away. “You are small, but you
“You are too small to help me, little saved my life.”
ant.” And she flew away.

Thank you!

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 6. Anansi the Greedy
Spider and the Turtle
One evening, Anansi, the spider Meanwhile Anansi had started
eating up the food. By the time
sat down to a delicious supper. Just Turtle got back the food was
as Anansi was about to put the first nearly all gone. Just as Turtle sat
bite into his mouth, he heard a down Anansi started yelling again,
knock on his door. He opened the “Turtle, your hands are still dirty!
door. There was Turtle, who looked Go and wash them again!” They
very tired. Turtle said, “Anansi, were dirty, because Turtle had used
please let me in. I’ve walked so far them to crawl back from the river.
today and I’m so tired and hungry.”

But Anansi was too selfish to share

his supper with anyone else. So he
came up with a nasty plan. Just
as Turtle sat down at the table
and began to reach for some food,
Anansi yelled at him, “Turtle, your
hands are all dirty! You can’t eat
with your hands all dirty! Go and
wash them.”
Turtle’s hands were dirty, from Sadly, Turtle got up and went to
walking on them all day. wash his hands again. By the time
So Turtle slowly Turtle had crawled all the way back
crawled to there was no more food. Turtle
the river to looked at Anansi and said, “Thank
wash his you for inviting me to dinner. If
hands and you’re ever near my house,
then slowly please come by and have supper
crawled back with me.”
to the table.

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 Well, as time went by, Anansi He kept floating back up to the
the spider began to think more surface again. He tried jumping
and more about how Turtle had in, he tried diving in, but nothing
promised to feed him. So one day helped. He just couldn’t get down
he walked over to Turtle’s house at to that dinner. Finally Anansi had
lunch time, when the sun was high an idea. He put lots of stones in the
over the river. Turtle was lying on pockets of his coat, until he was
a rock in the sun, warming himself heavy enough to sink down to the
up, as turtles do. When Turtle bottom of the river. He saw Turtle’s
saw Anansi, he said, “Hello there, table, full of juicy green leaves and
Anansi! Have you come to have lots of other delicious food.
dinner with me?”
Anansi said, “Yes, that would be
very nice, thank you.” He was
getting hungrier and hungrier.

But just as Anansi was reaching for

some of that delicious food, Turtle
stopped him. Turtle said, “Anansi,
surely you’re not going to eat dinner
with your coat on? That’s not how
we do things at my house.” Anansi
So Turtle dived into the water. took his coat off. Without the rocks
Anansi waited on the rocks by the in his pockets to hold him down, he
shore. Pretty soon Turtle swam floated right back to the surface of
back up and said, “OK Anansi! It the river again and popped right
is all ready now. Please join me for out of the water.
dinner.” Turtle dived down again
and began to eat the green leaves he To share is to care!
had for dinner. Anansi tried to dive
down to the bottom of the river, but
he was a spider, not a turtle and he
couldn’t dive that deep.

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 7. The Boy Who Cried Wolf!
Once upon a time there was a When they arrived at the top of the
hill, they did not find a wolf. They
ten-year-old shepherd boy. Every only found the boy, who laughed at
day he took the sheep to the fields them.
to eat grass. Every day, he sat
under the same tree on top of a hill “Don’t shout for help if there is no
and watched the flock of sheep. danger; don’t cry ‘Wolf’!” scolded
Eventually, he began to feel bored. one of the villagers as they all went
One day, to amuse himself, he grumbling back down the hill.
called out, “Wolf! Wolf! Help! A
wolf is chasing the sheep!” The next day, the boy again called
out, “Wolf! Wolf! Help me! The
Hearing his cry for help, the wolf is chasing the sheep!” Again
villagers came running up the hill the villagers ran up the hill to help
to chase the wolf away. him drive the wolf away.

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 When the villagers again Later that night, the people in the
saw no wolf, they said, village wondered why the shepherd
“Little boy, you must boy had not returned to the village
only call for help with the sheep. They went to look
when there is really for him and found him weeping
something wrong! and alone.
Don’t cry ‘Wolf’ when
there is no wolf!” “There really was a wolf! He ate
some sheep and the others
The boy just grinned and watched have run away!
them go grumbling down the hill I called for
once more. help! Why didn’t
you come?” he
A few days later, the boy sobbed.
saw a real wolf sniffing
about his sheep. He was One of the old villagers tried to
very frightened comfort the boy as they walked
and he called out back to the village.
loudly, “Wolf!
Wolf! Please “We’ll help you look for the lost
help me!” sheep in the morning,” he said,
putting his arm around the boy.
But the villagers thought he was “You must learn that if you always
trying to fool them again and so tell lies, nobody will believe you ...
no one went to help him. even when you tell the truth!”

No one will believe a

liar, even if he tells the
truth.

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 8. Jabu and the Lion
Jabu was a 14-year-old herd boy. Sipho was disappointed, but he
knew better than to argue with
He took great pride in the way he Jabu. “OK,” he said. “I’ll see you
cared for his father’s large later, perhaps by the fire tonight.
herd of cattle. One I’m going to watch the
warm autumn day, as men.” And off he ran.
Jabu sat on the koppie
watching the animals, Jabu began to gather
his friend Sipho came the cows together,
running towards him. and herded them
towards the river to
“Have you heard the drink. While they
news, Jabu?” asked were drinking, he
Sipho, out of breath. sat with his feet in
“Bhubesi, the lion, was the water.
seen around here last
night. He killed a cow. Then Jabu heard a
The men are already sound that shook him.
setting traps for him. “Rrrrroar!” The cows all
Put your cattle back froze. It was Bhubesi, and
in the kraal and let’s he was very near! Jabu
go and watch the looked carefully around.
men set the traps!” His knees trembling, he
pulled the cattle together
Jabu was shocked. into a tight circle. “That
“I can’t put the cattle roar doesn’t say, ‘I’m going
back into the kraal, Sipho,” he said. to eat you,’” he thought. “Bhubesi
“It’s too early in the day. They need sounds like he’s in trouble. I think
to finish grazing, and then I have that roar was a cry for help.” Jabu
to take them to the river to drink began to walk towards the lion.
some water before I take them back
home.”

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 Bhubesi was caught in one of the Lion: Oh, no, mfana, I could
traps set by the men. His head was never eat someone who set me
caught in the trap and the more free! I promise, I will not
he struggled, the tighter the trap touch a hair on your head!
became. Jabu stood and stared. I promise you that!
Never before had he seen the
king of the animals so near Bhubesi begged and pleaded
by. He truly was a majestic so pitifully that Jabu finally
animal. As Jabu watched decided to trust him and
Bhubesi struggling for his set him free. He raised the
life, he started to feel sorry log on the trap that held the
for him. The lion saw the lion’s head. The lion leapt
boy and spoke to him. free of the trap and shook
his mane.
Lion: Hawu! Mfana
(boy)! Please, help me. Lion: Oh, thank you,
I can’t free myself. mfana! I really owe you
Please, please, will you something. My neck was
come and lift this bar getting so stiff in that trap,
that is holding my head and I was afraid that the
down? Please! hunters would kill me.
Now, please, mfana,
Jabu looked into I am so thirsty −
Bhubesi’s eyes. He could can you show me
hear the desperation in the where the river is?
lion’s voice.
Jabu: It’s just down
Lion: Please, mfana! Please! here. Come
Before those hunters come and with me.
kill me. Please set me free!
Lion: What a
Jabu: I would like to free you, pity to waste
Bhubesi but I am afraid that as soon such an
as I do, you will eat me. excellent meal!

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 Jabu: Oh no! I saved you from the Jackal: What promise is this? Why
hunters, and you promised not did you make a promise, Nkosi
to eat me. (great chief)?
Lion: Yes, you are right. I did Jabu: I freed the lion from the trap
make that promise but somehow, and he promised not to eat me and
now that I am free, it does not seem now he wants to eat me.
so important to keep that promise.
Jackal: Oh, what a silly story.
I am very hungry!
You mean my Nkosi, the great
Jabu: You are making a big king of all the animals, was stuck
mistake. You should never break in a little trap made by humans?
a promise. Impossible! I don’t
believe it.
Lion: Hah! What nonsense! I am
going to eat you now, boy. All this Lion: It is true!
talking is just making me hungrier. It was a strong
and terrible
Jabu: But you promised, and if
trap!
you break a promise, it will
come back to punish you. Jackal:
Oh, I can’t
A wise jackal who had been believe
listening came over to find out anything is
about the promise. stronger than
my king. I must
see this trap. Please,
before you have your dinner,
show me this trap that you are
speaking about. Then you
can enjoy your meal.

The lion, the jackal and Jabu

went back to the trap.

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 Jackal: You can’t tell me that this You missed the whole adventure!”
little thing could actually hold your Jabu just smiled, and said to himself,
head! Never! I just can’t imagine it. “I’ve had all the adventure
Nkosi, would you mind just sticking I need for one day.”
your head in here so I can see how Sipho headed back to
you were trapped when the boy the hunters to hear
found you? the story of the
mighty lion caught
Lion: Hawu. You are tiring me
in the trap and
with your questions. This last is the
Jabu went home.
thing I will do for you, then you
He greeted his
must be on your way and leave me
mother, sat
to enjoy my dinner.
down and gave
a great sigh.
So Bhubesi stuck his head back
between the logs just the way it had
That night around the
been when Jabu found him. Quicker
fire, Jabu listened to the men as
than lightning, the jackal threw
they talked and told the story about
the top log into place. Bhubesi was
how they had trapped the lion,
caught once again!
what a struggle it had been and how
skillfully they had caught him.
Jackal: Now I see how you were
trapped. What a pity that you are
trapped this way once more. The
boy is right, Nkosi. Broken promises
always catch up with you!

Bhubesi roared in anger, but the

strong trap held him well. Jabu
thanked the jackal. He ran back to
his cows and drove them home and
into the kraal. What a day he had
had! Sipho saw him and shouted,
“Jabu, Jabu! The lion has been We must keep
caught in the trap near the river! our promises.
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 9. How the Spider Got Such Thin Legs
Once upon a time, a long time When the greens are done, tug on
the web, and I’ll come running!”
ago, there lived a spider named Rabbit thought that was a great
Anansi. Although Anansi was a idea. So that is what they did.
very good cook he was a bit lazy,
so he preferred to eat the food “I smell beans,” Anansi sniffed
that others in the village made for excitedly as he ambled along.
themselves and for their families. “Delicious beans,
cooking in a pot.”
One day, he stopped off at Rabbit’s “Come eat our
house. Rabbit was his good friend. beans with
“There are greens in your pot,” us,” cried
cried Anansi excitedly. Anansi the monkeys.
loved greens. “They are
“They are not quite ready yet,” almost done.”
said Rabbit. “But they will be “I’d love to,
ready soon. Stay and eat with me.” Father Monkey,”
“I would love to, Rabbit, but I have said Anansi. He again suggested
some things to do,” Anansi said that he spin a web, with one end
hurriedly. He thought that if he tied around his leg, and one end tied
waited at Rabbit’s house, Rabbit to the big bean pot. Father Monkey
would certainly give him thought that was a great idea. All
some jobs to do. He his children thought so too. So that
did not want to end is what they did.
up washing dishes.
“Tell you what,” said “I smell sweet potatoes,”
Anansi. “I’ll spin Anansi sniffed happily as he
a web. I’ll tie one ambled along. “Sweet potatoes
end around and honey.
my leg and How delicious!”
one end to “Anansi,” called his friend Pig.
your pot.

20

ANTHOLOGY.indb 20 11/26/15 10:49 AM

 “My pot is full of sweet Just then, Anansi felt a tug at his
potatoes and leg. “Ah,” said Anansi. “That’s the
honey! Come web string tied to Rabbit’s greens.”
share my food He felt another and another. Anansi
with me.” was pulled three ways at once.
“I’d love to,” said
Anansi. Again, “Oh dear,” said Anansi, as he felt
he suggested he spin the fourth web string pull.
a web, with one end Just then, he felt the fifth web string
tied around his leg tug. And the sixth. And the seventh.
and one end tied to the sweet potato And the eighth! Anansi was pulled
pot. His friend Pig thought that was this way and that way, as everyone
a great idea. So that is what they pulled on the web strings at once. His
did. legs were pulled thinner and thinner.
Anansi rolled quickly into the river.
By the time Anansi arrived at the Eventually, when all the webs had
river, he had one web tied to each washed away, Anansi pulled himself
of his eight legs. painfully out of the river.
“Oh my, oh my,” sighed Anansi.
“This was a wonderful idea,” “Perhaps that was not such a good
Anansi told himself proudly. “I idea after all.”
wonder whose pot will be ready To this day, Anansi the spider has
first? I will be able to eat eight eight very thin legs. Poor Anansi
meals today. Lucky me.” never got food at all that day.

21

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 10. The Ant and the Grasshopper
It was a warm, sunny day and Gerry: Oh, nonsense. I can’t be
bothered yet. Winter is still a long
the little ants were busy collecting time off and there is plenty of food.
mealies and other food to put away
for winter. So Gerry the grasshopper
continued to dance and sing and
chirp and the ants continued to
work. Then the winter came.
Gerry the grasshopper had
no food. He was feeling very,
very hungry. He went to the
ants’ house.
Gerry the grasshopper was singing
and chirping and hopping about. Gerry: Please can I have
He was having a wonderful time. something to eat. I’m starving.
He watched the trail of ants Don’t you have some food for me?
gathering and storing grain The ant gave him a few pieces
for the winter. of food.

Ant: You danced all summer, but

you didn’t store any food for the
winter. There is a time to work and
a time to play.

The next summer the grasshopper

worked hard collecting and storing
Gerry: Why don’t you stop food for the winter. He had learned
working and come and sing and a lesson and he did not want to be
dance with me? hungry again.

Ant: Oh no, we’re too busy. The

winter is coming and we must store
food for the cold days.
22

ANTHOLOGY.indb 22 11/26/15 10:49 AM

 Fairy Tales
The Little Red Hen Pooh Bear Gets Stuck

Goldilocks and Jack and the

The Ugly Duckling the Three Bears Beanstalk

The Gingerbread The Three Little Pigs The Wolf and the
Man Seven Little Goats

ANTHOLOGY.indb 23 11/26/15 10:49 AM

 1. The Little Red Hen

One day, little red hen “Not I,” quacked the duckling.
“Not I,” gobbled the gosling.
found some wheat. “Not I,” squealed the piglet.
“Who will help me plant this So she cut it herself.
wheat?” she cackled.
“Not I,” quacked the duck.
“Not I,” honked the goose.
“Not I,” snorted the pig.
So she planted it herself.
The wheat grew into a tall plant.
“Who will help me cut this wheat?”
cackled the little red hen.

24

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 When the wheat was cut, the little
red hen cackled, “Who will help
me tie the wheat?”
“Not I,” mooed the cow.
“Not I,” barked the dog.
“Not I,” meowed the cat.
So she tied it herself.

Then the little red hen cackled, “Not I,” bleated the calf.
“Who will help me grind the “Not I,” yapped the puppy.
wheat?” “Not I,” purred the kitten.
So she ground it herself.

25

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 When the wheat was ground into “Not I,” neighed the horse.
flour, the little red hen cackled, “Not I,” bleated the sheep.
“Not I,” brayed the donkey.
“Who will help me make some
bread?” So she made the bread herself.

26

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 When the bread was
baked, the little red
hen cackled, “Who
will help me eat the
bread?”
“We will!,” shouted
all the animals.
“No, you won’t,”
cackled the little red
hen. “I’ll eat it myself.”
She called her little
chicks and cackled,
“Come and eat this
bread.”

And they ate the

bread until they
were full.

You will reap

what you
sow!

27

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 2. Pooh Bear Gets Stuck
My name is Winnie the
These are my friends.
Pooh. I love to eat honey.

Winnie the Pooh lives in the Pooh’s tummy is always

forest. He has lots of friends. hungry for honey.

Help! I
You silly bear. can’t get out.
Help! I can’t
get down.

You silly bear.

You funny bear.

You funny bear.

On another day Pooh climbed a

One day Pooh’s honey was tree to get honey from a beehive.
finished. He licked the bottom of The branch broke and he
his pot and his head got stuck. was stuck in the tree.

28

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 The bees will
sting him.

Pop the balloons and

you will come down.

Help! I can’t get

away from the bees.
Every day Pooh was
in trouble.

I want to visit Rabbit.

He has lots of honey.

Today Pooh went to

visit Rabbit in his hole.
He could not get down
through the door.

29

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 You have finished
all my honey. It is I love this honey.
all finished. I only ate ten
bottles of it.

Eventually Pooh
managed to get
into Rabbit’s
burrow. The
hungry bear ate
all Rabbit’s honey.
His tummy was
very full.

Pull! You will have to wait

Help!
You ate too for a week until you
I am stuck.
much honey. are thinner. Then
we will get you out.

Poor was so fat, he could not get through the hole. And so Pooh bear was
stuck for a whole week. He could not get in or out.

30

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 Let me read a
story to you.
Don’t worry.
Soon you will be free.

Pooh’s friends came

to visit him every
day. Bongi and
Chris read stories
to him.

At last, Pooh came

popping out. What
did he do?

He ran off to get some

honey. His tummy
was rumbling.

PULL! PULL!

31

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 3. The Ugly Duckling
It is time for my eggs to hatch.
M other Duck lives I can’t wait to see my seven baby ducks.
with her family on
a farm. Mother Duck is
sitting on seven eggs waiting
for them to hatch.

Hello. I am I am Where
Tsepo. I am ZaZa. am I?
Fluffy.

I am Nicky.
Then, one by
one all the eggs
crack open.
All except one
very big egg.

I am Girly.

Where am I?
What’s my name?
Mother Duck sits and sits What a big world!
on the big egg. At last it
cracks open. Out jumps
the last baby duck. It looks
big and strong. It is a very
ugly duckling.

32

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 Ha ha ha! It is such
a funny duck.
Mother Duck takes
Come on
all her baby ducks
children we are
to the pond.
going to swim.

What a strange-
looking baby this is!

All the ducks jump into the water. They all swim and play.
The ugly duckling swims better than all the other ducklings.

The other farm animals

are nasty to the ugly
duckling. The hens
peck him and the dog
barks at him.

33

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 One night the ugly duckling
decides to run away.

Everyone is so nasty to
me. I am running away.

He goes to the river. He sees many

beautiful big birds swimming in the
river. Their feathers are so smooth.
They have long necks. Their wings are
so pretty.
I wish I could play
with them. They are so
beautiful. I am so ugly.

Then one day the winter comes.

There is snow all around. The
river turns to ice.
The ugly duckling is very cold
and unhappy.

And then comes the Spring.

The sun shines again and the
trees are fresh and green.
One morning the ugly duckling
sees the beautiful swans again.

34

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 The duckling walks to the
river. He is very sad.
He begins to cry.

I am so ugly, I am alone.
I have no friends.

While he is crying he
looks down between
his tears. He sees his
reflection.
He sees that he is a Is that me?
beautiful swan.

Just then some Come and swim with us. You are
swans swim by. a swan, like us. You are the most
They call the ugly beautiful of all swans.
duckling to swim
with them. The
ugly duckling
jumps into the
water.
He feels very
happy.

35

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 4. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
This porridge is very good. Let’s go for a walk while
the porridge cools.

The three bears cook porridge. The porridge is very hot.

I wish I had a friend.

The bears decide to go for a walk while the porridge to cooled.

Baby bear does not have any friends. He wishes there were other
children to play with.
36

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 That one is
too cold.
That porridge
is too hot.

This one is
just right.

I am so hungry.
I smell good food.

While the bears were away, Goldilocks smells the porridge.

She goes into their house.

This bed is
too hard.
That bed is
just right.

This bed is
too soft.

Feeling tired, Goldilocks decided to take a nap.

37

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 The bears come home and find that someone has been in their house.
Who’s been eating
my porridge? Who’s been eating
my porridge?
Who’s been eating
my porridge? My
porridge is all gone.

Who’s been
sleeping in Who’s
my bed? been
sleeping
in my
bed?

38

ANTHOLOGY.indb 38 11/26/15 10:49 AM

 And there
she is.

Goldilocks wakes up. She is afraid.

You are my
best friend.

Baby bear is happy. He has a new friend.

39

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 5. Jack and the Beanstalk
We have no money for food.
That nasty giant stole our hen.

Once upon a time

there was a boy
named Jack. Jack lived
with his mother.
He had no father.
When his father
was still alive, a bad
giant stole his harp
Take the cow to the and his hen that laid
market and sell her so golden eggs.
that we can buy food.

Jack and his mother

were very poor. Jack’s
mother told him to
take the cow to the
market to sell her.

40

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 BUTCHER
On the way, Jack I will give you
met the butcher, these magic beans
who showed him for the cow.
five magic beans.
Jack gave him
the cow and
took the beans.

But my mother said I

must get money for her.

You gave our

cow to him for
But these are five beans?
magic beans,
mother!
Jack’s mother was
very cross. She threw
the beans out of
the window. There
was no food, so she
and Jack went to bed
without supper.

41

ANTHOLOGY.indb 41 11/26/15 10:50 AM

 I am going to climb this beanstalk.
I will go up and up and up.

The next
morning there
was a very
tall beanstalk
outside the
house.
Jack climbed
up the
beanstalk.

When Jack got to the top, he saw that the bad giant
lived there. He also saw his father’s harp and hen.
Jack took the gold and climbed down the beanstalk.

42

ANTHOLOGY.indb 42 11/26/15 10:50 AM

 The next day Jack went Fee, fie, fo, fum!
back up the beanstalk to I can smell the
fetch his father’s harp. farmer’s son.
He saw his father’s hen
that laid the golden
eggs. Jack took the harp
and hen. As he was
leaving, the giant woke
up! The giant chased
Jack.

You took
Give me these from
my hen! my dad.

Jack climbed down the

bean stalk and the nasty
giant ran after him.

43

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 Jack called for his mother. She ran out with a chopper.
Oh! you found
Mother, your father’s hen!
bring the
axe!

Chop mother!
Chop!

His mother chopped

as fast as she could.
Before the giant
could catch Jack, the
beanstalk fell down.

44

ANTHOLOGY.indb 44 11/26/15 10:50 AM

 I am so glad you
found Father’s things.

Now we are not

poor anymore.

Jack and his mother lived

happily ever after.

45

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 6. The Gingerbread Man
Once upon a time a little old He ran down the
road towards
woman and a little old man lived the river. Along
in a cottage. the way he met
many hungry animals.
One day they were very hungry
and so they decided to bake a Pig: Stop! Stop! I would like
gingerbread man. to eat you.

They used raisins for eyes and Gingerbread man: Run, run as
cherries for buttons and put him fast as you can. You can’t catch me,
in the oven to bake. As soon the I’m the gingerbread man.
old woman opened the oven, the
gingerbread man jumped out and Cow: Stop! Stop! I would like
ran through an open window. to eat you.

Gingerbread man: Don’t eat me! Gingerbread man:

Run, run as fast as you can.
Woman: Stop! Stop! You can’t catch me, I’m the
gingerbread man.
Gingerbread man: Run, run as
fast as you can! You can’t catch me,
I’m the Gingerbread man.

46

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 The cow chased the gingerbread Fox: I can help you cross the river.
man along with the pig and the Jump onto my tail and I will
little old woman. The gingerbread swim across.
man was too fast for them. It was
not long before the gingerbread Gingerbread man: You won’t eat
man met a horse. me, will you?

Horse: Stop! Stop! Fox: Of course not.

I would like to eat you, little man. So the gingerbread man climbed
on the fox’s tail.
Gingerbread man: Run, run as Soon the gingerbread man began
fast as you can. You can’t catch to get wet.
me, I’m the gingerbread man.
Fox: Climb onto my back.
The horse and the cow and the … Oh dear, you are too
pig and the little old lady and the heavy and I am very tired.
little old man all ran after the Jump onto my nose.
gingerbread man. The gingerbread
man laughed and laughed until he They had no sooner reached the
came to a river. other side when the fox tossed the
gingerbread man into the air. He
Gingerbread man: Oh no! opened his mouth and ‘Snap!’ that
They will catch me. How can I was the end of the gingerbread man.
cross the river?

47

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 7. The three little pigs

The three little pigs are leaving

home. They want to build
their own houses.

“Bye, Mama.
We are going to
live in our own
houses,” they said.

The pigs stop to have a picnic.

The wolf sees the pigs. He is

very hungry. He wants to
eat them for lunch.

48

ANTHOLOGY.indb 48 11/26/15 10:50 AM

 The first pig makes his house Then wolf tries to get into their
from grass. houses. The wolf blows down
the grass house.

The second pig makes his house Then he blows down the stick
from sticks. house. The pigs run to their
sister in the brick house.

The third pig makes her house The wolf tries to blow down the
from bricks. brick house, but he can’t.

49

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 The pigs put a pot of water on
the stove to boil. Then they
put it under the chimney.

The wolf comes down

the chimney.

“Aaaa!” screams the

wolf. “It’s hot!”

The wolf jumps out

of the water and he
runs away forever.

50

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 The three little pigs sing,

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf,

big bad wolf, big bad wolf,
who’s afraid of the big bad wolf,
tralalala!

The three little pigs live happily ever after.

51

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 8. The wolf and the Seven Little Goats

Once upon a time there was a It was not long before someone
knocked at the door.
mother goat who lived in a house
with her seven little kid goats. One Wolf: Open the door dear children,
day she wanted to go into the your mother is here. I have brought
woods to get some food. you lots to eat.

Mother: Children, I am going into Kids: We will not open the door.
the woods. Be on your guard You are not our mother.
for the wolf. If he gets in, he will eat Your voice is too rough. You are
up all of you. You will know it’s the the wolf.
wolf if you hear his gruff voice and
if you see his black feet. The wolf went off and found himself
a large piece of chalk which he
Kids: Don’t worry about us, swallowed to make his voice softer.
mother. We will take care of
ourselves and we won’t open Wolf: Open the door, children dear.
for the wolf. Your mother is here.

52

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 The wolf’s Kids: Okay mom, we are
voice was unlocking the door.
now soft
and sweet. When they opened the door they
The little goats were saw the wolf. They were terrified
about to open the and tried to hide. One of the little
door when they goats jumped under the table, the
saw a pair of big black paws at the second into the bed, the third into
window. the stove, the fourth hid in the
kitchen, the fifth hid in a cupboard,
Kids: We will not open the door. the sixth under the
Our mother does not have black sink, and the seventh
feet. You are the wolf. climbed into the clock
case. The wolf found six
By now the wolf was very hungry. of the little goats and he
He ran and bought some cake flour swallowed them. The
and sprinkled the flour onto his feet. youngest goat was safely
They looked white and fluffy. He hidden in the clock case.
then went back to knock on Soon afterwards the
the door. mother goat came home
from the woods.
Wolf: Children, I am home. Open
the door for me. I have brought you Mother: Where are
lots to eat. you, my little goats?

Kids: Show us Kid seven: Mother, I am

your paw so we hiding in the clock case.
can see that you The wolf ate my brothers
are our mother. and sisters!
So the wolf
put his white The mother goat was
paw inside the furious. She walked
window. towards the well looking

53

ANTHOLOGY.indb 53 11/26/15 10:50 AM

 for the wolf and found him fast They filled his belly with stones
asleep under a tree. The mother and the mother goat stitched up his
goat looked at him from all sides belly. The wolf finally awoke. He
and saw that something was moving was very thirsty and walked to the
and jiggling inside his full belly. river to drink.

Mother: Is it possible that my Wolf: What rumbles and

poor children can still be alive? tumbles inside of me? I thought
Baby goat, go and fetch my I ate goat kids but it feels like I
scissors and a needle and thread. have eaten stones.
When he returned she cut open
the wolf’s stomach. Out jumped The wolf’s stomach rumbled and
the six little goat kids. grumbled as he ran away with a
great pain in his stomach and the
Kids: Hooray, we are all alive! goat family lived happily ever after.

Mother: Let’s find some big stones.

We will fill the beast’s stomach with
stones while he is still asleep. Aaaagh! I will never
eat goats again!

54

ANTHOLOGY.indb 54 11/26/15 10:50 AM

 Short Stories
Ben finds a Chuck the Dudu’s How the Zebra
new friend Truck dream got its stripes

Bubu It’s a The goats ate Super Swift Suzy

gets lost dog’s life Gogo’s garden Saves the Day

Animals at sea Wendy Whale to the rescue The great escape

The Leaf of Many Colours Mandu’s Secret Diary Oh No Mr Lion!

Bheki’s new bike There’s a monster in my cupboard A sea adventure

ANTHOLOGY.indb 55 11/26/15 10:50 AM

 1. Ben finds a new friend
Pam, Lebo and Ben the dog Pam and Lebo run after him.

go for a walk. “Come back Ben!” calls Lebo.

Today Ben is very silly. Ben runs to the wall at the park.
He runs away. Ben sniffs at the wall.
What is he smelling at the wall?
Is it a red and blue ball?
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Pam asks, “What have you found,
Ben?”
Is it a big bone?
Can it be a stone?
Woof! Woof! Woof!

56

ANTHOLOGY.indb 56 11/26/15 10:51 AM

 Pam and Lebo follow Ben into
the park.
Quack! Quack! Quack!
Oh! It is a yellow duckling.
The little duck is lost.
The girls walk slowly towards
the little yellow duck.
“Are you lost little
yellow duck?
Should we take you to
the pond,” says Pam.
Ben starts to bark.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
“No Ben!”
Don’t bark at the little
yellow duck,” says Lebo.
“The little duck is afraid.”

57

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 Pam and Lebo take the little “I wish we could take the duckling
duck to the pond. home,” says Pam.
“Here is your mother and father. The little yellow duckling swims
Look your brother and sisters are away.
swimming in the pond,” says Pam.
“I think the duckling wants to
Quack! Quack! Quack! stay with her family,” says Lebo.
Quack! Quack! Quack!

58

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 Ben sees the little duck swimming in the pond.
Ben also jumps into the pond.

Splash! Splash! Splash!

“No Ben! You are a silly dog.

Get out!” says Pam.

Ben gets out of the pond.

He shakes himself dry.
“Oh no, Ben! Now I am all wet!
Let’s go home,” says Lebo.

Ben says goodbye to his new friend.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Look after your pets!

59

ANTHOLOGY.indb 59 11/26/15 10:51 AM

 2. Chuck the Truck
Chuck was a little Then, he saw
a big orange bus.
yellow tipper “I wish I was a
truck. He wished big orange bus,”
he was big. said Chuck.
One day Chuck
looked at a fast Later, Chuck saw a
blue train that was big shiny white
speeding past. plane flying high in the sky.
“I wish I was a fast blue train,” “I wish I was a shiny white plane,”
said Chuck. said Chuck.

60

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 Chuck looked sad when he saw a Soon after, Chuck saw a fast
big red lorry. red racing car.
“Oh, I wish I was a big red lorry,” “I wish I was as fast as the red
said Chuck. racing car,” said Chuck.

That afternoon, when Chuck

was resting at the river, he saw
a bright green boat.
“I wish I was a bright green
boat,” said Chuck.

61

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 Suddenly, Chuck saw a little boy “Not I,” said the plane.
fall into the river. ”I am too high.”
“Help!” shouted the boy. “I can’t,” said the boat.
“Who will help me?” “I need wind to turn.”

“Not I,” said the train.

“I can’t stop.”

“Not I,” said the bus.

“I only stop at bus stops.”
“We can’t,” said the lorry
and the racing car.
“We can’t go into water.”

Help!

62

ANTHOLOGY.indb 62 11/26/15 10:51 AM

 Yippee!

“Then I will help you!” said the

brave little truck.
He tipped off the stones he was
carrying and dropped his tipper
into the water so that the boy
could climb out of the water.
“Yippee!” shouted the little boy.
“I am safe!”

“Thank you brave yellow truck!”

said the boy.

You don’t have to be

big to be brave.

63

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 3. Dudu’s dream
Last night, Dudu read a “Hello great big elephant,
do you live here?”
book about animals. asked Dudu.
Then she fell asleep and “Yes, this is my home,”
had a dream. trumpeted the elephant.
What did Dudu dream? “I live here too,” snorted
She dreamed that she had the rhino.
some gas balloons that took
her up into the sky. “So do I,” whispered the tiny
ant. “I live in an ant heap.”
While she was flying, Dudu
met a bird. “Hello bird, do Dudu then flew towards the river.
you live here?” asked Dudu. “Hello Mrs Hippo, do you live
here?” asked Dudu.
“Yes, this is my nest,”
tweeted the bird. “Yes, this is my river and I live
with a turtle,” grunted the hippo.
Then Dudu met a monkey.
“Hello monkey, do you “Hello Mr Crocodile, do you live
live here?” asked Dudu. here too?” asked Dudu.

“Yes, this is my tree,” “Yes I do!” growled the crocodile.

chattered the monkey. “And if you don’t go away,
I will eat you for dinner!”
“Hello Mr Lion and Mrs Cheetah,
do you live here?” asked Dudu. “Help! Help!” Dudu cried.

“Yes, we live in the bush,”

roared the lion. “Yes we do”,
purred the cheetah.

64

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 65

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 “I can’t fly back! The croc Dudu told her mother about
will eat me!” cried Dudu. all the animals she had met
in her dream.
“Wake up Dudu. You are
dreaming,” said her mother. “Some live in trees, some in
“It’s time for school.” the bush and some live in
water,” she told her mother.
“In my dream I flew over all
of them,” she said as she ran
for the school bus.

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 67

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 4. How the Zebra got its stripes
A long, long time ago, all zebras They looked at each other and
Mrs Zebra said, “We really don’t
were white. look smart!”
Mr and Mrs Zebra were invited Mrs Zebra painted her chest
to a party. They wanted to look black, and Mr Zebra painted
pretty so they painted his legs black.
themselves in
bright colours. But they didn’t like the way they
looked, so they washed off the paint.
Then they painted black stripes
all over their bodies.
They looked at each other and
liked what they saw.
“Now we look pretty,”
they said.
Off they went to
the party.

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 When Mr and Mrs Zebra
arrived at the party the
other animals loved at the
way they looked.
“You look pretty,” said
the elephant.
“You look beautiful,”
said the hippo.
Everyone at the party liked
“You look lovely,”
their stripes.
said the rhino.
Even King Lion told them
“Thank you very
how beautiful they looked.
much.” said Mr and
Mrs Zebra. “We also King Lion asked all the zebras
like our stripes!” paint black stripes on their bodies.

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 A few days later, the zebras
went to the river to wash off
the stripes but the stripes did
not come off.
The sun had burnt the stripes
into their bodies.

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 To this day, zebras still can’t wash off their stripes.
That is why all zebras have black stripes.

True beauty lies within

the heart!

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 5. Bubu gets lost
A long time ago, all elephants “Am I a lion?”
“Do I belong to you?” asked Bubu.
had short trunks.
“No. You haven’t got big teeth and
One day the elephants were you can’t roar. You must go to
eating. your mother,”
Bubu, the baby elephant, walked said the lion.
away from his family. He walked So off he went
and walked and walked. He did down to the
not hear them call him. river where he
“I want to see the world,” met a hippo.
said Bubu. Bubu asked the hippo:
In no time, Bubu was lost. “Am I a hippo?
“I want my family,” he thought. Do I belong
to you?”
Soon he met a lion.

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 “No, you can’t sleep under water. Bubu asked the giraffe,
You have big ears and I have “Are you my mom?”
small ears. You must go to your “Do I belong to you?”
mother,” said the hippo.
“No. You have a short neck.
On and on he walked until he You must go to your mother,”
met a giraffe. said the giraffe.
He looked up at the giraffe.
And he walked and walked until
he tripped over a tortoise.
He looked down at the tortoise.
“Do I belong to you?” asked Bubu.
“No. You don’t carry your house
on your back.”
“You must go to your mother,”
said the tortoise.

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 Bubu came to a river and saw a The crocodile grabbed Bubu by
crocodile. The crocodile wanted the nose. The crocodile pulled
to eat Bubu for lunch. and pulled.
Bubu asked the Just then, Bubu’s mother
crocodile, “Do I saw her baby. “Let
belong to you? go of my baby!” she
Am I your child?” screamed at the
crocodile. She pulled
“Come closer so I
Bubu out of the river
can see you better,”
by his tail.
said the crocodile.
“Bubu, my baby! Where
Bubu stepped into the
have you been?” said his
water towards the crocodile
mother. Sadly, Bubu said, “I was
and ...
looking for you.”
“Oh no! look at my long
trunk,” said Bubu. “I
look so silly.”

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 “Don’t worry,” said the little bird. He was Bubu, and he was an
“You can use your long trunk to elephant. He belonged with
splash water and to get fruit from the elephants.
the trees,” said the bird.
“I am an elephant,” said Bubu.
Bubu walked off swinging his trunk.
Enjoy being your
He had lots of fun with his long
real self!
trunk. When the other elephants
saw him, they wished that they had
long trunks too.
They all decided to stretch their
noses. That is why, to this day, all
elephants have long trunks.
Bubu never went far from his
family again.
He knew he was not a lion or a
hippo. He was not a giraffe or a
tortoise. And he was not a crocodile.

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 6. It’s a dog’s life

Today Abby and Lebo got onto

the school bus.
Poor Ben could not get onto the bus.
“No Ben, you can’t come on!”
said Lebo. “No dogs allowed!”

Today Abby and Lebo went to

the library.
Poor Ben could not go into
the library.
“No Ben, you can’t come in!”
said Abby. “No dogs allowed!”

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 Today Abby and Lebo went “No Ben, you can’t come in!”
to the beach. said Abby. “No dogs allowed!”
Poor Ben could not go onto
Poor Ben sat under the tree at
the beach.
the gate.
“No Ben, you can’t come with us!” “Grr!” said Ben. He waited
said Abby. and waited.
“No dogs allowed!” Ben fell asleep. Zzzzzz ...
Then he started to dream.
Today Abby and Lebo went to play
in the park.
Poor Ben could not go into the park.

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 What did Ben Ben dreamed that he was in class.
dream? He sat in the front of the class,
between Abby and Lebo.
Ben dreamed he
was on the bus. “I can’t wait for playtime,” said Ben.
“I will sit on the “And then it will be lunchtime!”
front seat of the
Ben dreamed he was digging in
bus,” said Ben.
the sand and surfing the waves.
Ben looked out the
of window and Ben was having a good time.
enjoyed the ride.
“Life is great!” he shouted.

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 Then Ben dreamed he was in the And then …
park with lots of other dogs.
Lebo and Abby came to the gate.
There were big dogs and small
“Wake up Ben! We are going
dogs and long dogs and short dogs.
home now,” said Lebo.
Ben jumped on the swing.
“Swing, swing!” he sang. “Huh? Wake up?” said Ben.
“Do you mean I was dreaming?”
Ben went round and round on the
merry-go-round. “Oh no! It’s a dog’s life!” thought
He went up and down the slide. He Ben.
went up and down on the see-saw.
Then Ben dug in the sandpit. Ben
had a great time.

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 7. The goats ate Gogo’s garden
Peter and Thabo live in the same kicked too hard, the ball landed in
Gogo’s garden. Gogo told them that
street, they go to the same school they must always remember to shut
and they are in the same Grade the gate when they fetched their ball
4 class. Both boys love playing from the garden. There were many
soccer. They play soccer whenever goats roaming around and Gogo
they can. On most afternoons after didn’t want the goats to get into her
school, they play soccer in the open garden. She was afraid they might
field outside their house. Gogo eat up her vegetables.
Sebate lives in the same street, on
the opposite side of the field. One Thursday afternoon, Gogo
was getting ready for visitors from
The two boys started playing soccer Botswana. She was very happy
in the afternoons when the were still that they were coming and she
very young. As they grew older they was planning to make a delicious
began to kick harder, and if they vegetable stew and a big pot of

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 vegetable soup. Her garden was time the
full of lovely fresh vegetables. She neighbourhood
had carrots, beetroot, cabbages, goats had eaten up the
tomatoes, spinach and green beans whole garden! They ate
growing in her garden. all the carrots, beetroot, cabbages,
tomatoes, spinach and green beans!
Peter and Thabo were playing The garden was bare.
soccer in the field as usual. Both
were trying to score a goal. Peter
kicked the ball into Gogo’s garden,
and they both ran to get the ball.
They ran back to the field and
they forgot to lock the gate. In no

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 sorrier that they did not tell Gogo
the truth.

Peter and Thabo waited for Gogo

to come back from the market. She
got out of the taxi with some bags
Gogo was very angry. “Did you of vegetables. They helped Gogo
leave the gate open?” she asked. to carry them home. They helped
“No, Gogo, it wasn’t me,” said Peter. her prepare for the visitors from
Botswana.
“No, Gogo, it wasn’t me,” said
Thabo. Gogo’s visitors arrived. There were
only two small pots on the stove.
“Then who was it?” she asked. She After lunch, everyone still felt
didn’t wait for an answer. She ran hungry. Gogo shrugged sadly. She
for a taxi so that she could go to the did not have enough money to buy
market to buy vegetables. vegetables for her visitors. She
looked sadly at her empty garden
Peter and Thabo knew they had and explained to them that the
lied. They felt very sorry about goats had eaten all the vegetables.
leaving the gate open but they were

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 The next day when Gogo looked Peter and Thabo showed Gogo the
out of the window she saw Peter new spring lock they had put onto
and Thabo and all the other the gate so that it slammed closed
children from the street digging automatically.
and planting seedlings. Gogo came
out to see the children working in They looked at Gogo and said,
the garden. “We’re sorry that we lied Gogo ...
we left it open, Gogo! But it will
never happen again!”
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 8. Super Swift Suzy Saves the Day
It’s Tania’s eleventh paints. Ooh, I love painting!
Wow this is a pencil
birthday party. Among case. Thank you Ann,
the guests is eleven- you knew mine was
year-old Lindi broken.
Myeza, dressed in
her party dress. Mary: Hello
Although Lindi Tania. Sorry I’m
looks like any late. Here’s my
other eleven-year- present, guess
old schoolgirl, she what it is.
is a superheroine Tania: I can feel
and has the it’s soft. Ah, it’s a
remarkable ability little teddy. Ooh, it’s
to turn into Super so cuddly.
Swift Suzy who has super
strength and speed. Sam: Hey! What’s that?

Children: Happy birthday Suddenly, out of the blue, a thief

to you, happy birthday to you. wearing a balaclava runs past and
Happy birthday dear Tania, grabs all the birthday presents and
happy birthday to you. the cake.
Hip-hip hooray!
Tania: I wonder what’s in all these
presents. It’s so exciting! I don’t
know which one I should open first.
Dan: Open mine. I bought you
something I would like.
Tania: It’s a Lego car, that’s great,
Dan! Oh here’s a box of water

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 Policeman: Well done, Lindi!
You’ve done it again. Keep on
fighting crime.
Mother: Have some cake, officer.
Policeman: Just let me lock this
character up in the van.
Mother: Whew! What a day!
Lindi, you didn’t tell me about
your super powers! I thought only
boys were superheroes, and now
I see a young lady like you is a
superheroine. I’m impressed.
Tania: I’m so glad you got
Children: Stop! Thief! my presents back, Lindi! Now,
everyone, let’s get on with the
Tania’s mother runs out of the party. But first, let’s say thank
house. you to Lindi.
Mother: Watch out, children! This Children: Happy heroine
is dangerous. Come over here to me! day to you, happy
Dog: Woof, woof! heroine day to you.
Happy heroine
Lindi: That makes me angry. day dear Lindi,
Lindi turns into Super Swift Suzy happy heroine
in a super heroine suit. Super Swift day to you.
Suzy whisks past the guests and flies
over the river. She stops the thief.
He immediately drops the presents
and the cake. Luckily the cake lands
gently, the right way up.
Lindi: Nice try, Mister. Ann, please
call the police!

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 9. Animals at sea
One day, the wild animals, birds Woody Woodpecker started to fight
and insects from Africa wanted with Peter Pigeon. While they were
to see the world. They decided to rolling around, the woodpecker
go on a boat trip. accidentally poked a hole in the boat.
They enjoyed the first few days Water started leaking into the boat.
of their new adventure, but after The hole got bigger and bigger.
a few days they became bored More and more water flooded into
and began to quarrel. the boat.

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 Flap, flap, flap.
The birds tried to lift the boat
out off the water by flapping
their wings, but they were not
strong enough.
The elephant sucked up the water
from the bottom of the boat and
sprayed it into the sea.
Swish! Swash!
Swish! Swash!

The animals were worried that

the boat might sink and that
they might drown.
“Buzz, buzz, buzz,”
Busy Bee said,
“Let’s work together to
fix the hole.”
So, all the animals worked
together to try and fix the hole.

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 The bees, ants, mice and spiders By this time all the animals were
tried everything they could think afraid of drowning.
of to close the hole.
At that exact moment a little
They used spider thread, fish swam through the hole into
beeswax and honey, but they the boat.
could not close the hole.
“Can you please help us, little
The water continued flowing fish?” they asked anxiously.
into the boat and the level of
“Yes of course,” said the
the water in the boat got higher
little fish.
and higher.

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 The little fish went to fetch Wally They were very relieved, and
Whale. He pressed his huge body they all cheered Wally Whale.
against the hole and stopped the
King Lion said, “Thank you little
water from flowing into the boat.
fish. Thank you Wally Whale.
Finally the animals were You have saved us!”
able to fix the hole while The animals were excited that
there was no water they could continue their trip.
flowing into the
All animals agreed,
boat!
“Together we can make
a difference!”
Alone we can do so
little, together we
can do so much!

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 10. Wendy Whale to the rescue
Long, long ago the The Clownfish family
were very happy living
Clownfish family in the sea. They
lived on a coral found lots to eat
reef in the deep and they were
blue sea. very safe.
After school, the Until one day ...
three children
helped to tidy ... when the
their home. Clownfish family
heard someone
After cleaning, the screaming loudly.
children did their homework
and then played in the coral. “Help! Help! Help!”

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 “Who is screaming?” Mrs The
Clownfish asked. Clownfish
“What is happening?” asked family put
Mr Clownfish. their heads
“We are scared!” cried the three together.
little fish. How could
they save
Then danger struck. They saw
Angie Angelfish?
Scaly Shark chasing poor Angie
Angelfish. There was only one fish
that was not afraid of Scaly Shark.
Poor Angie Angelfish
It was Wendy Whale.
was so scared. She
swam deeper and Mr Clownfish phoned Wendy
deeper into the Whale.
sea to get
“Help! Wendy, help! Scaly Shark
away from
wants to eat Angie Angelfish.
Scaly Shark.
She’s in trouble.”

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 Wendy Whale swam quickly to “Wendy Whale saved us!” shouted
the Clownfish’s home. the Clownfish family.
“Let me help Angie Angelfish. Friendship is about
I am big and strong and I am not trusting and helping
afraid of Scaly Shark.” each other.
With a slap and a flip of her tail,
she smacked Scaly Shark with a
bump and a thump. Angie
Angelfish was saved.
Angie Angelfish thanked the
Clownfish family. She swam off
as fast as she could, back to her
home – far, far away.

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 93

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 Jabu’s
Birthday

11. The great escape

One warm summer evening, the “Good evening Mr Lion,” said the
baboon, “Come on let’s party!”
zookeeper locked up the cages of all
the animals before he left for home. The animals chattered excitedly
about leaving the zoo.
“Good night animals, I will be
back in the morning,” he said as he The monkeys were the first to
locked the baboon’s cage. escape. All twenty three of them
climbed over the zoo fence and
“Good night,” replied Mr Baboon headed for the park.
as he carefully pulled the keys from
the zookeeper’s belt. The monkeys were excited when
they found a table set for a birthday
“I’m so tired,” said the zookeeper. party to be held the next day. The
“I’m glad it’s time to go home. I’m monkeys ate all the party food.
hungry and I can’t wait to have
supper with my family.” They played on the merry-go-round
and on the swings.
As soon as the zookeeper left for
home, Mr Baboon went from one Just then the park’s security guard
cage to the next unlocking the gates. woke up from his nap. He was very
surprised when he saw twenty three
“Hi Mrs Hippo,” he said, “Come on monkeys playing in the park. “Can
it’s party time!” this be true?” he asked himself.

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 Back at the zoo, Tessa Felix the elephant was the last
the tortoise was slowly animal to leave the zoo. He walked
making her way through the town.
towards the zoo gate.
While he was walking along the
“Oh dear!” Tessa road Felix saw a house in flames.
thought. “Phew! He sucked up water from the
This is such hard work. I swimming pool and sprayed the
think I will rather stay in the zoo house. Soon the fire was out.
and rest.”
“Well done, Mr Elephant!” shouted
The hundred year-old tortoise the fire fighters.
was too tired to follow the other
“Hooray!” cheered the spectators.
animals.
Hilda the hippo decided to leave the
zoo and wandered down the main
road.
She was surprised by how noisy
the traffic was. It was all too noisy!
She decided to sleep in the fountain
outside the town hall, but kept
waking to the sound of hooters and
the alarms of emergency vehicles.
Leo the lion prowled down the
street. He sniffed for food. What
could he eat?
He peered into the supermarket.
“Help! Help!” screamed the
customers.
“Help, help!” the manager shouted
into the phone.
“There is a lion in the shop! Really,
is it true” he said.
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 Felix continued on his walk through He lifted Ntebo onto his back and
the town towards the village. then he sucked up enough water
to fill the water tank.
He saw Ntebo walking from the
river. She was struggling to carry a
bucket of water.
“I keep spilling the water,” said
Ntebo.
“Don’t worry, I will help you carry
water,” said Felix.

Meanwhile, Jerry giraffe

strolled towards the
library. He peered
through the windows of
the bus.
“Watch out!” yelled the
bus driver.

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 And then, all the animals decided to
go back to the zoo.
“It’s not easy finding food in town,”
said the lion.
“I can’t sleep with all the traffic
noise,” said the hippo.
“It’s like a jungle in the city,” said
the elephant.
“We had lots of fun at the party, but
we are tired and want to go back
home,” said the monkeys.
Soon the zookeeper and all his Mr Baboon, who had kept the keys,
assistants were out looking for the opened the gate to let the animals
animals. The police came to back back into the zoo.
them up.
“Oh, now I know what happened to
Newspaper headlines and radio my keys!” said the zookeeper.
news flashes warned people about
the lion on the prowl in the shops.

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 12. The Leaf
of Many Colours

A tree stood The little leaf was about to say yes,

when the wind began to blow again.
in the garden. Whoosh! went the wind, and it lifted
The wind up the little leaf, up and up into the
began to blow and sky. The wind took it a long way.
a little leaf began Then it dropped the little leaf gently
to shake. at the side of the road.

“Hello, little yellow leaf,”

said a bird by the side
of the road. “Are you
It fell off the tree. It fell down and going to stay with
down and down, until it landed on me?” “That’s funny,”
the grass under the tree. A cat was said the little leaf.
sitting on the grass. “Hello, little “The cat said I was
green leaf,” said the cat. green. Now the bird
“Can I play says I am yellow.
with you?” I wonder what
colour I am?”

The leaf was about to ask the

bird when the wind began to blow
again. Whoosh! went the wind, and
it lifted the little leaf up and up into
the sky. The wind took it a long way.
Then it dropped the little leaf gently
in a big field.

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 There were I was yellow and the cow said I was
cows in the field, orange. Now the goat says I am red.
eating the I wonder what colour I am?”
grass.
One of The little leaf lay quite still. “Hello,
the cows little brown leaf,” said a pig. “I
came over nearly ate you just now. Did the
to look at the little wind bring you here?” “That’s
leaf. “Moo,” said the cow. “Hello, funny,” said the little leaf.
little orange leaf.” “The cat said I was green,
“That’s funny,” said the little leaf. the bird said I was yellow,
“The cat said I was green and the the cow said I was orange
bird said I was yellow. Now the cow and the goat said I was
says I am orange. I wonder what red. Now the pig
colour I am?” says I am brown.
I wonder what
The little leaf was just about to ask colour I am?”
the cow when the wind began to
blow again. Whoosh! went the wind Just then a little boy saw the leaf
and it lifted the little leaf up and up and picked it up. “Look,” he said
into the sky. The wind took it a long to his mother. “Look at this little
way. Then it dropped the little leaf gold leaf. And look at all the other
gently on the top of a big hill. leaves. They are green and yellow
and orange and red
The little leaf lay there for some and brown and gold.”
time. Then a goat came up to it. “Yes,” said his mother.
“Hello, little red leaf,” said the goat. “Now that summer
“Have you come to live on the hill is over, the leaves
with me?” are the colours
“That’s funny,” said of autumn.”
the little leaf. “The
cat said I was
green and
the bird said

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 13. Mandu’s
Secret Diary
Mandu liked to write in her
diary every day. Each day, she
wrote down what she did during the
day. She also wrote down her secrets
that she did not want anyone else to
see. She knew she needed to have
a good hiding place for her diary.
She looked around her bedroom
and wondered where she could hide
it, where nobody else would find
it. Eventually she decided to hide it
under her bed.

One afternoon, when Mandu and her friend

Anna came back from school, Mandu found
her diary lying wide open on the floor
of her bedroom.

“Oh, look Anna! Someone has been reading

my diary!” she yelled.

“Don’t worry,” Anna advised her.

“Just find a better place to keep it
in future.”

They examined the dairy.

“Look at these dirty fingerprints,”
Anna said.
“This is a good clue.”

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 “I bet it’s my younger
brother, Thabo,” Mandu
said. “Thabo always has
dirty fingers.”
But then she remembered
her brother was only 5 and
he couldn’t read yet.

Then she found a blond

hair between the pages of the
diary. “This is an important
clue,”’ she said. “Someone
with blond hair must have read
my diary. Everybody in my
family has black hair. So who
could it be? Who do I know that
has blond hair?” she asked, looking
suspiciously at Anna’s blond hair.

The two girls decided to set a trap.

Mandu put her diary back under The floor was covered in
her bed. She sprinkled some flour floury paw prints. There was the
on the floor next to her bed. culprit! Zola, Mandu’s dog, which
had long blond hair, was playing
If anyone came near her diary, they with the diary! The girls could not
would find the footprints in the believe their eyes.
flour. The girls left the room, hid
around the corner and waited! So Zola was the diary reader!
“Next time,” said Anna, running
Suddenly, they heard scratching her fingers through her blond hair,
noises coming from the bedroom. “you will have to find a much better
They ran back into Mandu’s room. place to hide your diary.”
What did they see? Adapted from ANA examination 2012.

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 14. Oh No Mr Lion!
Once upon a time, all the When the lion saw all the animals
approaching, he was very happy, as
animals of Brer Village lived he thought that he would not have
happily together. Life was to hunt that day – his meal was
wonderful, and the little rabbits, being delivered.
the stripy zebras, the happy
hippos, the clever crocodile, the big But as his mouth was beginning to
elephants and the frisky monkeys all water at the thought of lunch, the
lived happily together until ... plucky monkey spoke to him.
A nasty lion moved in and wanted
to eat them all! Monkey: Please, Mr King ... ah ...
um ... we need to speak to you about
From that day on, the animals an important matter. If you kill us
were very frightened all the time. all, you won’t be the king anymore.
One day, however, they made a
courageous decision: they would go Then all the animals began
and talk to the lion to find a solution speaking almost at once.
to this problem.

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 Zebra: Yes, you would have no one The lion listened to what they had
to rule over. to say.

Crocodile: You would be all alone Lion: You will deliver my food?
in your kingdom. That is a good solution! But I must
warn you; if you miss even one day,
Hippo: Mr Lion you would get I will eat you all in one meal!
very hungry with no one left to eat!
So it was agreed. From then on, one
Elephant: You would soon starve animal was sent to the lion’s den
to death! every day, and the lion was very
happy. One day it was the rabbit’s
Rabbit: So we have a suggestion turn to sacrifice his life to provide
for you: If you stop killing us, we food for the lion. The rabbit did not
promise to send you someone to eat want to die, so he thought of a plan.
every day. You wouldn’t have to
hunt ever again. Slowly, the rabbit made his way to
You could just sit and watch TV all the lion’s den.
day long. When he got there, the lion was
pacing up and down.

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 He was very hungry. When he reflection. He thought it was the
saw the little rabbit, he was very other lion. He let out a huge
angry. roar and immediately jumped
into the water to attack what he
Lion: Do you think a thought was the other lion.
small rabbit like you will The lion hit his head against
provide me with enough the rocks and drowned.
meat for the day? I am very The little rabbit,
hungry, and see how small now in
and thin you are! excellent
spirits,
Rabbit: The animals had returned
actually sent you six rabbits, Mr to the other
King, but five of them were killed animals to spread
and eaten by another lion. the good news.
All the animals
Lion: What other lion? I am the lived happily ever after in Brer
king around here. Village.

Rabbit: It was … the … there

was a … a very big lion. The other
lion said he was the real king of the
jungle.

Lion: Take me to the other lion, so

that I can teach him a lesson – this is
MY kingdom!

The little rabbit led the lion to

a deep river. He told the lion
that the other lion was in
the river.
The lion peered into the
river and saw his own

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 105

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 15. Bheki’s new bike
All Bheki’s friends had bikes.
Bheki wished he had one too. He
watched as his friends rode their
bikes to school.
“Oh, I wish I had a bike,”
Bheki said.
Then, when Bheki turned eight,
his mother and father bought him a
He tried again, and fell off again
red bike for his birthday.
and again and again.
Bheki was very happy. “I have
Bheki did not know how to ride a
always wanted a bike. Now I can
bike.
ride with my friends.”
He pushed the bike into his room. It
Bheki was very happy. He jumped
stood next to his bed. Every day he
onto his new bike, but fell off.
polished it so that it shone.

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 Bheki looked at the bike. “I wish I
could ride it,” he thought. “I must
make a plan.”
“Bheki, come and ride with us,” his
friends called.
“I am polishing my bike,” Bheki
said.
“Why don’t you go outside and ride
with your friends?” Bheki’s mother
asked.
Every night Bheki went into the
“I am fixing the hooter,” Bheki said. garden and tried to ride his bike
Bheki did not tell anyone his secret. when no one could see him.
He could not ride a bike. But poor Bheki kept falling and hurt
himself.

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 One night, his friend Jane saw Bheki
trying to ride his bike. Then off he
went with Scamp running next to
“Bheki!” she called. “Let me hold
him.
the bike so that you can ride.”
“Yippee!” shouted Jane. “Yippee!”
Jane held the bike and ran behind
yelled Bheki as he rode in the
Bheki.
moonlight.
He fell once, he fell twice, and then
The next day, Bheki rode with his
he did not fall again.
friends to school. He was glad that
“I can balance, I can ride!” Bheki he kept trying.
screamed.
If at first you don’t
Bheki rode faster and faster. Jane
succeed, try, try, try,
ran behind him.
again!
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 109

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 16. There’s a monster
in my cupboard

John invited his friend Robert for did you get such a scary game?
You’d better watch out, or the
a sleepover. The two boys were monsters will get you!”
enjoying John’s Nintendo game.
“Here comes another monster!
“This is the best computer game!” It looks like it’s going to get me!”
shrieked John. “Come and see the John shouted. “Just look at it! It
monsters attacking me!” has a head, teeth and a tail like a
“Wow!” Robert Tyrannosaurus Rex. It’s vicious!”
exclaimed. “Where “John and Robert,” called John’s
mother. “Put that Nintendo away
and get into bed now!”
“Ok, but I just want to finish this
game,” John called back.
“Switch the game off now!”
said his mother. “You can
carry on playing tomorrow.”
“Okay, mom,” said John
as he switched off his light
and carried on playing his
Nintendo game in the
dark.
Robert fell asleep.
Eventually John
stopped playing and
also fell asleep. The

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 moonlight shone through
the window onto the
cupboard in the room.
Suddenly John woke
up. What was that noise?
Scratch! Bump! Scratch!
Scratch!
John sat up in bed and
pulled the blankets up to
his chin. His eyes searched
the dark room as he tried
to see what was making
the scary sounds. They
were coming from his
cupboard.
The cupboard was glowing
in the moonlight and the
door shook. Then the
cupboard door moved.
Squeak! Squeak!

Something was bumping

against the door.
“A monster!” John whispered.
“Who’s there?” he asked, in a
shaky voice.
The cupboard door began to
open. John jumped up in fear
and slammed the door shut.
With a pounding heart, he
pushed a chair against the door.

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 “I hope I can go back to sleep now,” Gripped by fear, he woke his friend,
he thought. Robert.
Just as he climbed back into bed, “Robert! There’s something in my
there was another bump against cupboard! It’s a monster of some
the door. This time it was an even kind, it could be a prehistoric
louder bump. dinosaur,” he whispered.
“Oh no!” he thought. “What am “You probably had a nightmare. Let
I going to do now? I don’t want to me sleep, I’m tired,” replied Robert.
wake everyone in the house.”

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 “It wasn’t a dream. I had to lock Suddeny the torch revealed two
the door. The cupboard door was yellow eyes. The two boys jumped
opening by itself!” back in fright.
“Don’t be silly, John. You are “What can it be?” whispered
dreaming about your game.” Robert, as he pressed the door
closed.
“Let’s open the door together, then
you’ll see!” The bumping and scratching got
louder. Robert took a deep breath
Robert gave a great big sigh
and pulled the door open again. A
and picked up his backpack. He
creature jumped out and streaked
scratched around in it and found
past them.
his torch. He walked towards the
cupboard. “What was that?” John screamed.
Suddenly there was another “It was your cat!” shrieked Robert,
loud thump. The two boys stood bursting out laughing.
still, too frightened to move. A
scratching sound now came from
the cupboard.
“Did you hear that?” John
asked.
Robert nodded. He
could feel his heart
pounding in his chest.
John and Robert
tiptoed to the
cupboard. John
opened the door
slightly and Robert
shone the torch
through the crack.
Something was trying
to push the door open.

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 16. A sea adventure
Joseph, Thabo, Martha and They packed a map, a compass, a
pocket knife, four sleeping bags, a
Mohammed are very adventurous torch, a camera and enough food
children. They like mountain for a month.
climbing, swimming in a dam and
diving in the sea. “We mustn’t forget our life jackets,”
said Joseph.
One day the four children
decided to set out on a sea voyage With everything packed and full
to see the world. of excitement, the four children
sailed off at sunset.
“Let’s look at the map and see
where we could sail to,” said Thabo. Up and down over the waves
they went. They sailed
into the night.
It was a stormy night. The
wind howled and the waves
crashed into their ship.
Mohammed spotted a
flashing light in the
distance. It was another
ship and it was coming
towards them. He grabbed
the telescope and climbed
up to the crow’s-nest to
have a better view of it.
“What kind of ship could it be?”
asked Martha.
“It might be a cruise ship
or perhaps a cargo ship,”
said Joseph.

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 The ship came closer. There were Fearlessly the children armed
a number of men on board. themselves with their plastic swords.
The children got a big fright when
“Captain Joseph leads the way! In
they saw what they looked like.
his footsteps we will stay!” shouted
“Watch out! They are pirates!” Mohammed, Martha and Thabo.
Thabo shouted.
“Pirates, go away!” yelled the
“What are pirates?” asked children.
Mohammed.
“Thabo, call the coast guard,
Pirates are thieves who steal quickly!” Captain Joseph ordered.
from other sailors,” said Thabo.
Within minutes, the children heard
“Let’s get ready to fight the pirates the distant sound of the rescue
tonight,” said Thabo. helicopter. They gave a sigh of
relief as the pirates turned
their ship around and sailed
off hastily into the night.
Captain Joseph had saved
the day!

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 “Hooray!”shouted the children They sailed from North to South
joyfully. and met children from different
countries.
“We are safe! The pirates are gone!”
On arriving home, they told their
“Captain Joseph is our hero! With
tales and showed their parents
him as leader, danger is a zero!”
and friends their photos.
shouted the children.
They had been on an adventure
It was almost dawn. The storm had
of a lifetime!
stopped. The danger had passed.
Whenever you are afraid of
The children continued their
something, that is your chance to
journey, happy to set sail again and
BE BRAVE!
explore the rest of the world.

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 Poems and Songs
Twinkle, Twinkle Head and Happy Five Little
Little Star Shoulders Birthday Chickens

Five Little One, Two, Buckle The Animals Went Old MacDonald
Monkeys My Shoe in Two by Two had a Farm

Rain, Rain The Wheels Two Little Incy Wincy

Go Away on the Bus Dicky Birds Spider

Thula, The Lion Sleeps

Thula Baba Tonight

ANTHOLOGY.indb 117 11/26/15 10:55 AM

 1. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,

When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

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 2. Head and Shoulders

Head and shoulders,

knees and toes,
knees and toes.

Head and shoulders,

knees and toes,
knees and toes.

Head and shoulders,

knees and toes.

Head and shoulders,

knees and toes,
knees and toes.

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 3. Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday dear friend.

Happy birthday to you.

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 4. Five Little Chickens

Said the first little chicken,

With a quick little squirm,
“I wish I could find
a fat little worm.”

Said the next little chicken,

With an odd little shrug,
“I wish I could find
a fat little slug.”

Said the third little chicken,

With a sharp little squeal,
“I wish I could find some
nice yellow meal.”

Said the fourth little chicken,

With a small sound of grief,
“I wish I could find
a little green leaf.”

Said the fifth little chicken,

With a faint little moan,
“I wish I could find
a small little stone.”

“Now see here,” said the mother,

from the green garden patch,
“If you want any dinner,
Just come here and scratch.”

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 5. Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed.

One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed.

One fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed.

One fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

One little monkey jumping on the bed.

She fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

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 6. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

One, two,

Buckle my shoe;

Three, four,

Open the door;

Five, six,

Pick up sticks;

Seven, eight,

Lay them straight:

Nine, ten,

Do it again!

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 7. The Animals Went in Two by Two
The animals went in two by two The animals went in four by four
Hoorah! Hoorah! The great hippopotamus
The animals went in two by two stuck in the door
Hoorah! Hoorah! And they all went into the ark
To get out of the rain.
The animals went in two by two
The animals went in five by five
The elephant and the kangaroo
Hoorah! Hoorah!
And they all went into the ark
The animals went in five by five
To get out of the rain.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The animals went in three by three
The animals went in five by five
Hoorah! Hoorah!
By hunting each other
The animals went in three by three
they kept alive
Hoorah! Hoorah!
And they all went into the ark
The animals went in three by three To get out of the rain.
The wasp, the ant and
The animals went in six by six
the bumblebee
Hoorah! Hoorah!
And they all went into the ark
The animals went
To get out of the rain.
in six by six
The animals went in Hoorah! Hoorah!
four by four
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The animals went in four by four
Hoorah! Hoorah!

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 8. Old MacDonald had a Farm

Old MacDonald had a farm,

hee hi hee hi ho.
And on the farm he had some cows,
with a moo moo here and a moo moo there,
here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.
Old MacDonald had a farm, hee hi hee hi ho.

Old MacDonald had a farm,

hee hi hee hi ho.
And on the farm he had a dog,
with a woof woof here and a woof woof there,
here a woof, there a woof, everywhere a woof woof.
Old MacDonald had a farm, hee hi hee hi ho.

Old MacDonald had a farm,

hee hi hee hi ho.
And on the farm he had a horse,
with a neigh neigh here,
and a neigh neigh there,
here a neigh, there a neigh,
everywhere a neigh neigh.
Old MacDonald had a farm,
hee hi hee hi ho.

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 9. Rain, Rain Go Away

Good morning, Mr Sun!

Your day has just begun.
I like to see your shiny face.
Good morning, Mr Sun.

Rain, rain go away!

Little children want to play.
Come again another day.
Stay away for just one day.

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 10. The Wheels of the Bus

The wheels of the bus go round and round,

round and round, round and round.
The wheels of the bus go round and round,
All day long.
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish,
swish swish swish, swish swish swish.
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish,
All day long.
The hooter on the bus goes beep beep beep,
beep beep beep, beep beep beep.
The hooter on the bus goes beep beep beep,
All day long.
bee
beep p
beep

swish
swis
h

round
rou
n d 127

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 11. Two Little Dicky Birds

Two little dicky birds,

Sitting on a wall;

One named Peter,

One named Paul.

Fly away Peter!

Fly away Paul!

Come Back Peter!

Come Back Paul!

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 12. Incy Wincy Spider
Incy Wincy spider
climbed up
the waterspout,

Down came the rain

and washed
the spider out,

Out came the sun

and dried up
all the rain,

So Incy Wincy spider

climbed up
the spout again.

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 13. Thula, Thula Baba

Keep quiet my child.

Keep quiet my baby.

Be quiet,
daddy will be home by dawn.

There’s a star
that will lead him home.

The star will brighten

his way home.

The hills and stones

are still the same my love.

My life has changed,

yes my life has changed.

The children grow but you

don’t know my love.

The children grew but you

don’t see them grow.

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 14. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
In the jungle, the mighty jungle Chorus
the lion sleeps tonight,
Hush my darling,
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
don’t fear my darling,
the lion sleeps tonight.
the lion sleeps tonight,
Chorus Hush my darling,
He, ha helelemama don’t fear my darling,
Ohi’mbube, Ohi’mbube the lion sleeps tonight.
In the village, the peaceful village, Chorus
the lion sleeps tonight,
In the village, the quiet village,
the lion sleeps tonight.

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ANTHOLOGY.indb 132 11/26/15 10:56 AM