The following is a three level introduction to the story of The Fox and the Crow. Begin with level 1, and work your way up to level 3 by learning the new vocabulary added in each section.
Reading Level 1
Story by Aesop, modern translation by Diedra Drake
A Crow sat on a tree branch holding a piece of cheese in her beak. A Fox saw her and decided to find a way to get the cheese from her.
He came over and stood under the tree, then he looked up and said, “What a special bird I see! The color of her feathers makes her more beautiful than all other birds. If she also has a sweet sounding voice, then she should be Queen of the Birds.”
The Crow was very happy to hear this, and decided to show the Fox that she could sing. She gave a loud caw, and down fell the cheese from her mouth. The Fox picked it up and said, “You have a good voice, madam Crow. But you are not so very smart.”
Reading Level 2
Story by Aesop, modern translation by Diedra Drake
A Crow was sitting on a branch of a tree with a piece of cheese in her beak when a Fox saw her. He decided to discover some way of getting the cheese.
Coming and standing under the tree he looked up and said, “What a special bird I see above me! Her beauty is greater than all others, the color of her feathers exquisite. If only her voice is as sweet, then she should be Queen of the Birds.”
The Crow was very flattered to hear this, and decided to show the Fox that she could sing. She gave a loud caw. Down came the cheese, and the Fox snatched it up, then said, “You have a good voice, madam, I see: what you are missing is wits.”
Reading Level 3
Story by Aesop, translated by V. S. Vernon Jones
A Crow was sitting on a branch of a tree with a piece of cheese in her beak when a Fox observed her and set his wits to work to discover some way of getting the cheese.
Coming and standing under the tree he looked up and said, “What a noble bird I see above me! Her beauty is without equal, the hue of her plumage exquisite. If only her voice is as sweet as her looks are fair, she ought without doubt to be Queen of the Birds.”
The Crow was hugely flattered by this, and just to show the Fox that she could sing she gave a loud caw. Down came the cheese, of course, and the Fox, snatching it up, said, “You have a voice, madam, I see: what you want is wits.”
