Olive and the Slow Road
A proud runner mocks a slow friend and learns that steady effort beats a quick start.
Olive the owl was the fastest in the forest and loved to boast. One day, Olive laughed at Rory the rabbit. βYou are so slow!β Olive said. Rory said calmly, βSlow, but I always get there.β
βLetβs race to the top of the hill,β said Rory. βThe winner gets a silver bell.β Olive laughed so hard. βYouβll never beat me!β But Rory only smiled.
The race began. Olive zoomed off, leaving Rory behind. Halfway up, Olive looked back. Rory was just a dot. βI have plenty of time,β Olive thought, and lay down for a nap.
Rory didnβt stop. Step by step, one foot after another, Rory plodded up the hill. Past the sleeping Olive. Past the rock. Past the old pine tree. Never stopping.
When Olive woke up, Rory was already at the top, holding a silver bell. Olive dashed up, but too late. βYou won,β said Olive, embarrassed. βSlow and steady,β smiled Rory. And Olive never boasted again.
The little lesson
Slow and steady wins the race.
Letβs talk about it
- Who do you think would win?
- Why did Olive stop?
Finish stories to collect Olive as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Fables stories
Benji Drops Pebbles
Benji is thirsty, but the water is too low in the jug. A clever idea saves the day!
Slow and Steady with Luca
A proud runner mocks a slow friend and learns that steady effort beats a quick start.
Slow and Steady with Jonah
A proud runner mocks a slow friend and learns that steady effort beats a quick start.
You might also like
Splash! Percy and the River Race
Every jungle animal enters the big river race. Can Percy win with a leaf boat?
Mateo, Keeper of the Light
When a big storm puts out the lighthouse lamp, Mateo climbs the stairs to save the boats.
The Great Leaf Jump with Ravi
The leaves are falling in a rainbow. Ravi and friends gather the biggest leaf pile.