The Hedley Kow
From More English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs
This story comes from More English Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs in the nineteenth century. The Hedley Kow is a magical creature from the north of England that plays tricks on people by changing shape. This reader reflects the era of the original tale. The old woman's cheerful response to every change shows a child how gratitude and good humour can turn disappointment into delight. The story rewards a generous heart.
- Band
- Purple · Pre-readers and first readersTypical starting range: ages 4–5
- Length
- short · about 331 words in 5 sections · 4 pictures
- Source
- More English Fairy Tales, Joseph Jacobs and John Dickson Batten
- First published
- see the About page in the reader
- Regions
- Canada · United States
Included formats
- · Web reader and PDF
- · EPUB for e-readers
- · Home-print sheet
- · Folded booklet
- · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
- · Worksheet
- · Quick Check (6 questions) with answer key
- · Read-aloud script
- · Colouring page
- · Teacher’s Edition (members)
Lesson at a glance
- Reading
- about 8 minutes at this band
- Pause questions
- 4
- Words to Know
- 4
- Quick Check
- 6 questions, with the answer key
- Let’s Talk
- 3 questions for afterwards
- Worksheet
- questions, an activity and a drawing prompt
About 35 minutes with one story, all of it.
Readers are engineered from the original public-domain text with AI under HummingRead’s published canon and Content Philosophy, checked by automated audit and sampled by a person. Pictures are made with AI to HummingRead’s brief for each story. How a reader is made.
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The same story
Other bands of this story
This story is ready now at the Purple band only. Other bands can be made to order for members after launch.