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Androclus and the Lion

A story retold from Fifty Famous Stories, by James Baldwin

This tale comes from ancient Rome, retold by American author James Baldwin in the nineteenth century. The text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. It is a story of kindness repaid: a runaway slave helps a wounded lion, and the lion later saves his life. Children learn that acts of mercy can return in unexpected ways, and that friendship can cross the greatest divides.

Band

Purple · Pre-readers and first readersTypical starting range: ages 4–5

Length

short · about 389 words in 6 sections · 4 pictures

Source

Fifty Famous Stories Retold, James Baldwin

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)

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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