Purple bandReady now · Open and print today

Antonio Canova

From Fifty Famous Stories Retold, by James Baldwin

This reader is drawn from James Baldwin's Fifty Famous Stories Retold, first published in 1896. Antonio Canova (1757–1822) was a real Italian sculptor whose work is still admired today. This story reflects the era in which it was written; a few period terms have been modernised. The tale shows how talent and courage can open doors, and how one moment of creativity can change a life. It is worth a child's time because it celebrates the power of trying, the kindness of those who give a child a chance, and the truth that great things can begin in humble places.

Band

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

Length

short · about 383 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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