The Old Bullfinch and the Young Birds

A fable retold from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse, by Harrison Weir

This fable comes from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse, a collection published by Harrison Weir in the 1800s. The story reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. Like Aesop's fables, it teaches a lesson through animals: sometimes older, wiser voices see dangers that younger ones miss. Listening to good advice — even when we feel impatient — can save us from trouble later. This fable helps children think about the value of experience and the cost of ignoring wise counsel.

Band

Purple · Pre-readers and first readers, about 4 to 5

Length

short · about 314 words in 6 sections · 4 pictures

Source

Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse, Harrison Weir · Project Gutenberg

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

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.