The Story of the Oriole

A nature myth retold from The Book of Nature Myths by Florence Holbrook

This nature myth comes from The Book of Nature Myths by Florence Holbrook, first published in 1902. The book collects traditional stories that explain how things in nature came to be. This tale tells why the oriole's hanging nest looks so much like a hornet's nest. It is a story of courage, kindness, and transformation — showing children that even the smallest creature can be brave, and that help can come from unexpected places.

Band

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

Length

short · about 391 words in 4 sections · 4 pictures

Source

The Book of Nature Myths, Florence Holbrook · 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.