Why the Peacock's Tail Has a Hundred Eyes
A myth retold from The Book of Nature Myths, by Florence Holbrook
This myth comes from ancient Greece, part of the stories the Greeks told to explain the natural world. Florence Holbrook retold it in 1902. Juno (called Hera by the Greeks) was queen of the gods; her husband, the king of the gods (Zeus), loved to play tricks on her. This story explains why the peacock's tail feathers have round spots that look like eyes. The text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. It is a story worth reading because it shows how ancient people used imagination to explain the beauty around them.
- Band
- Purple · Pre-readers and first readersTypical starting range: ages 4–5
- Length
- short · about 340 words in 4 sections · 4 pictures
- Source
- The Book of Nature Myths, Florence Holbrook
- 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
- 3
- 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.
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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.