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The Story of the Bees and the Flies

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

This is a nature myth from The Book of Nature Myths by Florence Holbrook, first published in 1902. A manito is a spirit in some Indigenous North American traditions; Holbrook retold this as a literary tale to explain how bees and flies came to be. The story teaches that those who work and plan are rewarded, while those who depend on others without contributing may find themselves without help when they need it most. It is a gentle fable for young children about responsibility and the consequences of choices. This text reflects its era.

Band

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

Length

short · about 323 words in 5 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)

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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