The Story of the First Moles

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

This reader retells a nature myth from The Book of Nature Myths, published in 1902 by American educator Florence Holbrook. The collection gathers folk tales that explain why animals and plants are the way they are. This story shows how greed and trickery have consequences, and it offers a magical explanation for why moles live underground. Myths like this one help children explore fairness, justice, and the natural world through story.

Band

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

Length

short · about 357 words in 5 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.