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The Origin of the Ocean

A tale retold from Nights With Uncle Remus, by Joel Chandler Harris

This tale comes from Nights With Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris, first published in 1883. It is one of many African American folktales Harris collected and published in the late nineteenth century. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. The story explains, in the playful logic of folklore, how the ocean came to separate the continents—and why clever Rabbit and fierce Lion live on opposite sides of the world. It rewards a child who notices that wit can match strength, and that actions have consequences that last.

Band

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

Length

short · about 357 words in 5 sections · 4 pictures

Source

Nights With Uncle Remus, Joel Chandler Harris

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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