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Fionn and His Mother

From Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens, 1920

This reader is taken from Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens, first published in 1920. The book retells the legends of Fionn mac Cumhaill, a hero from ancient Irish mythology. In this episode, we meet Fionn as a small boy hidden in the woods, looked after by nurses while his mother, Muirne, stays away to keep him safe from enemies. The story shows a brave, curious child exploring the world around him—climbing trees, learning about nature, and holding onto a precious memory of his mother's one secret visit. It is the beginning of a great hero's life, told with tenderness and wonder. This text reflects its era.

Band

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

Length

short · about 342 words in 5 sections · 4 pictures

Source

Irish Fairy Tales, James Stephens

First published

1920

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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