Johnny-cake
A folk tale from English Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs
This folk tale comes from English Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs in the nineteenth century. Johnny-cake is a simple cornmeal pancake, and this story of a runaway cake is a cumulative tale—each chase adds to the list Johnny-cake boasts about. The story shows a child that being too proud and not watching out can lead to trouble. Folk tales like this one have been told for generations to entertain and teach at the same time. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised.
- Band
- Purple · Pre-readers and first readersTypical starting range: ages 4–5
- Length
- short · about 290 words in 5 sections · 4 pictures
- Source
- English Fairy Tales, Joseph Jacobs
- 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 7 minutes at this band
- Pause questions
- 4
- 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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