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The Talkative Tortoise

A tale from Indian Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs

This tale comes from Indian Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs and first published in 1892. The story originally appears in the Kacchapa Jataka, part of the ancient Buddhist Jataka tales. It has travelled across cultures and centuries, appearing in the Bidpai fables and many other collections. The tale teaches a timeless lesson: sometimes silence is wiser than speech, and pride can make us forget what matters most. This text reflects its era.

Band

Yellow · Emerging readersTypical starting range: ages 6–8

Length

medium · about 552 words in 4 sections · 4 pictures

Source

Indian Fairy Tales, Joseph Jacobs and John Dickson Batten

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 (8 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Colouring page
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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