The Hare and the Tortoise Story for Kids (With Moral)

The Hare and the Tortoise Story

In a sunny green meadow lived a hare who was very, very fast — and he wanted everyone to know it.

"I'm the fastest animal in the whole meadow!" he would shout, zooming in circles around the other animals. "Nobody can beat me. Nobody!"

One morning, he zoomed past Tortoise, who was slowly munching a dandelion leaf.

"Good morning, Slowcoach!" laughed Hare. "Do you ever get anywhere? By the time you reach the end of the meadow, it'll be next week!"

Tortoise finished chewing. Then he said, very calmly, "I'll race you."

The meadow went quiet. Then all the animals burst out laughing. Even the birds giggled in the trees.

"You? Race me?" said Hare. "All right. To the big oak tree on the hill. Let's go!"

Owl was the judge. "Ready... steady... GO!"

Hare shot off like an arrow, his long ears flapping in the wind. In a few seconds he was halfway across the meadow. Tortoise took one small step. Then another. Then another.

Hare looked back. Tortoise was just a tiny dot, far, far behind.

"This is too easy," Hare said with a yawn. The sun was warm, and there was a soft patch of clover under a shady tree. "Tortoise will take all day. I'll have a little rest, and I'll still win easily."

He lay down, closed his eyes and was soon fast asleep, snoring gently.

Back in the meadow, Tortoise kept going. Step, step, step. The sun got hotter. His legs got tired. But he didn't stop, and he didn't look back.

Step, step, step. He walked past the shady tree. He walked right past the sleeping Hare. Step, step, step. Up the hill, slowly and steadily, towards the big oak tree.

Hare woke up with a start. The sun was low in the sky. "The race!" he gasped. He looked behind him. No Tortoise. He looked ahead — and there was Tortoise, almost at the top of the hill!

Hare ran faster than he had ever run in his life. His feet barely touched the grass. But it was too late. Tortoise stepped across the finish line just as Hare came racing up the hill, and all the animals cheered.

Hare flopped down, out of breath. "How... did you... win?"

Tortoise smiled. "I didn't stop," he said. "Slow and steady wins the race."

Hare was quiet for a long time. Then he said, "Well done, Tortoise. I'm sorry I called you Slowcoach."

And from that day on, Hare still ran fast — but he never boasted again.

The Moral of the Hare and the Tortoise

Slow and steady wins the race. Tortoise wasn't faster or stronger. He won because he kept going while Hare stopped. The story teaches children:

• Keep going. Steady effort beats talent that gives up halfway.
• Don't show off. Hare's pride made him careless.
• Never judge others too quickly. Everyone laughed at Tortoise, and everyone was wrong.

The Moral in 6 Languages

Many languages have their own famous version of this moral:

The French line is the opening of Jean de La Fontaine's famous 1668 poem of this fable, which French children still learn in school.

Key Words From the Story

Questions to Ask Your Child

1. Why did Hare think he would win?
2. What mistake did Hare make?
3. Why did Tortoise win, even though he was slower?
4. How do you think Hare felt at the end?
5. What's something you're learning slowly, step by step?

Try It: The Tortoise Challenge

Pick something your child finds hard — a puzzle, tying shoelaces, writing a letter. Each day, do it for just two minutes, and add a sticker to a chart. After a week, look back at the chart together: "Look how far your tortoise steps took you."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of the Hare and the Tortoise story?

The moral is "slow and steady wins the race." The tortoise wins because he keeps going without stopping, while the hare loses because he is overconfident and takes a nap.

Who wrote the Hare and the Tortoise?

It is one of Aesop's Fables from ancient Greece. The French poet Jean de La Fontaine retold it in 1668 as "Le Lièvre et la Tortue."

What age is the Hare and the Tortoise story for?

It works well for children aged 3 to 8. Younger children love the race and the sleeping hare, and older children can talk about effort, pride and patience.