Usborne First Reading: The Tortoise and the Eagle

This is a story about a tortoise. He had everything a tortoise could want. He had a lovely log to sit in, juicy apples to eat and a very shiny shell. But he wasn't happy. All day long, he saw an eagle in the sky. Flying down. Flying high. It had golden feathers and great big wings. I wish I could fly said the tortoise. I'll try. He climbed onto a rock...jumped into the air...and flopped onto his belly. OOF! He climbed up a tree... jumped into the air...and landed splat in a puddle. URRGH! He called the eagle."Will you take me into the sky? I want to be like you." "What will you give me?"the eagle replied. "You can have my log and my apples." "Very well,"said the eagle."I will take you into the sky." Up and up the eagle rose...up through the clouds to the bright blue sky.Hold on!" The tortoise looked at the ground. It was a very long way down. He felt dizzy."Eagle,"he said."I don't like it up here. Please take me back." So the eagle took the tortoise back to the ground. "Little tortoise,"he said the eagle." You have no feathers and no wings. You are not made for flying. Keep your apples and your log. Be happy." The tortoise smiled. He watched the eagle go. He ate his apples. He sat on his log. And he no longer wanted to fly.