Le Lièvre et la Tortue

Abstract

By contrast with other booklets in this series, we find here a prose adaptation of La Fontaine's original fable. The story starts with the tortoise exercising – and sweating – in order to become the fastest animal in this forest. All the animals laugh and mock her. The rabbit steps up to say that the tortoise could not match any of the animals. The tortoise suggests a race. There are weeks of preparation. The lion will be the judge of this race, and there will be a medal for the winner. The hare already has lots of medals and trophies. The turtle keeps training. A segment of the good image of the starting line is repeated on the title-page: the hare does cartwheels while the turtle is all business, perhaps even a bit angry. At the signal, the turtle takes off but the hare continues his pleasantries at the starting line. The turtle keeps going, "lourdement mais avec détermination" (16). She receives encouragement from snakes, snails, and slugs. The hare stops along the way for autographs and pictures. A telling picture shows the turtle laboring along while the hare slides down a water-slide in a pool. He even takes a nap. At the finish line, while the other animals celebrate the victorious turtle, the lion gives the hare La Fontaine's lesson: "Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point!" La Fontaine's verse text appears on the back endpapers. 25 pages.