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The Clever Little Bird

AuthorAuthor -- South African FolktaleAdaptationAdaptation -- Liz Ralfe and Suzanne Singh

IllustrIllustrationation -- Wiehan de JagerLanguageLanguage -- English

LeLevelvel -- First paragraphs

© African Storybook Initiative 2014Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0SourSourcece www.africanstorybook.org

The Clever Little BirdLiz RalfeWiehan de Jager

English

Owl was very ashamed that hehad let the little bird escape. Nowhe only hunts at night. In the day,he sleeps, away from the sight ofthe other birds.

Once long ago, the birds had ameeting. They wanted a king.

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The Eagle wanted to be king. Theother birds said, "Your call is toosad to be king." The Ostrichwanted to be king. The otherbirds said, "You can't fly."

But the sun was warm and soonOwl was fast asleep. The littlebird peeped out, saw that Owlwas asleep, and z-zip, away hewent.

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The birds told Owl to wait nearthe hole and catch him when hecomes out. So Owl sat in front ofthe hole.

Peacock wanted to be king. Theother birds said, "You are tooproud. You cannot be king." Owlwanted to be king. The otherbirds said, "You sleep during theday. You cannot be king."

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And so they did not get too far.Then one bird said, "Who can flythe highest? That bird should beking." All the birds flew up up upinto the sky.

But the quick little bird saw howangry they were, and flew into anempty snake hole.

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So Vulture flew down with thelittle bird still under his wing. Theother birds were cross withNcede. They waited for him,ready to pluck out all hisfeathers.

Goose flew over the highestmountains in the world. Eagleflew into the blue above themountains. But Vulture flewwithout stopping, up towards thesun.

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High above them, the birds heardVulture cry, "I am the highest, Iam king!"

Vulture heard a tiny voice, "Tink,tink, tink! I am the highest, I amking." It was Ncede, theNeddicky, the smallest bird of all!He had held onto the feathers ofVulture as he flew up into the sky!

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