The Bundle of Sticks

5 pages · 2 min · ages 4+

Based on: Aesop's Fables (Ancient Greece)

The sun is very bright. Three siblings play outside today. They have a big ball. "I want it!" says Ben. "No, I want it!" says Mia. "Me too!" says little Leo. They pull and they tug. They do not share well.

Father comes to the garden. He has many small sticks. He gives Ben one stick. Ben breaks the thin stick. He gives Mia one stick. Mia breaks the thin stick. Snap! Snap! Snap! they go. Breaking one stick is easy.

Father ties the sticks together. Now it is a bundle. Ben tries to break it. Mia tries to break it. Little Leo tries it too. The bundle will not break. It is too strong now. The sticks stay together safely.

Father smiles at his children. "You are like these sticks." Together, you are very strong. The children look at each other. They want to work together. "Let us build something big!" Ben gets the wood pieces. Mia gets the blue hammer.

They work near the tree. Ben holds the long boards. Mia helps him hold them. Leo brings the little nails. Up, up, up they go. They build a beautiful treehouse. They are happy working together. Their new house is strong.