Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd ; Hard Cover, Picture Book ; Recommended

Tortoise and Hare: a fairy tale to help you find balance

It’s a new spin on an old folktale, with a new message. Instead of “slow and steady wins the race,” the moral of this one is that “sometimes it’s good to be fast and sometimes it’s good to be slow, but mostly it’s good to have a friend to help you find the balance.” It gives us a bit more pre-race background on our main characters, showing how their usual ways of going about things creates problems for both. During the race, when Hare stops for a nap, Tortoise catches up, but instead of continuing on, the two spend some time star-gazing together and then finish the race together, with Tortoise riding piggy back, getting a chance to experience the joy of speed, and the two become fast friends who help each other find balance when they need it. It’s a bit long, and some may find it preachy, but I liked it.