How Elephants Lost Their Wings cover

How Elephants Lost Their Wings

Author: Sims, Lesley

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Lower Grades (LG K-3)
Book Level 1.8
Points 0.5
Fiction/Nonfiction Fiction
Word Count 163
Points per Word 0.003067
Page Count 32
Points per Page 0.015625

Description

This retelling of an Indian folktale shares the story of flying elephants that were often in big trouble.

Quick Summary

If you've got a kid who's into magical stories or animals, this one's a sweet pick. Based on an old Indian folktale, it explains why elephants used to have wings and got into some pretty silly trouble because of them. At just 163 words, it's a quick read that works perfectly for early readers or a cozy bedtime story, and the AR level makes it ideal for kids in kindergarten through third grade. There's a gentle lesson in there about listening and thinking before acting, but it never feels preachy it's more playful than moralistic. Parents will probably appreciate the multicultural angle since it introduces little ones to Indian folklore in an accessible way. If your kid loves animal fables, this pairs nicely with other retellings like "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears." It's the kind of short, charming story that leaves kids smiling and maybe even making up their own explanations for animal quirks afterward.