The Snail Race

Part One · The Race

A snail and a beetle lived in one garden. The beetle was fast. The snail was slow.

"You are so slow," said the beetle. "I could beat you with my eyes shut."

"Then let us race," said the snail. "To the big red flower by the gate."

All the bugs came to see. The ants lined up in a row. A ladybug called, "Go!"

The beetle zoomed off like a spark. "This will be easy," he said.

The snail did not hurry. She slid along, one soft step at a time.

The beetle stopped to have a snack. "I have so much time," he said.

He stopped to look at a bug. Then he lay down for a little nap.

The sun rose high. The snail slid past him. She did not make a sound.

"Go, snail, go!" called the ants. Step by step, she came to the flower.

The beetle woke up with a jump. He ran as fast as he could go.

But the snail was there first. She touched a red petal and smiled.

Part Two · Side by Side

"How did you do that?" asked the beetle. "One step at a time," said the snail.

"Can we race again?" he asked. The snail laughed. "Let us walk, and you will see."

So they went side by side. The beetle saw dew shine. He saw a bee asleep in a rose.

"I never saw any of this," said the beetle. "Slow is not so bad."