The Lazy Grasshopper

The Lazy Grasshopper - In summer, Grasshopper sings and sleeps, but Ant works hard, carrying food to her store.

CEFR A1

Classic Tales,Level 1,Oxford Publishing,Sue Arengo,Kids Book,The Lazy Grasshopper

Level 1 Rachel Bladon Classic Tales

In summer, Grasshopper sings and sleeps, but Ant works hard, carrying food to her store. Bring the magic of good storytelling into your classroom with Classic Tales, and they’ll love their English lessons too. This new edition of the award-winning series uses traditional tales to bring English to life through more than 30 beautifully illustrated stories...

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Story Summary

The Grasshopper and the Ant

It is summer, and the sun is hot. Grasshopper sits in the shade of a big tree. He sings and enjoys the beautiful day. "What a wonderful day!" he says happily. He sees Ant walking by. Ant is carrying food to her home. "What are you doing, Ant?" asks Grasshopper. Ant answers, "I am carrying food. I am making a store for the winter." Grasshopper laughs loudly and says, "Winter! Don’t think about the winter. Come and sit down. Have a rest with me!" But Ant keeps working.

Grasshopper Plays, Ant Works

Every day in the hot summer, Ant works very hard. She carries food to her store again and again. She is hot and tired, but she doesn’t stop. Grasshopper sits under the tree, singing and sleeping all day. Sometimes he eats some berries or a leaf. He laughs at Ant and says, "Silly Ant! Don’t think about your winter store. Look at me. I enjoy life every day. There will always be food for me." But Ant never listens. She continues to work and save her food for the future.

Autumn Comes

Now it is autumn. The days are cooler, and it rains every day. Grasshopper sits in a tree and watches Ant. She is still carrying food. "Come and sit here with me, Ant. It is dry in this tree!" says Grasshopper. But Ant shakes her head. "No, thank you," she says. "I must make my store ready for the winter." Grasshopper laughs again, "Winter? Don’t think about the winter! There are still berries and leaves to eat." But the food is harder to find. Ant doesn’t stop. She works all day.

Winter Is Here

Winter finally comes. The snow falls, and the days are very cold. Grasshopper hides under a rock. He is cold and hungry. There are no berries now and only a few old leaves. One day, he sees Ant walking with food. "Come and sit here, Ant. It is warmer under this rock!" says Grasshopper. Ant smiles but says, "No, thank you. I have food at home. My store is full, and I can stay safe all winter." Grasshopper is surprised. "So, it really is winter now?" "Yes," says Ant. "Goodbye, Grasshopper."

A Cold Lesson

Grasshopper is alone under the rock. He is very cold and very hungry. Finally, he goes to Ant’s home. "Hello, Ant," he says. "There are no berries now. Please give me some food from your store." Ant is kind but firm. "I’m sorry, Grasshopper. This food is for the winter. I worked all summer and autumn to save it. I can’t give you any food." Grasshopper walks away sadly. "Clever Ant! She worked all year, and now she has food. But I sang and slept, and now I am hungry. Silly me, silly Grasshopper!"

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About the Author

Rachel Bladon

Teacher, Editor and Writer

Rachel Bladon is an accomplished author, editor, and EFL teacher with over twenty years of experience in Europe and Asia. She has written thirty-four graded readers for all age groups and won the prestigious Language Learner Literature Award.

A Distinguished Career in EFL

Rachel Bladon has dedicated over two decades to the field of English as a Foreign Language, working as a teacher, editor, and writer across Europe and Asia. Her extensive experience has given her unique insights into the needs of language learners, which she skillfully incorporates into her writing.

Prolific Author of Graded Readers

Rachel is the author of thirty-four graded readers designed for learners of all ages. Her diverse portfolio includes non-fiction works and retellings of both modern and classic literature. Her talent for creating engaging, accessible content for language learners has been recognized with a Language Learner Literature Award, and two of her other works have been finalists for this prestigious honor.

Series Editor of Oxford Bookworms Library

In 2014, Rachel took on the role of Series Editor for the Oxford Bookworms Library, succeeding Jennifer Bassett. Under her guidance, this renowned collection continues to provide finely crafted stories with rigorous grading. Rachel has personally contributed five titles to the series, including adaptations of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love," as well as the informative "Factfile Japan."

Commitment to Quality Language Education

Rachel takes great pride in overseeing the Oxford Bookworms Library, maintaining its reputation for excellent storytelling and careful linguistic grading. She is dedicated to expanding the collection with exciting new titles that continue to inspire language learners worldwide.

Inspiring Linguistic Adventures

Through her work, Rachel Bladon has made significant contributions to EFL education, helping countless students embark on their own linguistic journeys. Her commitment to creating high-quality, engaging reading materials continues to make language learning accessible and enjoyable for people around the globe.