The Grateful Crane
A kindness repaid, and a promise that must be kept
About this book
A poor, kind old man frees a crane from a trap in the snow. That evening a lady asks to stay the night, and she stays like a daughter to the old couple. She weaves the most beautiful cloth, if they promise never to look while she works. A Japanese folktale about kindness, gratitude, trust, and keeping a promise.
Book details
| Book type | Read Along Book – Narrated in a real human voice with word-by-word highlighting and static pictures. |
|---|---|
| Author | Smart Kidz Club |
| Ages | 7 to 9 years, also 5 to 7 years |
| Grade | Grade 3 |
| Reading level | Level 3, Intermediate Readers |
| Length | 13 pages, 620 words, 5 minutes |
| Categories | Folktales, Story Time, Animals, Character Education, Dialogic Reading |
| Interactive features | Image Sequencing activity |
| Language | English |
Where you can read this book
Reading and Math app: Read it here, plus Image Sequencing activity in the Reading and Math app.
Get the Reading and Math AppRead Along App: Read along narration with word by word highlighting.
Get the Read Along AppQuizzes and activities live in the Reading and Math app only. They are not part of the Read Along App.
Why read The Grateful Crane with your child
The promise is the heart of this story. The old couple promise not to look, and wonderful things happen while the promise holds. Ask your child why keeping a promise can be hard, and what the old couple gained and lost. It is a gentle way to talk about trust.
Talk about it together
- Who was the unexpected visitor to the old man's house? The lady who asked to stay the night, who turns out to be the crane he saved.
- Why did the lady ask the old couple not to look while she worked?
- If you were curious, what would you do?
Inside the book
The Grateful Crane is a Japanese folktale about kindness repaid. An old couple living poor but kind help a stranger in need, and a mysterious guest arrives at their home carrying a secret and a gift. The story is about what kindness sets in motion, and what a promise is worth.
Children gain a gentle way to talk about gratitude, trust, and keeping promises, even when keeping them is hard. The folktale shape makes big feelings safe to discuss. Read it slowly, and pause wherever your child wants to guess what happens next. Do not spoil the secret for them.
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Frequently asked questions
What ages is this book for?
Ages 5 to 9 years, at Grade 3 and Level 3 for intermediate readers.
Is the book narrated?
Yes. It is a read along book, so a real human voice reads the story while words are highlighted one by one on screen.
Which apps carry this book?
Both the Reading and Math app and the Read Along App. The Image Sequencing activity is a Reading and Math app feature. This book has no quiz.
How long is the book?
Thirteen pages, 620 words, about 5 minutes of reading time.
Is this a Japanese folktale?
Yes. It is a Japanese folktale about kindness, gratitude, trust, and secrets. The crane, the weaving, and the broken promise all come from that tradition.
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