Sample
from
Tales from the Arabian Nights
Raintree English Readers
Grade 1
retold by
Kieran McGovern
Sindbad's second voyage
I came to a strange white building. It was very big. I wanted to go inside. I walked all around the building, but there were no doors or windows.
Suddenly the sky grew dark. I looked up and saw an enormous bird above me.
Then I remembered a story about a giant bird. This bird was called a roc. The roc lived on a far away island. Baby rocs ate elephants!
I looked again at the strange white building. Then I knew what it was. It was not a building. It was an enormous egg. It was a roc's egg!
Sindbad flies away
The bird came down and sat on her egg. She did not see me. I moved nearer. I wanted to leave the island. I wanted to go home. I thought this big bird could help me.
I took off my turban. I tied one end of the turban to the leg of the bird. I tied the other end around me. Then I waited. I did not sleep all night. I was too frightened.
In the morning the roc made a terrible noise, and flew up into the air. She flew higher and higher. I held on to her leg. We left the island. I was very happy to leave that place.
More of this and other stories in
Tales from the Arabian Nights
retold by
Kieran McGovern
Raintree English Readers
Grade 1
ISBN 967 65 3795 0
This text is copyright Penerbit Fajar Bakti Sdn. Bhd. (008974-T) 1998.
If you can read this sample easily, you can enjoy any Raintree English Reader in Grade 1.
Return to the Raintree English Readers bibliography
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