Retold by Lloyd DavisIllustrated by Donovan Bixley

Momotaro, Little Peachling

A Folktale from Japan

In this folktale from Japan, an old couple is given the gift of a child of their own – Momotaro. When Momotaro grows up, he wants to reward the old couple for their kindness. With some animal friends, he sets off for the island of the ogres…

Other Folktales in Springboard 4:

The Wicked Witch of the Singing Sands Gulnara

9.8 10.2M

omotaro, L

ittle Peachling

Springboard 4

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Momotaro, Little Peachling

A Folktale from Japan

ContentsChapter One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Chapter Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Chapter Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Chapter Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Chapter Five . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Chapter Six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Chapter Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

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Chapter

OneOnce upon a time there lived a good and kind old couple . The two worked hard every day of their lives . The old man cut wood for farmers in the hills near the couple’s home . The old woman worked around the house each day while the old man was away . The couple’s only sadness was that they had no children .

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One day, the old man went into the hills, as he always did, to cut wood . As he walked up the familiar path, the old man felt a warm breeze softly touch his face . For some reason he could not explain, he felt especially happy on this day .

Meanwhile, the old woman took a basketful of dirty laundry down to the river to wash . As she walked down the familiar path, for some reason her step was light – she almost felt like skipping .

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When the old woman reached the river, she picked her way along the bank for some time looking for the perfect place to rest her basket and begin her work . At last she found a pleasant place and set the basket down . She took her laundry out of the basket piece by piece and rubbed it with river stones to clean it .

Suddenly, something made her glance up from her work, and she saw a huge peach tumbling and bumping down the river . For a moment the old woman just stared, for she had never seen a peach this size before . It was enormous . The woman licked her lips, thinking how tasty the peach would be, and how happy her husband would be with such a treat . She knew she must take the peach home .

The old woman reached out and managed to take hold of the peach . She dragged it onto the riverbank, so excited she almost lost hold of it . The woman knew she wouldn’t be able to finish her washing now, not with this momentous news . She tossed the laundry back into the basket and walked home, carrying the peach .

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Chapter

TwoNever had her husband seemed so late home . The old woman paced up and down, up and down, waiting for him to return . To pass the time, she sat down and inspected the strange peach all over . At last she saw her husband approaching, lugging a pile of wood on his back . She could tell he was exhausted . This would make the surprise even greater, thought the old woman .

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