The Race

Jul 17, 2026

Uploaded by Maeve

This document is a Mozambican folktale titled "The Race," adapted into an English storybook. It recounts a fable where a rabbit challenges a snail to a race, boasting about its own speed and the snail's slowness. The snail, however, devises a clever plan involving its friends to outsmart the rabbit. The story highlights themes of wit, strategy, and the idea that perceived weaknesses can be overcome with intelligence. The narrative unfolds as the snail accepts the rabbit's challenge and makes preparations, including enlisting the help of numerous other snails to create an illusion of victory. This folktale, illustrated by Amir Bachir António Necas, is part of a collection by Mozambican Writers, published in 2014. The work is licensed under a Creative Commons license, allowing for free commercial use, adaptation, and distribution, provided the copyright and credits are maintained. The story is structured with a clear beginning, where the challenge is issued, and progresses towards the snail's strategic preparation, setting the stage for the anticipated race. The narrative emphasizes that appearances can be deceiving and that careful planning can lead to success even against a seemingly superior opponent. It is a classic tale illustrating the triumph of mind over brute force or natural advantage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

The Race

Author and Illustrator

FAQs

What is the main premise of "The Race"?

The story is about a rabbit who challenges a snail to a race, believing the snail is too slow to compete. The snail then devises a clever plan to win.

How does the snail plan to win the race?

The snail prepares many pieces of paper with the same message and gives them to his friends. When the rabbit calls for him, one of the snail's friends will respond, pretending to be the challenged snail, thus confusing the rabbit.

What are the main themes of this folktale?

The story emphasizes themes of wit over strength, the importance of intelligence and strategy, and overcoming perceived disadvantages.

Jul 17, 2026

Uploaded by Maeve