How the Robin Stole Fire

A Reading AZ Level RLeveled Book

Word Count: 1,597

LEVELED BOOK R

Robin
Stole Fire
How the

An Australian Aborigine Folktale

Retold by William Harr yman
Illustrated by Anik McGror y

Visit www.readinga-z.com
for thousands of books and materials.

www.readinga-z.com

Robin
Stole Fire
How the

An Australian Aborigine Folktale

Retold by William Harryman
Illustrated by Anik McGrory
www.readinga-z.com

This story is based on an Australian Aboriginal tale called

How Fire was Stolen from the Red-Crested Cockatoo,
collected in 1923. It explains both the origins of useful fire
and of the raging brush fires that periodically sweep the
grasslands of the Australian outback.

How the Robin Stole Fire

Level R Leveled Book
Learning AZ
An Australian Aborigine Folktale
Retold by William Harryman
Illustrated by Anik McGrory
All rights reserved.
www.readinga-z.com

Correlation
LEVEL R
Fountas & Pinnell
Reading Recovery
DRA

N
30
30

One day, near sunset, a group of hunter

birds were returning to their village when they
met a very old man. The old man was carrying
a spear and an empty day pack, called a dilly
bag. When the old man approached the hunter
birds, he stuck his spear into the ground
as a sign of peace.

Ages ago, in the dreamtime, the ancient

time when the world was created, the first
people lived on Earth as birds and other
animals. They created the culture and traditions
of today. This is a story from that time.
How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

The old man began to speak to the birds.

I have come a great distance, my brothers,
and many moons have passed. I have traveled
to the place where the water speaks with
the voice of thunder. I have passed beyond
the mist-hidden mountains to the great red
plains. And I have traveled to the land that
lies beyond the dawn. I have had many
adventures. I would like to rest with you
for a while. In return for your kindness,
I will tell you the secret of the fire of the sun.
How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

The leader among the birds decided to

take the old man back to their village and give
him some food. A wonderful meal was quickly
prepared. When everyone had finished eating,
the tribe gathered around the old man and
waited for him to speak.
6

No one knew about fire during this time.

When living things enjoyed the warmth of
the sun, they often wondered how to take
fire from the sky to provide warmth when
the snows came. They didnt know how to
use fire to cook food or harden spears, but
they knew fire would keep them warm.

The old man began, Now I am old, and

my people are scattered like dead leaves in
the wind. But I have journeyed to the land
behind the mountains that hide the sun.
There was no water, and the creeks were
filled with animals who had died from thirst.
I nearly died, as well.
I hurried, without rest, afraid that I might
not survive. One day, when my tongue was
swollen with thirst, and my legs were weak,
I saw a brilliant pool of water in the distance.
How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

The old man continued, I ran, stumbled,

and crawled until I reached the water. When
I lowered my face to drink, it was only sand
pure white sand shimmering in the sun.
In my frustration and frenzy, I began
to dig and dig, until my hands were sore.
Beneath the sand, the dirt grew hard,
like clay. But I found water, and the small
trickle saved my life.
The old man finished his story: Having
rested for a day, I felt refreshed. After many
days, I found a land where large trees grew.
One morning, before the sun had risen, I saw
its fire shining through the trees. I was curious,
so I walked nearer. It was then I saw Mar, the
Cockatoo, take the fire from under his wing
and hold it in his hands. I accidentally stepped
on a dry stick, and he heard me. As I ran away,
he threw a spear, but he missed me. From
there I traveled back to the hunting ground
of my people, but they were gone. I followed
their tracks until I found you. And now, here
I sit, offering you the gift of fire, if one of you
is brave enough to steal it from Mar.
How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

10

The members of the bird tribe were very

excited at the prospect of having fire for the
long, cold winters. They all spoke at the same
time, trying to convey their feelings and ideas
for stealing the fire from Mar, but they did not
listen to each other. Finally, one of the elders
silenced everyone and said that he had
devised a plan.

How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

11

They decided they would hold a party called

a corroboree and invite Mar, the Cockatoo, to
the celebration. While he was there, someone
would try to steal fire from him. At the
celebration, there was singing and dancing,
and lots of food and drink. There were even
mock fights and tests of strength. The birds
offered Mar a piece of kangaroo flesh, one
of the choicest pieces, but he refused it.
Then they offered Mar the kangaroo hide,
which he accepted before leaving the party.

12

Everyone was very proud of Prite for his

ingenuity and bravery. It appeared that Prite
had proved the old mans story was true.
The elders held a meeting to discuss this news.
It was decided that Tatkanna, the Robin, would
make the journey to Mars camp to steal the
fire. Early the next morning, Tatkanna set out
on his long journey.

The feast quickly lost its fun when Mar

left and the tribe was not able to steal the
fire from under his wing. They even began
to doubt the old mans story. They were
not sure the fire was under Mars wing. One
of the smallest birds, a Wren named Prite,
decided to follow the Cockatoo back to his
camp. He traveled many days, always staying
out of sight. By the time Mar had reached
his camp, Prite was very weary. But when he
saw Mar take the fire from beneath his wing,
he flew back to the tribe to tell them what he
had seen.
How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

13

14

Tatkanna traveled for many days. The sun

was very hot during this time, and Tatkanna
became thirsty and tired. But he continued
and arrived at Mars camp one day just as the
sun was setting. Tatkanna was glad he would
be able to sleep for the night before having to
steal the fire. He unrolled his kangaroo rug and
quickly fell asleep.
How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

15

Just before the sun came up, Tatkanna

awoke and began to watch Mar. While he
was watching, Mar took the fire from beneath
his wing to light a stick on fire, which he used
to burn the hair from the kangaroo hide he
had been given. When Tatkanna saw Mar with
the stick on fire, he charged into the camp
and grabbed the stick before Mar knew what
was happening.
16

Tatkanna was so eager to steal the fire that

he got the stick too close to his breast and
singed all the feathers. From that day forward
he was known as Robin Redbreast. Tatkanna
was very frightened at having been burned. As
he flew with the stick, he accidentally set fire
to the dry grass. Soon, all the grass and bushes
were burning, and the fire spread quickly.

How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

17

The fire roared like ocean waves as it

spread out over the landscape. Birds and
other animals raced just ahead of the flames,
trying to find any place to be safe. But the fire
just kept growing. Tatkanna was well ahead
of the flames and didnt realize what he had
done. Behind him the bush was reduced to
a black carpet of ashes.

18

When Mar realized what had happened,

he began to chase Tatkanna. He quickly
realized that fire had been set free and that he
would no longer be able to control it. He was
very angry about his power being taken away
from him. If he was no longer the only one to
possess fire, he would be just another common
cockatoo, and not someone important. He
decided that he would kill Tatkanna when he
found him, as punishment for stealing the fire.
How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

19

When Tatkanna arrived back at his tribal

camping grounds, he was very afraid. Mar
was right behind him. Tatkanna was only
a little guy and would be no match for Mar.
He begged his good friend Quartang, the
Kookaburra (a larger bird), to defend him.
Quartang agreed.
When Mar arrived, Quartang stepped in
front of Tatkanna and pushed his small friend
away. Mar was visibly angry. Let me have
him, he said. He stole my fire and then set
the outback aflame in his haste to escape.
Quartang replied, The fire is for everyone
now. No one should freeze during the cold
winters anymore.
20

Mar was still enraged: If you stand in my

way, then I will kill you, too.
Quartang wasnt very fond of the idea
of dying, but he had promised to defend
Tatkanna as best he could.
Mar lunged at him and the two fought for
several minutes. Mar was much bigger and
stronger than Quartang and easily defeated
him. Quartang retreated to the trees to save
his own life.

But Mar had had enough fighting. He was

very sad and depressed. He glanced at the
small pile of wood the tribe had set on fire
as he walked away.
Whenever the tribal people see a Cockatoo,
they remember how fire was stolen from him.
How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

21

22

The tribe was very pleased with the bravery

of Tatkanna. They prepared a great feast for
the celebration and invited some of the local
tribes to the corroboree. With fire, they could
dance late into the night and sing until the
dawn. They gladly shared their gift of fire
with their neighbors.

Tatkanna was the center of attention.

But he was shy and missed his friend
Quartang, who would not come out of the
trees because he felt ashamed of losing the
fight. Tatkanna told him it was all right, that
he still loved his friend. But Quartang still
refused to leave the trees, and he has never
left the trees since that day.
Whenever tribal people see a Robin
Redbreast, they remember his heroic feat,
which is recorded forever in the red burn
on his breast.
How the Robin Stole Fire Level R

23

24