Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

It was a hot summer day in the dry forest.

Little Ant had drunk no water for many days.

"I need a drop of water, even if it falls from a leaf," cried Little Ant.

But even the dew had dried up.

"If I do not have water, I will die," cried Little Ant. "I must go to the river I heard about."

"The river is full and strong. It will sweep you away," warned a wise squirrel.

But Little Ant was extremely thirsty. "I will die if I don't drink some water." So, he went to look for the river.

He walked past tufts of grass and over dry branches.

He walked until he heard water splashing. It was the river! He could hear waves.

Little Ant took a long sip of cool water.

He was so happy he did not see a wave coming.

Little Ant tried to grab some grass floating past him. But he was swept away by the water.

"Help me someone. Help me please!" he called.

"Quick, climb on," said White Dove, holding a branch in her beak.

"I will stay here until I can thank the dove," decided Little Ant. "I will wait until she comes back to drink."

One day as he waited, two boys came to the river. They had their slingshots.

"There is a big white dove that comes here to drink," said one boy. "We will have it for supper tonight."

"I cannot let the boys kill White Dove," thought Little Ant. "But I am so tiny, what can I do?"

Just then White Dove flew down from the tree to drink.

Little Ant had an idea.

He jumped onto one boy's foot. Little Ant bit the boy as hard as he could.

The boy jumped. "Ouch!" he shouted.

White Dove was startled and flew away to safety.

That was how Little Ant thanked White Dove for saving him.

You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way: Judith Baker and Kholeka Mabeta Author - Judith Baker and Kholeka Mabeta
Illustration - Wiehan de Jager
Language - English
Level - First sentences © African Storybook Initiative 2014
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org