Article
Art by Veronika Kotyk
Fiction,

The Little Round Bun

This story is based on a Ukrainian folktale. Does it remind you of the Gingerbread Man?

By Katie Mach
From the February 2023 Issue
Lexiles: 430L
Guided Reading Level: K
Featured Skill: Main Idea,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.1 Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print RL.1.2 Retell stories RL1.3 Describe character and setting using key details RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events RL.1.10 Read prose and poetry of appropriate complexity for grade 1
TEKS Standards
  • English Language Arts
    (9) Multiple genres: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts--genres. The student recognizes and analyzes genre-specific characteristics, structures, and purposes within and across increasingly complex traditional, contemporary, classical, and diverse texts. The student is expected to: (A) demonstrate knowledge of distinguishing characteristics of well-known children’s literature such as folktales, fables, fairy tales, and nursery rhymes.

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Once upon a time, an old man and an old woman lived in the country. They had nothing to eat.

The old man said, “Bake us a bun!”

So the old woman baked a little round bun.

PAUSE AND THINK: What do you think will happen to the little round bun?

She left it by the window to cool. But the bun came to life! 

“I’m out of here,” it said.

It rolled out the window. Then it rolled down the country road.

“Ha, ha, ha!”

PAUSE AND THINK: Why didn’t they get to eat the bun?

The bun kept rolling until it met a rabbit. The rabbit licked its lips. “I’m going to eat you, bun!”

“Wait,” said the bun. “Let me sing you a song first.”

The rabbit liked songs.

“Well, OK,” said the rabbit.

So the round bun sang.

“I was made out of flour and baked until done.

I’ll roll away from you, I’m a little round bun!” 

Then it rolled away.

PAUSE AND THINK: How did the bun get away from the rabbit?

The bun kept rolling until it met a bear. “I’m going to eat you!” said the bear.

“Wait,” said the bun. “Let me sing you a song first.”

The bear laughed. “A singing bun,” it said. “I have to hear this.”

So the round bun sang.

“I was made out of flour and baked until done.

I’ll roll away from you, I’m a little round bun!” 

Then it rolled away.

PAUSE AND THINK: How did the bun get away from the bear?

Soon the bun met a fox. 

The fox clapped its paws.

“I’m going to eat you!”

“Wait,” said the bun. “Let me sing you a song first.”

But the fox was sly.

“Hold on,” said the fox. “Jump in my mouth first. That way, I can hear you better.”

“Good idea!” said the bun. It jumped on the fox’s tongue.

PAUSE AND THINK: What do you think the fox will do next?

The little round bun sang, “I was made out of . . .”

But before it could finish its song, the fox ate it up.

“What a nice song before dinner,” said the fox. Burp!

video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (3) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

About the Story

English Language Arts Focus

Elements of a story

Genres of literature

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Essential Question

The essential question of this issue is What can we learn from the foods we eat? The articles below connect to this theme.

  • Silly Story: Fun Phonics: “A Cake for Jake,” p. 4
  • Word Play: Vocabulary: “Ways to Say Yummy,” p. 19
  • Paired Texts: “The Truth Behind Chocolate and Vanilla,” p. 20
  • Fiction: Folktale: “The Little Round Bun,” p. 24
  • Poetry Kit: “A Lot Dog,” p. 32

Through the above genres, students will discuss:

  • What foods do you like to eat?
  • Where do different foods come from?
  • What stories do we tell about foods?

1. IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTIONS

Read-Aloud

  • Storyworks 1 provides a variety of text levels and types. As a read-aloud, the fiction story will develop children’s listening and comprehension skills.

Paired Text

  • This folktale is a Ukrainian version of the familiar story “The Gingerbread Man.” Pair “The Little Round Bun” with your favorite retelling of “The Gingerbread Man.” We like The Gingerbread Man by Louise Martin.

Technology Time

Online Read-Aloud

  • Click the Read-Aloud button at the top of the digital issue to hear the story read aloud by a professional voice actor! This exciting online resource promotes fluency and increases comprehension.

1. BEFORE READING

Show Slideshow (10 minutes)

  • Tell children that they are going to see a slideshow from Nosey about folktales.
  • After playing the slideshow, ask students what they learned about folktales.

Preview the Title and Set a Purpose for Reading (5-10 minutes)

  • Ask children if they know the folktale “The Gingerbread Man.” (You may even choose to read a version of “The Gingerbread Man.” (See Paired Text suggestions to the left.)
  • Open your magazines to “The Little Round Bun.” Tell children that they are going to read a folktale that is just like “The Gingerbread Man,” except a little round bun comes to life and runs away. This version of the story is from a country called Ukraine.

2. READ THE STORY (10-20 MINUTES)

  • Read the story aloud. Check comprehension as you read together with the Pause and Think questions. You may want to have children turn and talk to a partner to discuss.
  • If you are comparing this story to “The Gingerbread Man.” Write similarities and differences on chart paper.
  • Later, you can go back through “The Little Round Bun” and find elements of a folktale that children learned about in Nosey’s slideshow.

3. AFTER READING: FOCUS ON SKILLS

ELA Focus: Key details (20 minutes)

ELA Focus: Key details (20 minutes)

Text-to-Speech