Tops & Bottoms: A Clever Folktale Story About Trickery and Hard Work for Children



Last updated Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Author: Janet Stevens
Date of Publication: 1995
ISBN: 0152928510
Grade Level: 1st    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: May 2026

Synopsis: Wily Hare solves his family's problems by tricking rich and lazy Bear into giving up half his crops.

Once upon a time, there was a lazy Bear and a clever Hare. Bear had lots of money and lots of land but all he wanted to do was sleep. Hare had nothing but hungry children, so he came up with a plan to convince Bear to split his land down the middle - tops and bottoms. Hare can work all day and Bear can sleep.

It's the perfect solution! Or is it?

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Based on the title and book cover, what do you think the story will be about?
•  Based on the cover of the book, which animal looks lazy and which looks clever

Vocabulary

•  risky: involving a chance of getting hurt or losing something
•  crops: plants that people grow to eat, sell, or make products
•  hollered: to cry out, yell, or shout
•  scowled: to make an angry frown

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  How would you describe the characters of Bear and Hare?
•  What were the "tops" and "bottoms" of the crops that Hare planted?
•  How did Bear feel when Hare tricked him?

Craft ideas:
•  Paper plate vegetable garden:
1) Fold a paper plate in half
2) Color one side blue for the sky and the other side brown for the ground
3) Draw and color vegetables onto the correct side (dirt side)

•  Tomorrow is a very special day- Mother’s Day! Let’s make a special card for Mom!
Using craft materials, have children create a Mother's Day card for their mother, grandmother, or someone special in their lives.

See this Pinterest board for ideas on making paper flowers:
https://www.pinterest.com/tanyacarabio/draft_may-2026-fantasy-folklore-fairytales/

Another option is create rainbow paper flowers, as shown at
https://twitchetts.com/2017/03/construction-paper-rainbow-flowers.htm

Special activities:
•  I Spy:
1) One player picks an object in the room
2) Other players try to guess what object they picked by asking questions

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!