Skip to main content
Start Creating
cover
In sunny Appleville, Jane stood by her apple tree, holding a small basket with only a couple of fish. She sighed wistfully as red apples hung heavy on the branches above her.
In a sunny land called Appleville, Jane grew juicy red apples. She was very good at it! Jane could also catch fish in the little pond nearby, but it took her a long time and she only caught a few. "I wish I had more fish," Jane said, looking at her small basket. Still, her apple trees were full and happy.
In Fishbrook harbor, John stood beside his boat full of shiny fish, biting into a tiny, sour apple with a puckered face. He looked disappointed.
Far away in Fishbrook, John loved sailing his little boat and catching lots of shiny fish. He was the best fisherman around! John also tried growing apple trees, but his apples grew small and sour. "I wish I had better apples," John sighed, biting into a tiny one. He had plenty of fish, but his apple basket was almost empty.
At a sunny crossroads, Jane with a basket of apples and John with a basket of fish smiled at each other. Jane said, 'I grow apples, you catch fish—then we trade!'
One day, Jane and John met at a crossroads between their lands. Jane said, "I have lots of apples but few fish." John said, "I have lots of fish but few apples!" They looked at each other and smiled. "What if I grow apples, since I'm best at that," said Jane, "and you catch fish, since you're best at that?" John nodded. "Then we trade!"
Jane and John swapped baskets—Jane now held the fish, John the apples. They sat down on a red-and-white checkered blanket for a fish-and-apple lunch, both grinning with delight.
Jane brought a big basket of apples, and John brought a big basket of fish. They swapped baskets happily! Now Jane had apples AND fish, and John had fish AND apples, without wasting time on the hard parts. "We both do what we're best at, then share," said Jane. "That's why we trade!" cheered John, and they ate a tasty fish-and-apple lunch together.