Aesop, a Greek slave who lived about 550 BC, told a version of this fable. The story was later recited in ancient Rome, where runaway slaves and criminals were often forced to fight wild animals in the arena. The fable has a satisfying moral: ‘A kindness is often repaid.’ This, as well as its strong drama, has made it a popular story for many centuries. Set in North Africa and Rome about 140 BC. Silver level titles (equivalent to the White bridging book band) use sentences with two or three clauses and the length of the texts extends to around 1000 words to help build reading stamina. Real-life problems are also introduced to encourage empathy. Available for Levels 15–24, PM Traditional Tales and Plays retell classic tales in a simplified language and form that children can understand. Teachers use the tales in guided reading sessions and children can later read them with confidence and understanding. Parts are colour-coded for easy recognition. #pm19-offer