Children are learning to compare the mass of objects by seeing the objects on balance scales. They learn that, when compared, heavier items are lower on balance scales
Children might think that if an object is larger, it is heavier, and that if an object is smaller, it is lighter. You can handle different objects together and put them on a simple balance scale to predict and compare the weight of the objects. You can also place
This story is designed for an adult to read to a child. A child may be able to read the larger, decodable text.
Sneaky the tortoise loved fruit.
However, her favourite fruit was either too high up for her to reach ...
... or was too heavy for her to carry by herself.
‘Getting fruit is hard work,’ Sneaky thought. Then she had an idea. ‘Maybe I can trick some other animals into getting some fruit for me.’
So, Sneaky set off for Canopy City.
Sneaky met Gus, Meg, Jazz, and Zig. They were helping Herb the hippo fix his fence.
‘Hello!’ said Sneaky. ‘Would you like to play a game?’
‘That sounds like a good idea,’ said Herb. ‘We could do with a break.’
‘We each have to look for a piece of fruit,’ said Sneaky. ‘The winner will be the one who finds the fruit which is heavier than the rest.’
‘Does the winner get a prize?’ asked Meg.
‘Yes!’ said Sneaky. ‘They get all the fruit.’
This will be fun.
Look at the balance scale Sneaky is thinking about. Is the grapefruit heavier or lighter than the banana?
All the animals went into the forest to look for fruit.
Gus picked a grapefruit.
Meg found a banana.
Talking with children about maths concepts can help deepen their understanding and grow their mathematical skills. Children also benefit from hearing and using key maths vocabulary in multiple contexts. Some suggestions to support children in learning through talk have been included in this story.
The following words are highlighted in bold in the book.
balance or balance scale NOUN
(pages 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24) a device for weighing things
heavy ADJECTIVE heavier, heaviest (pages 2, 5, 9, 13, 14, 17, 18, 22, 24)
1. weighing a lot; hard to lift or carry
2. You talk about how heavy something is when you are talking about how much it weighs.
▶ heavier than means weighing more than
cheat VERB cheats, cheating, cheated (page 22)
To cheat is to try to do well in a game or test by breaking the rules.
guilty ADJECTIVE guiltier, guiltiest (page 21)
Someone feels guilty when they know they have done wrong.
meanwhile ADVERB (page 8) while something else is happening • I’ll cut the cake up; meanwhile, you get the plates out.
share VERB shares, sharing, shared (page 23)
To share something, or share it out, is to divide it between people or things.
trick VERB tricks, tricking, tricked (pages 3, 22)
To trick someone is to do something in order to fool them or make them look silly.
light ADJECTIVE lighter, lightest (pages 5, 13, 15, 18, 24)
1. not heavy; weighing little
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Text © Oxford University Press 2025
Illustrations © Pauline Gregory 2025
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on any acquirer.
Acknowledgements
Written by Naomi Jones
Illustrated by Pauline Gregory
The publisher wishes to thank White Rose Maths, MK Connolly, and Voice 21 for their help in producing this book.
2. You talk about how light something is when you are talking about how little it weighs.
▶ lighter than means weighing less than
weigh VERB weighs, weighing, weighed (pages 12, 15, 18)
1. To weigh something is to find out how heavy it is.
2. The amount that something weighs is how heavy it is. • How much does the parcel weigh?
