Aesop’s fables

Paxton, T., Rayevsky, R., & Aesop, . (1988). Aesop's fables. New York: Morrow Junior Books.

Genre: multi-cultural/traditional literature

Age Group: all ages

Summary: This is book is a collection of Aesop’s fables, retold by Tom Paxton.  Throughout the book, each fable has a lesson or a moral throughout the story.  There are stories that are focused around patience, gratitude, honesty, perseverance and many other virtues.  Each fable is written in the form of a poem or short story.  The hidden meanings behind each of the stories are both abstract and told. 

Reflection:

I have always been a fan of Aesop’s fables. I think they all send a great message to the readers.  I have only read two of his fables in the past, but I enjoyed all of them from this book.  I like how the collection of fables was all in one book.  I chose two that were my favorite and gave great messages.  I liked one called, Gratitude. It was a retelling of the story about a mouse and lion’s friendship.  The style of the writing was written in short sentences and quick transitions- “sometimes the week and sometimes the strong must help each other to save the right and wrong.”  I also thought children would like the rhyming throughout the fable; it made the story easy to read and understand.  When the mouse was asking the lion to let him go, he said, “If you’ll please just release me, I promise someday, the debt will be one that I gladly repay.”

            Another fable that I liked and I enjoyed the retelling of in this book was The Tortoise and the Hare. I always tell my students this story at the beginning of the year and right before testing because I think the message is very powerful- slow and steady wins the race!  The animals in this story were personified, given human qualities and traits.  The hare was lazy and cocky; while the tortoise was hard-working and determined. In the end, the tortoise was the one that came out ahead because of his dedication.