Aesop's Fox

by Aki Sogabe

Several fables from Aesop are adapted and woven into a story about the adventures of a fox

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Childrens

32 pages, Library Binding

First published August 2, 1999

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrated with Aki Sogabe's cut-paper artwork, Aesop's Fox follows the eponymous hero through the course of his day, as he wanders from place to place. His various adventures are drawn from Aesop's foxier fables, and the observant reader will easily detect: The Fox and the Rooster, The Wild Boar and the Fox, The Fox and the Grapes, The Fox and the Crow, The Fox and the Leopard, The Old Lion and the Fox, and The Too-Fat Fox.

While the idea of stringing Aesop's fox-fables together in one narrative is an interesting one, I'm not sure that Sogabe's project is entirely successful. Maybe I've just read too much Aesop at this point, but I found the narrative rather disjointed. The illustrations, which I have seen praised as the real virtue of the book, reminded me a bit of David Wisniewski's work, although I understand that they come out of the traditional Japanese craft of kiri-e (paper-cutting).

Aesop's fables have been retold countless times, so I give Sogabe credit for attempting to present such well-explored territory in a new light. Given what (little) I know of the importance of the fox in Japanese folklore however, I would have loved to see a discussion of Aesop's reception in Japan, and how his foxy-fables are interpreted there. But that's another book!

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fox is a creature of tricks and stratagems. In many stories, they are a wily foe or occasional ally. But they’re always out for the main chance. They can never be trusted entirely.

Using a hungry Reynard as the recurring character of this book, the author cleverly winds him through various Aesop fables with their attendant morals into one cohesive tale. The fox fools some, gets fooled himself and takes lessons from the world around him. The drawings are fabulous, with the feel of woodcuts. They are deceptively simple but give the reader a sense of perspective, lushness and contrast.

If you’re fond of Aesop’s tales and would appreciate a slightly different slant, this is a book for you.

[Geo Hendrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done, Fox has adventures and as he goes through them he quotes the morals of Aesop's fables. Great pictures.

[Alex Brack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because the of the illustration. The narration story is interesting and typical fable form where you have animals talking to each other to solve a problem or problems. I would have this book in my classroom based off of the lessons that the fable can teach the kids but also the illustrations are so vivid.

[Cathleen Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fox goes searching for breakfast and meets several other animals. Along the way he teaches both the other animals and the reader important lessons such as thinking before you speak. He also learns a few lessons by the end of the story.

[Barb Moore]

cut paper