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Animal Fables from Aesop
Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of this classic depiction of Aesop on stage, here, in all their wisdom and humor, are the best of these timeless fables, selected and adapted by Barbara McClintock and illustrated in her inimitable nineteenth-century anthropomorphic style.
This collection contains the artist s interpretations of nine fables, including such familiar ones as The Fox and the Grapes, and a fine selection of lesser-known examples, The Wolf and the Lamb and The Crow and the Peacocks. All are revitalized by McClintock s uncanny ability to capture humanity, with all its strengths and weaknesses, in the expressions of her exquisitely drawn costumed creations. Filled with the delicacy of line and color that has come to be her trademark, these images are bound to please readers of all ages as well as collectors of fables for another generation.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1991
35 people want to read
About the author
Barbara McClintock
59 books90 followersBarbara McClintock is the author and illustrator of books for children.
Her books have won 4 New York Times Best Books awards, a New York Times Notable Book citation, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor award, numerous other awards, recommended/best book lists, and starred reviews. Her books have been made into children's videos, a ballet/opera, and a recorded books on tape.
Barbara drew constantly as a child. By the time she was seven, she knew she would be an artist when she grew up. Her older sister recommended she be a childrens' book illustrator, and this proved to be a rare instance when she followed her sister's advice. Barbara also wanted to be a cat when she grew up, and is glad she had art as a back up plan.
The first part of Barbara's growing up was in Clinton, NJ. Her early influences were her photographer father, seamstress/teacher mother, and the cartoon character Top Cat.
Barbara moved to North Dakota when she was 9 with her mother and sister after her parents divorced. She continued to draw through middle and high school, frequently in the margins of her tests and homework.
Barbara attended Jamestown College in North Dakota, where she refined her drawing skills by copying pictures in artbooks she checked out of her college library.
Two weeks after her 20th birthday, Barbara moved to New York City to begin her career on the recommendation of Maurice Sendak, whon she called from North Dakota for advice about how to become a children's book illustrator.
Barbara studied for two months at the Art Student's League in New York City. She continued to copy from art books she checked out of libraries, and sketched paintings and drawings in museums in New York City. Barbara is essentially self-taught as an artist/illustrator.
After illustrating books written by other authors, Barbara began writing as well as producing the artwork for her own books.
She currently lives in rural Connectucut with the illustrator David A. Johnson, their cats Pip and Emma, and David's truly gorgeous rose garden.
Her books have won 4 New York Times Best Books awards, a New York Times Notable Book citation, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor award, numerous other awards, recommended/best book lists, and starred reviews. Her books have been made into children's videos, a ballet/opera, and a recorded books on tape.
Barbara drew constantly as a child. By the time she was seven, she knew she would be an artist when she grew up. Her older sister recommended she be a childrens' book illustrator, and this proved to be a rare instance when she followed her sister's advice. Barbara also wanted to be a cat when she grew up, and is glad she had art as a back up plan.
The first part of Barbara's growing up was in Clinton, NJ. Her early influences were her photographer father, seamstress/teacher mother, and the cartoon character Top Cat.
Barbara moved to North Dakota when she was 9 with her mother and sister after her parents divorced. She continued to draw through middle and high school, frequently in the margins of her tests and homework.
Barbara attended Jamestown College in North Dakota, where she refined her drawing skills by copying pictures in artbooks she checked out of her college library.
Two weeks after her 20th birthday, Barbara moved to New York City to begin her career on the recommendation of Maurice Sendak, whon she called from North Dakota for advice about how to become a children's book illustrator.
Barbara studied for two months at the Art Student's League in New York City. She continued to copy from art books she checked out of libraries, and sketched paintings and drawings in museums in New York City. Barbara is essentially self-taught as an artist/illustrator.
After illustrating books written by other authors, Barbara began writing as well as producing the artwork for her own books.
She currently lives in rural Connectucut with the illustrator David A. Johnson, their cats Pip and Emma, and David's truly gorgeous rose garden.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 4, 2020
Barbara McClintock fans will rejoice at finding this collection of nine fables attributed to that classic moralizer, Aesop. Illustrated in her own distinctive style, described on the dust-jacket as "nineteenth-century anthropomorphic," McClintock's Animal Fables from Aesop pairs each fable with charming full and half-page artwork. Colorful, detailed, and highly expressive, McClintock's pictures are a delightful accompaniment to some of Aesop's most popular tales. Here the reader will encounter:
The Fox and the Crow, in which a clever fox tricks a foolish crow into dropping her piece of cheese...
The Fox and the Crane, in which a fox is repaid for his inhospitable joke when the crane invites him to dinner...
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, in which the humble country mouse discovers that riches cannot compensate for a life of fear...
The Wolf and the Crane, in which a crane discovers that there is no point in expecting reward or gratitude when helping a villain...
The Fox and the Cat, in which a cat's single method of escaping danger proves more useful than the fox's many strategems...
The Wolf and the Lamb, in which a hungry wolf makes up any number of excuses to seize the little lamb...
The Crow and the Peacocks, in which a crow learns that it is better not to pretend to be something you are not...
The Fox and the Grapes, in which a fox pretends not to want the grapes he cannot obtain...
And finally, The Wolf and the Dog, in which a wolf decides that freedom and an empty stomach are preferable to captivity with plenty...
Well into my Aesop project at this point, I can truthfully say that I have begun to pay more attention to the illustrations than the fables, which - unless they have been radically altered - are usually quite similar in these various retellings. I therefore enjoyed McClintock's adaptation, despite being somewhat indifferent to the actual text. I did appreciate her little conceit of framing the book as a performance, in which the "animals" are unmasked at the end, and revealed as human actors. Other than that, the artwork is the chief appeal here.
The Fox and the Crow, in which a clever fox tricks a foolish crow into dropping her piece of cheese...
The Fox and the Crane, in which a fox is repaid for his inhospitable joke when the crane invites him to dinner...
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, in which the humble country mouse discovers that riches cannot compensate for a life of fear...
The Wolf and the Crane, in which a crane discovers that there is no point in expecting reward or gratitude when helping a villain...
The Fox and the Cat, in which a cat's single method of escaping danger proves more useful than the fox's many strategems...
The Wolf and the Lamb, in which a hungry wolf makes up any number of excuses to seize the little lamb...
The Crow and the Peacocks, in which a crow learns that it is better not to pretend to be something you are not...
The Fox and the Grapes, in which a fox pretends not to want the grapes he cannot obtain...
And finally, The Wolf and the Dog, in which a wolf decides that freedom and an empty stomach are preferable to captivity with plenty...
Well into my Aesop project at this point, I can truthfully say that I have begun to pay more attention to the illustrations than the fables, which - unless they have been radically altered - are usually quite similar in these various retellings. I therefore enjoyed McClintock's adaptation, despite being somewhat indifferent to the actual text. I did appreciate her little conceit of framing the book as a performance, in which the "animals" are unmasked at the end, and revealed as human actors. Other than that, the artwork is the chief appeal here.
August 8, 2012
Incredibly illustrations, detailed, intricate, bright, and fun. Pure McClintock - when aren't her illustrations slightly quirky yet gorgeous? The familiar animals of Aesop - cranes, crows, foxes, and so on - are all dressed in their very best Regency and early Victorian finery. A crow dressed as a peacock goes to a peacock ball that might as well be in Jane Austen's Pemberly. McClintock's foxes are always, always the best, but her Grand Lady Crane is exquisite - who knew that a crane could purse her beak! So much fun, and definitely a conversation piece.
February 14, 2009
Really a must read for anyone who likes tales, and childrens stories. Wonderful!
October 26, 2020
This is a good, easy-to-read collection of some of Aesop's fables for children. I read it specifically for the fox tales, but the others were enjoyable, as well.
August 26, 2013
"The graceful full-color illustrations are both delicate and theatrical. . . . The whole feel of this book is in the tradition of La Fontaine: gay, witty, full of charm and foible."
—The New York Times
"McClintock proves herself a master. Her delicate line and exquisite watercolors suggest elegant Victorian hand-colored engravings in the grand tradition of J.J. Grandville, Charles Bennett, and Randolph Caldecott."
—Washington Post Book World
"McClintock's wittily stylish illustrations have the charm and detail of 19th-century children's books. Her human-like animals are marvelously lively and expressive."
—Entertainment Weekly
"As one would expect from Godine, the book is beautifully done. . . . McClintock's vision and artistry make this new edition a joy to behold and to hold. . . . A stunning gift book for all ages, and one that should have a shelf life of generations."
—Bloomsbury Review
—The New York Times
"McClintock proves herself a master. Her delicate line and exquisite watercolors suggest elegant Victorian hand-colored engravings in the grand tradition of J.J. Grandville, Charles Bennett, and Randolph Caldecott."
—Washington Post Book World
"McClintock's wittily stylish illustrations have the charm and detail of 19th-century children's books. Her human-like animals are marvelously lively and expressive."
—Entertainment Weekly
"As one would expect from Godine, the book is beautifully done. . . . McClintock's vision and artistry make this new edition a joy to behold and to hold. . . . A stunning gift book for all ages, and one that should have a shelf life of generations."
—Bloomsbury Review
February 8, 2019
The graceful full-color illustrations are both delicate and theatrical. . . . The whole feel of this book is in the tradition of La Fontaine: gay, witty, full of charm and foible.
—The New York Times
McClintock proves herself a master. Her delicate line and exquisite watercolors suggest elegant Victorian hand-colored engravings in the grand tradition of J.J. Grandville, Charles Bennett, and Randolph Caldecott.
—Washington Post Book World
McClintock’s wittily stylish illustrations have the charm and detail of 19th-century children’s books. Her human-like animals are marvelously lively and expressive.
—Entertainment Weekly
As one would expect from Godine, the book is beautifully done. . . . McClintock’s vision and artistry make this new edition a joy to behold and to hold. . . . A stunning gift book for all ages, and one that should have a shelf life of generations.
—Bloomsbury Review
—The New York Times
McClintock proves herself a master. Her delicate line and exquisite watercolors suggest elegant Victorian hand-colored engravings in the grand tradition of J.J. Grandville, Charles Bennett, and Randolph Caldecott.
—Washington Post Book World
McClintock’s wittily stylish illustrations have the charm and detail of 19th-century children’s books. Her human-like animals are marvelously lively and expressive.
—Entertainment Weekly
As one would expect from Godine, the book is beautifully done. . . . McClintock’s vision and artistry make this new edition a joy to behold and to hold. . . . A stunning gift book for all ages, and one that should have a shelf life of generations.
—Bloomsbury Review
April 16, 2013
This book is a collection of retellings of the classic fables from Aesop. The characters really come to life in this book, helped along greatly by the artwork. The illustrations in this book are entertaining and also helps in understanding and imagining the story.
I would recommend this book for children because these are brief and entertaining stories that end in a worthwhile moral. The morals in these stories can be applied to many situations. One of my favorite parts about this book, and fables in general, is that it teaches the lesson without force feeding the lesson. It's a more subtle way to teach children right from wrong.
I would recommend this book for children because these are brief and entertaining stories that end in a worthwhile moral. The morals in these stories can be applied to many situations. One of my favorite parts about this book, and fables in general, is that it teaches the lesson without force feeding the lesson. It's a more subtle way to teach children right from wrong.
April 16, 2013
This book is a collection of nine well-known fables. Each fable is retold and strives to teach a lesson using animals as the characters. The end of the story has a moral. This book is full of Barbara’s interpretation of what she thinks the images would look like. This collection of stories is a brilliant retelling because they keep the stories short while still keeping the moral prominent. The pictures do a wonderful job of telling the stories too. I think in a classroom this could be used in many different ways including morals, literary use, and just for read alouds and decoding words.
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August 12, 2016Always have and always will love Aesop!!
January 20, 2016
A series of lesser known fables from Aesop. Much more cranes in these!
Excellent illustrations.
Excellent illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews