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Fables From Aesop
For centuries Aesop's fables have entertained readers. The overconfident hare who loses the race to the slow and steady tortoise . . . the clever fox who steals a piece of cheese from the foolish crow . . . and the tiny mouse who saves an angry lion from a hunter's trap. Tom Lynch uses crisp text adaptations and brilliantly colorful fabric collages to bring fresh life to these much loved tales.
- GenresPicture Books
Library Binding
First published October 9, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 14, 2019
Fables from Aesop by Tom Lynch
Illustrated with bright, fabric-collage art, this collection presents thirteen classic fables that are commonly attributed to Aesop. The front dust-jacket flap maintains that this is a "Fables from Aesop for the twenty-first century," and there is no doubt that Tom Lynch's language and visuals feel very contemporary. Many of the fables have been renamed - A Lesson for a Foolish Crow, rather than the more traditional The Fox and the Crow, and so on. Here the reader will encounter:
The Tortoise and the Hare, in which the slow tortoise triumphs over the speedy hare, thanks to his persistence.
A Lesson for a Foolish Crow, also known (as mentioned above) as The Fox and the Crow, in which a clever fox manages to trick a crow into giving him her piece of cheese.
Monkey See, Monkey Do (The Monkey And The Fishermen), in which a silly monkey learns that casting nets is more difficult than it seems.
The Suffering Fox (The Hedgehog, the Fox and the Ticks), in which a fox refuses the assistance of the hedgehog, convinced that ridding herself of one trouble would only bring another one.
A Lesson Learned Too Late (The Caged Bird and the Bat), in which a caged songbird sings only at night, having learned too late not to attract attention to herself.
The Unwelcome Guest (Zeus and the Snake), in which Zeus refuses the wedding gift offered by the snake, demonstrating that the favor of the wicked should be shunned. This one always make me feel rather sad - one more species demonized by humans...
A Time for Patience (The Too-Fat Fox), in which a fox finds the shepherd's lunch hidden in a tree, and gobbles it down, only to discover that he has become so fat he cannot get out of the tree.
The Gentle Art of Persuasion (The Wind and the Sun), in which the sun demonstrates that persuasion can be more effective than brute force...
The Risky Visit (The Old Lion and the Fox), in which a fox is not fooled at an old lion's pretense of illness, avoiding the trap that caught so many of the other animals.
The Fox and the Thirsty Goat (The Fox and the Goat), in which a cunning fox frees himself of a well by convincing a goat to jump in.
The Lion and the Mouse, in which a lion learns that no act of kindness is ever forgotten, when he spares the life of a tiny mouse.
The Peacock and the Sparrow, in which the peacock's magnificent plumage proves inferior to the humble sparrow's ability to fly.
The Fox and His Shadow, in which a fox is so impressed by his own shadow, that he forgets to watch out for the hungry lion.
These fables are well told, and although the changed names and more contemporary language is not really to my taste, I think that Lynch's collection will be accessible to younger readers. The fabric-collage art doesn't appeal to me, but again, I think that it might hold the attention of young story-hour listeners. All in all, this is a worthwhile adaptation, even if it will never rank among my favorites.
Illustrated with bright, fabric-collage art, this collection presents thirteen classic fables that are commonly attributed to Aesop. The front dust-jacket flap maintains that this is a "Fables from Aesop for the twenty-first century," and there is no doubt that Tom Lynch's language and visuals feel very contemporary. Many of the fables have been renamed - A Lesson for a Foolish Crow, rather than the more traditional The Fox and the Crow, and so on. Here the reader will encounter:
The Tortoise and the Hare, in which the slow tortoise triumphs over the speedy hare, thanks to his persistence.
A Lesson for a Foolish Crow, also known (as mentioned above) as The Fox and the Crow, in which a clever fox manages to trick a crow into giving him her piece of cheese.
Monkey See, Monkey Do (The Monkey And The Fishermen), in which a silly monkey learns that casting nets is more difficult than it seems.
The Suffering Fox (The Hedgehog, the Fox and the Ticks), in which a fox refuses the assistance of the hedgehog, convinced that ridding herself of one trouble would only bring another one.
A Lesson Learned Too Late (The Caged Bird and the Bat), in which a caged songbird sings only at night, having learned too late not to attract attention to herself.
The Unwelcome Guest (Zeus and the Snake), in which Zeus refuses the wedding gift offered by the snake, demonstrating that the favor of the wicked should be shunned. This one always make me feel rather sad - one more species demonized by humans...
A Time for Patience (The Too-Fat Fox), in which a fox finds the shepherd's lunch hidden in a tree, and gobbles it down, only to discover that he has become so fat he cannot get out of the tree.
The Gentle Art of Persuasion (The Wind and the Sun), in which the sun demonstrates that persuasion can be more effective than brute force...
The Risky Visit (The Old Lion and the Fox), in which a fox is not fooled at an old lion's pretense of illness, avoiding the trap that caught so many of the other animals.
The Fox and the Thirsty Goat (The Fox and the Goat), in which a cunning fox frees himself of a well by convincing a goat to jump in.
The Lion and the Mouse, in which a lion learns that no act of kindness is ever forgotten, when he spares the life of a tiny mouse.
The Peacock and the Sparrow, in which the peacock's magnificent plumage proves inferior to the humble sparrow's ability to fly.
The Fox and His Shadow, in which a fox is so impressed by his own shadow, that he forgets to watch out for the hungry lion.
These fables are well told, and although the changed names and more contemporary language is not really to my taste, I think that Lynch's collection will be accessible to younger readers. The fabric-collage art doesn't appeal to me, but again, I think that it might hold the attention of young story-hour listeners. All in all, this is a worthwhile adaptation, even if it will never rank among my favorites.
March 12, 2020
This collection of 13 Aesop’s fables would make a good read aloud for preschool children as well as early elementary students. Each fable has been retold on one page, in one or two short paragraphs with an accompanying full-page illustration. Each illustration is a colorful quilted fabric collage featuring the animal in the tale. Each fable ends with the moral of the tale in bold text, ensuring the message is clear and lending itself to spark thought or conversation about the lesson being taught. Morals include, the ever true and important lessons of, “slow and steady wins the race” and “learn to recognize trouble before it leads to danger” just to name two. The text is large and the vocabulary accessible for beginning independent readers. While the stories would work for older students the large text and colorful illustrations might appear too storybookish for older students. The tales feature the familiar cast of characters, including the speedy hare and slow turtle, the foolish crow, the silly monkey, the sly fox, and the vain peacock to name a few. All the tales are retold in a sensitive and non-violent adaption making it a friendly version for the more sensitive 21st century generation. Aesop’s fables, which have been told and retold for thousands of years, are intended to teach universally valued characteristics like loyalty, gratitude, kindness and dedication. This adaption is a good option to introduce those values to the current generation.
Ages 4-8
Ages 4-8
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March 1, 2016Title: Fables from AESOP
Author: Tom Lynch
Illustrator: Tom Lynch
Genre: Fable
Theme(s): Slow and steady wins the race, Don't always believe what you hear, Nothing is gained without knowledge and practice, New troubles will replace your old ones if you do not overcome them, Regrets and precautions are useless misfortune has come, Never accept the offerings of a villain, Time and patience can solve many problems, Often gentle persuasion works better than brute force, Learn to recognize trouble before it leads to danger, look before you leap, No act of kindness, how small, is ever wasted, Ability is more important than a splendid display, A false appearance, no matter how believable, is no match for the real thing.
Opening line/sentence: One day a Hare was teasing a Tortoise for being so slow on his feet.
Brief Book Summary: (2-3 sentences in your own words)
This book has many short fables that show life lessons. These are stories that have meanings behind them that are important life lessons. Each story has animals that tell the fable with a lesson that children can relate to.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (cut & paste)
Laura Hummel (Children's Literature)
Everyone probably knows the tale of the foolish hare and the steady tortoise who race. It teaches even very young children that slow and steady win the race. We will also want to remember that often gentle persuasion works better than brute force. The wind lost to the sun when they tried to dispute who was the most powerful. These fables, along with eleven others, are retold in simple language. Aesop, a sixth century Greek slave, was a clever and witty storyteller. He never wrote anything down, but the lessons have been passed along by countless generations. Each fable tells of animals with foibles who learn valuable lessons, passing on the values of loyalty, kindness, and modesty. The fabric collages used to illustrate the foolish monkey, clever fox, and others are whimsical and colorful. Not only could the text be used in the classroom, but the pictures lend themselves to an art project for children. 2000, Penguin Group, $15.99. Ages 4 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (cut & paste)
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
Using fabric collages, debut author/ artist Lynch stitches together a smorgasbord of fables into a colorful picture book quilt. He's rounded up a baker's dozen of the parables and presents them in a format that's short and sweet--one per double-spread--each ending with "So remember!" and a pithy moral. The succinct retellings and large type make them appropriate for an audience just beginning to read on their own. Many of the familiar fables contain easy-to-follow lessons, such as the fox and the thirsty goat ("Look before you leap"). However, the lessons of lesser-known parables may elude younger readers--such as the tale of Zeus refusing a wedding gift from a snake ("Never accept the offerings of a villain," when nothing in the tale suggests the snake's evil intentions) or the tale of a caged songbird and a bat ("Regrets and precautions are useless after misfortune has come"). Still, the sprightly needlework (the embroidery on the peacock is stunning) enhances each scene and may well inspire readers to meet the challenge of a few more sophisticated tales. The artwork, rendered in bright scraps of fabric, maintains a homespun feel in keeping with the fables' humble origins, and preschoolers will especially enjoy the assorted animal characters who tumble across the pages. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
Both authors talk about the familiarity of these fables for children. It is important that children learn these lessons early, and these are fun any easy ways to do that. Both reviews also talk the artwork that is used in the book. One of the review talks about this artwork could be used as an art lesson, whereas the other review talks about how the images are created like a quilt. I think the images being made into a quilt are very interesting as unique.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
This book is great for understand the importance of cause and effect because it not always the fastest person will win the race. This book gives students old fables that leave them with life lessons. The characters used in the book are animals so this helps the students learn facts about animals such as a hare is faster than a tortoise and birds can sing. In addition, the stories are easy and short for children to read. Since the stories are short the children can read them alone or in small groups helping each other with words and using pictures are clues to figuring out the words.
Consideration of Instructional Application: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
This book has so many animals and would be a great art activity for students. Since the stories are short, students can take one of the stories and create a storyboard. They can break up the fable into chunks and add pictures of what is happening in the box. Also, this would be a fun book for students to act out. The students could get into small groups and each act out a fable to present to the class. This will also help the students remember the importance that each fable tells.
Author: Tom Lynch
Illustrator: Tom Lynch
Genre: Fable
Theme(s): Slow and steady wins the race, Don't always believe what you hear, Nothing is gained without knowledge and practice, New troubles will replace your old ones if you do not overcome them, Regrets and precautions are useless misfortune has come, Never accept the offerings of a villain, Time and patience can solve many problems, Often gentle persuasion works better than brute force, Learn to recognize trouble before it leads to danger, look before you leap, No act of kindness, how small, is ever wasted, Ability is more important than a splendid display, A false appearance, no matter how believable, is no match for the real thing.
Opening line/sentence: One day a Hare was teasing a Tortoise for being so slow on his feet.
Brief Book Summary: (2-3 sentences in your own words)
This book has many short fables that show life lessons. These are stories that have meanings behind them that are important life lessons. Each story has animals that tell the fable with a lesson that children can relate to.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (cut & paste)
Laura Hummel (Children's Literature)
Everyone probably knows the tale of the foolish hare and the steady tortoise who race. It teaches even very young children that slow and steady win the race. We will also want to remember that often gentle persuasion works better than brute force. The wind lost to the sun when they tried to dispute who was the most powerful. These fables, along with eleven others, are retold in simple language. Aesop, a sixth century Greek slave, was a clever and witty storyteller. He never wrote anything down, but the lessons have been passed along by countless generations. Each fable tells of animals with foibles who learn valuable lessons, passing on the values of loyalty, kindness, and modesty. The fabric collages used to illustrate the foolish monkey, clever fox, and others are whimsical and colorful. Not only could the text be used in the classroom, but the pictures lend themselves to an art project for children. 2000, Penguin Group, $15.99. Ages 4 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (cut & paste)
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
Using fabric collages, debut author/ artist Lynch stitches together a smorgasbord of fables into a colorful picture book quilt. He's rounded up a baker's dozen of the parables and presents them in a format that's short and sweet--one per double-spread--each ending with "So remember!" and a pithy moral. The succinct retellings and large type make them appropriate for an audience just beginning to read on their own. Many of the familiar fables contain easy-to-follow lessons, such as the fox and the thirsty goat ("Look before you leap"). However, the lessons of lesser-known parables may elude younger readers--such as the tale of Zeus refusing a wedding gift from a snake ("Never accept the offerings of a villain," when nothing in the tale suggests the snake's evil intentions) or the tale of a caged songbird and a bat ("Regrets and precautions are useless after misfortune has come"). Still, the sprightly needlework (the embroidery on the peacock is stunning) enhances each scene and may well inspire readers to meet the challenge of a few more sophisticated tales. The artwork, rendered in bright scraps of fabric, maintains a homespun feel in keeping with the fables' humble origins, and preschoolers will especially enjoy the assorted animal characters who tumble across the pages. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
Both authors talk about the familiarity of these fables for children. It is important that children learn these lessons early, and these are fun any easy ways to do that. Both reviews also talk the artwork that is used in the book. One of the review talks about this artwork could be used as an art lesson, whereas the other review talks about how the images are created like a quilt. I think the images being made into a quilt are very interesting as unique.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
This book is great for understand the importance of cause and effect because it not always the fastest person will win the race. This book gives students old fables that leave them with life lessons. The characters used in the book are animals so this helps the students learn facts about animals such as a hare is faster than a tortoise and birds can sing. In addition, the stories are easy and short for children to read. Since the stories are short the children can read them alone or in small groups helping each other with words and using pictures are clues to figuring out the words.
Consideration of Instructional Application: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
This book has so many animals and would be a great art activity for students. Since the stories are short, students can take one of the stories and create a storyboard. They can break up the fable into chunks and add pictures of what is happening in the box. Also, this would be a fun book for students to act out. The students could get into small groups and each act out a fable to present to the class. This will also help the students remember the importance that each fable tells.
October 13, 2022
Tom Lynch did a wonderful job retelling the stories of Aesop. I loved that at the end of each story, in bold letters it had the lesson of the story all starting with, "So remember!". The fables of Aesop teach virtues such as loyalty, gratitude, kindness, and modesty. All of these are important in children books. The illustration throughout the book was also breathe taking as the use of texture really made the pictures look life like. The use of brilliantly colorful fabric collages made the stories come to life.
September 7, 2014
This book took several classic folktales and wrote them in a modern way that would be easy for children to read. I really liked how at the end of each fable Tom Lynch added a little life lesson that summarized the moral of each story. The fabric-collage-inspired illustrations were also very unique and intriguing.
January 23, 2012
This book was very similar to "The Rabbit and the Turtle" by Eric Carle. I liked the different form of art; it was quilted artwork rather than paintings, but the stories were a bit shorter and less detailed. And once again, I liked that the lesson of the stories were at the bottom of each page.
March 24, 2010
quilt-like illustrations and short one pagers on the tales with a good moral to the story. would be cute for kids
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews