Aesop's Fables

by Anne Gatti, Safaya Salter (Illustrator)

Discover why the renowned children's classic collection Aesop's Fables has intrigued readers for centuries. This beautiful volume features the greatest children's stories of all time by the Greek slave-philosopher, including "The Rose and the Amaranth," "The Serpent and the File," and "The Eagle and The Arrow," each demonstrating a timeless parable that rings as true today as it did in the ancient era in which the story was conceived. Meticulously illustrated in color by well-known artist Safaya Salter, this edition is an ideal way to begin building a classics library.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Classics

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This beautiful collection, retold by Anne Gatti, with artwork by Safaya Salter, presents fifty-eight of Aesop's classic fables, many accompanied by full or half-page illustrations. They range from well-known favorites such as The Tortoise and the Hare, to lesser-known selections such as The Dishonest Doctor.

Gatti's retelling is competent and flows well, but I would not describe her prose as being especially accomplished. I read this Aesop's Fables - the eighth such collection I have picked up for my current "Aesop Project" - in one sitting, on my morning commute, and the fables themselves "slipped by," making very little impression. Not so with Safaya Salter's gorgeous artwork, which stands out like a colorful exclamation point in my memory.

According the the dust-jacket blurb, Ms. Salter is half Egyptian, and one can detect the influence of the illuminated manuscripts of the medieval Arab world on her work. Her palate is vivid and jewel-like, her full-page plates often have intricate decorative borders, and the reader can occasionally spy an architectural detail that looks Middle-Eastern. Other influences can also be detected, and I was particularly pleased to see Greek black-figure vases incorporated into a number of the illustrations. Well worth the time of any Aesop devotee!

[Matt D’Aquino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! I can’t believe I have never read it before. This edition was a good read with nice images.

Aesops fables are short parables/stories that tell a moral story. For example treat others the way you want to be treated etc.
This would be a great book to read with your kids to then discuss the moral together.

[Sionnie Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are beautiful!

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some biddy retells the fables credited to the geezer Aesop.
Who really wrote them?
Who knows?
Is retelling the right word? They are pretty short after all Moree curating rather than retelling one would have thought.
Anyway a decent collection of fables which have differing interest levels but often make sense of the world.