FROM THE PUBLISHER

With humorous illustrations and lively language, this book offers new versions of the beloved Aesop's fables, some of the oldest-known fables in the world. Young readers will recognize traditional favorites such as "The Fox and the Crow" and "The Shepherd and the Wolf," while other tales such as "The Milkmaid" and "Belling the Cat" may be new to them. The moral lessons derived from these timeless tales have been adopted by cultures all over the world and are reflected in familiar sayings such as "Don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg" and "Slow and steady wins the race." Included are comprehensive endnotes describing the life of Aesop, the origin of fables, and how fables function as morality tales. Beautifully retold and humorously illustrated, this collection will entertain readers both young and old. With its small, compact format and elegant design, it is an ideal gift.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Little Book of Fables by Veronica Uribe, trans. by Susan Ouriou, illus. by Constanza Bravo, is the third in the Little Books series, featuring a pint-size trim and tales from around the world. In this collection of 20 fables, 15 are by Aesop, and an endnote describes the remaining authors' contributions. The fables run from the familiar (The Tortoise and the Hare) to the more obscure (The Two Friends and the Bear). A dramatic, meticulously crafted full-page scene in pen-and-ink and watercolor wash opens each fable, and Bravo's spot illustrations as lead-in and fade-out create additional interest. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Francine Thomas

Traditionally, fables have been retold and translated into languages the world over for centuries. The opportunity to do so freely is a true gift. Veronica Uribe's delightful retelling of Aesop's fables is worthy of that tradition. Her versions will certainly gain a devoted audience with their clear messages enhanced by the delightful illustrations of Constanza Brava. The whimsical art makes visualizing each story an effortless joy. Many of the tales are familiar, such as "The Tortoise and the Hare" and "The Fox and the Crow." Lesser-known stories will strike a chord of familiarity through the moral succinctly stated at the end of each fable. For instance, "A Man, His Son and Their Donkey" teaches that if you please all you will please none. "Don't count your chickens before they've hatched" may be more recognizable than its originating fable, "The Milkmaid." And "The North Wind and the Sun" brings to us the familiar axiom that persuasion is better than force. Altogether these twenty lessons will charm and amuse the reader and the listener whether young, old, or in-between. And if the pleasurable experience that flows so naturally from the reading, hearing and seeing of this little treasure makes the reader want to dig deeper, there is an end section with information about the origins of fabulists including Aesop and a concise explanation of the makeup and purpose of morality tales in general. 2004, Groundwood Books, Ages 4 to 8.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 5-In an appealing format just right for small hands, this tiny volume presents 20 fables selected from Aesop, de la Fontaine, Don Juan Manuel, and others. Uribe's literary retellings, expertly translated by Ouriou, sacrifice none of the pithiness of fables but supply a leisurely beginning, motivation, and description unusual in the genre. For instance, the mouse who encounters a lion was "out walking, not paying attention to where he was going, and he accidentally walked right up over a lion taking a nap." The City Mouse and Country Mouse feast on "cheese from Holland, ham from Italy, white bread, almond cake and apple pie." A comprehensive note supplies information on Aesop, the origin of fables, and the genre itself. Bravo's elegant, framed and unframed vignettes are delightfully stylish and full of child appeal, with an easily understood moral set off by a unifying color. An irresistible combination of words and pictures, this little book just begs to be read and the morals quoted. A true keeper.-Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.