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Aesop's Fables
Michael Rosen and Talleen Hacikyan join forces to portray some of Aesop's most famous fables in this beautifully illustrated picture book. Loyal dogs, tricky foxes and powerful lions are only a part of the large cast of animals that helps teach children age-old life lessons.
- GenresChildrensPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2013
2 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Michael Rosen
587 books526 followersMichael Rosen, a recent British Children’s Laureate, has written many acclaimed books for children, including WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and I’M NUMBER ONE and THIS IS OUR HOUSE, both illustrated by Bob Graham. Michael Rosen lives in London.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 17, 2019
Beautifully illustrated with some lesser known fables. It also includes the moral of each short story at the end.
However, the stories are extremely short, better for younger children, so have limited detail and can be a little hard to follow. Would be good to use an inspiration for children’s own creative writing, or to discuss the morals and consequences of the stories.
However, the stories are extremely short, better for younger children, so have limited detail and can be a little hard to follow. Would be good to use an inspiration for children’s own creative writing, or to discuss the morals and consequences of the stories.
November 19, 2020
I liked the colors but not other parts of the illustrations, including how dark they were (the cover is representative, as all backgrounds are black). I also wasn't too into some of the interpretations or language around the fables.
February 8, 2021
A great book of simple yet valuable stories ❤️ Easy to digest and with an important moral 👍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2022
I love that lessons that many of these fables teach us.
August 4, 2015
In This collection from Aesop, with vivid drawings and short, one-page fables, children are reminded of each story’s moral. As Aesop tales are often hard-hitting this book would make a great addition to any school library or children who love to read the classic tales, for ages nine to 12.
February 10, 2014
I'd love these illustrations framed in my house, beautiful.
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April 23, 2017Title: Aesop’s Fables
Author: Michael Rosen
Illustrator: Tallenen Hacikyan
Genre: Fable
Theme(s): Fables, morals
Opening Line/Sentence:
Wolf was hungry and angry.
Brief Book Summary:
Within this book, there are a collection of classic fables by Aesop. Some titles include, “Mouse and Lion,” “Dog and Wolf, and “The Axe and the Trees.” Each fable has a moral at the end of it explicitly stated.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Louise Stothard (Carousel 56, March 2014 )
Michael Rosen retells the classic fables of Aesop in his characteristically simple and humorous style. Each fable is succinctly told as Fox outwits Crow, Wolf tricks Lamb, the Mouse persuades Lion not to eat him and the Thornbush puts the Fir Tree in its place. Town Mouse and Country Mouse and all the favourite tales are included and the moral is summed up at the bottom of each page. The illustrations are set against a dark background and glow with rich colours, giving this book a classic feel. The personalities of the animals shine through and there is humour here too. This is a book to keep on the shelves and to dip into many times.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Elizabeth Fronk (Children's Literature )
This new set of thirteen tales comes with familiar stories such as The Mouse and Lion, in which the small rodent aids the big lion. It also includes lesser-known stories, and Michael Rosen adds his own interpretation to the morals of all of these tales. Rosen keeps the stories lively by having actual conversations with the stories main characters. In Dog and Wolf, the exchange between them tells of freedom s lesson that it is better than a well-kept but chained life. In one of the better stories, Frog and Bull, the frog gets an unseen group to help compare his size to a bull s. The frog literally bursts in his attempt to outdo the bull. Each story features one large illustration that has a childlike feel and is set against a black background. In many of the tales, the illustrations add life to a fairly routine tale. This collection could perhaps use less of Rosen s interpretation of the morals. Also, the stories do not have any organization to them; although this does not distract, it does not help keep a reader’s interest. The collection’s slim size and intriguing chalklike illustrations help this book stand out from other Aesop fables. Mid-elementary or early middle school teachers might find it intriguing to have their students compare Rosen’s version of Aesop s morals with more traditional versions.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The reviews of Aesop’s Fables discuss the various fables included within the book. I agree with the second reviewer that the illustrations give a softer, more appealing feel for a younger audience. As previously mentioned, the moral of the story is written out underneath the fable. This allows for readers to check their understanding of what they believe the moral of each fable is.
Evaluation of Literacy Elements:
Each page spread has an illustration with images that are brightly jump out off of a black background. The text is on its own page on every spread. The words are all simple enough that a younger reader would have an easy time reading and understanding the meaning.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
I would use Aesop’s Fables to have students write their own fables. I find fables to be fascinating pieces of work because of their meanings that are in such a short piece of writing. Students would use the fables within this book as examples for constructing their own.
Author: Michael Rosen
Illustrator: Tallenen Hacikyan
Genre: Fable
Theme(s): Fables, morals
Opening Line/Sentence:
Wolf was hungry and angry.
Brief Book Summary:
Within this book, there are a collection of classic fables by Aesop. Some titles include, “Mouse and Lion,” “Dog and Wolf, and “The Axe and the Trees.” Each fable has a moral at the end of it explicitly stated.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Louise Stothard (Carousel 56, March 2014 )
Michael Rosen retells the classic fables of Aesop in his characteristically simple and humorous style. Each fable is succinctly told as Fox outwits Crow, Wolf tricks Lamb, the Mouse persuades Lion not to eat him and the Thornbush puts the Fir Tree in its place. Town Mouse and Country Mouse and all the favourite tales are included and the moral is summed up at the bottom of each page. The illustrations are set against a dark background and glow with rich colours, giving this book a classic feel. The personalities of the animals shine through and there is humour here too. This is a book to keep on the shelves and to dip into many times.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Elizabeth Fronk (Children's Literature )
This new set of thirteen tales comes with familiar stories such as The Mouse and Lion, in which the small rodent aids the big lion. It also includes lesser-known stories, and Michael Rosen adds his own interpretation to the morals of all of these tales. Rosen keeps the stories lively by having actual conversations with the stories main characters. In Dog and Wolf, the exchange between them tells of freedom s lesson that it is better than a well-kept but chained life. In one of the better stories, Frog and Bull, the frog gets an unseen group to help compare his size to a bull s. The frog literally bursts in his attempt to outdo the bull. Each story features one large illustration that has a childlike feel and is set against a black background. In many of the tales, the illustrations add life to a fairly routine tale. This collection could perhaps use less of Rosen s interpretation of the morals. Also, the stories do not have any organization to them; although this does not distract, it does not help keep a reader’s interest. The collection’s slim size and intriguing chalklike illustrations help this book stand out from other Aesop fables. Mid-elementary or early middle school teachers might find it intriguing to have their students compare Rosen’s version of Aesop s morals with more traditional versions.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The reviews of Aesop’s Fables discuss the various fables included within the book. I agree with the second reviewer that the illustrations give a softer, more appealing feel for a younger audience. As previously mentioned, the moral of the story is written out underneath the fable. This allows for readers to check their understanding of what they believe the moral of each fable is.
Evaluation of Literacy Elements:
Each page spread has an illustration with images that are brightly jump out off of a black background. The text is on its own page on every spread. The words are all simple enough that a younger reader would have an easy time reading and understanding the meaning.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
I would use Aesop’s Fables to have students write their own fables. I find fables to be fascinating pieces of work because of their meanings that are in such a short piece of writing. Students would use the fables within this book as examples for constructing their own.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews