there was something special
about Aesop. One day the
water in the well dropped so
low that the bucket couldn't
reach. No one knew what to
do. But Aesop had an idea.
Everyone thought it was so
clever that they all pitched in
to help. The water began to
rise ... "
It is Ian Lendler's contention that fables are often felt to provide 'simple lessons on virtue and good values', just as fairy tales offered entertainment and quiet lessons about good and evil. Is that all they do? He is not sure. He suggests that 'many of them are actually practical advice on how to survive in a world in which some have power and some do not'. Apropos, is it not?
He theorizes that Aesop was a real person as his name is mentioned in historical records. There is no proof as stories of the time were oral, there are no records of his birth, and no image of him has been found. Does that matter?
The stories attributed to him are 'the most durable stories in human history'. They have been passed down from one generation to the next, and today are presented in a wide variety of books for children. In this book, he selects 13 to share with his readers. Some will be very familiar, while others are not so. I love that.
He explains as he shares them that Aesop was born into slavery, exhibited great promise early, and learned to speak in code when needed. He includes further imagined experiences where Aesop used his stories to help his masters with problems they were having. Finally, he was given his freedom, after sharing a story with his master Jadon, about a hungry wolf who refused food rather than be chained. After much thought, Jadon granted Aesop's wish to be free.
Pamela Zagarenski's artwork is alluring, as always. She fills the many spreads with dramatic images of both humans and animals. The final three spreads honor the man whose stories remain a staple of children's literature throughout history.
"As the years went by, the masters grew old and passed away. Their wealth and lands were lost. Their names were forgotten. Aesop, too, eventually passed away. But his fame kept growing.
His stories were repeated in homes and town squares for
generations. For centuries ...
... until one day someone gathered them together in a
book and called them
Aesop's Fables."
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