The Fables of Aesop (Dover Juvenile Classics) (Paperback)

~ Joseph Jacobs (Editor) "ONE hot, sultry day, a Wolf and a Lamb happened to come, just at the same time, to quench their thirst in the stream of..." (more)
Key Phrases: Old Man, Lord Bacon

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This British husband-and-wife team has gleaned more than a hundred of the ancient storyteller's fables for this beguiling compendium. Well-known entries (e.g., "The Tortoise and the Hare"; "The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs") are presented cheek-by-jowl with lesser-known offerings ("The Bald Knight"; "The Crab and Her Baby"). As explained in a detailed foreword, the retellings are served up much as Aesop might have told them, unadorned by the clicheed moral epigrams that have come to be attached to his tales over the centuries. The abundant illustrations invite browsing as well as close reading: the pages are peppered with droll black-and-white sketches as well as energetic full-color watercolors. A table of contents and title index are useful additions. All ages.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-6-Containing over 100 fables attributed to Aesop, this is one of the most comprehensive collections to be published since the classic V.S. Vernon Jones's edition, which appeared in 1912. It contains obscure but interesting selections such as "The Oak and the Reed" and "The Mice and the Weasels at War" in addition to well-known favorites. The retellings are brief and do away with the stated morals. They are loosely arranged according to main characters, e.g., fables about mice are grouped together. A collector's note and information about Aesop are also included. Like Arthur Rackham, whose illustrations accompany the Vernon Jones compilation, Rowan Barnes-Murphy has chosen to alternate pen-and-ink line drawings with larger, full-color paintings. His numerous pictures are accomplished and capture the essence of each animal and human in the manner of a caricature. While the ink-and-watercolor artwork is effective, Barnes-Murphy seems to be most at home with the black-and-white line drawings. Overall, this oversized volume makes a worthwhile addition to folklore collections.
Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (January 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486418596
• ISBN-13: 978-0486418599
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #876,092 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Devoid of Morals, April 22, 2006

By	Classics Rock (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aesop: The Complete Fables (School & Library Binding)

Beware!! The publisher reviews for this one say "unadorned by the clicheed moral epigrams" and "The retellings are brief and do away with the stated morals." The morals ascribed by Aesop are what make his stories. If you take the moral away, you might as well read something else. So if you'd like to see the morals that accompany each story (which is the main reason to read it), and make up your own mind whether or not you want to reinforce them (instead of some editor and publisher deciding for you ahead of time - isn't this called censoring), then buy a different version of Aesop's Fables, like the translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange, or the one published by SeaStar Books.

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, but NOT AS DESCRIBED!, July 21, 2009

By	Sally Nickerson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This edition of Aesop's fables is a beautiful book, but the only thing that is the same as the description and "look inside" is the cover! I was looking for an edition with a hard to find fable and thought I found it here, but alas, the "look inside" the table of contents is from ANOTHER publisher (it DOES say that when you look, but since it uses that contents, one assumes it is basically the same).

The descriptions included are (as stated) from out of print versions of the book and have NO similarity to THIS edition. It is NOT by a husband and wife team, has NO biographical info., contains 82 fables (NOT over 100), has beautiful original black and white line illustrations for each fable (but NO color ones as stated), and yes it DOES CONTAIN A ONE LINE MORAL at the end of each fable.

All in all, it IS a beautiful book, just NOT AS DESCRIBED and the "look within" is NOT FOR THIS EDITION even though it appears it will be, since below that it says you can search within "another" edition.

5.0 out of 5 stars Internal Morals: Good., September 12, 2008

By	C. Gabriel "C" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Aesop: The Complete Fables (School & Library Binding)

Excellent collection of fables. I enjoy discussing and finding the morals with my child. This develops his morals internally, rather than increasing his dependency on others for moral footing.