Aesop's Fables

By Aesop

Book Overview

Aesop's Fables combines 23 timeless morality tales with striking black ink drawings by the revered artist Jacob Lawrence. Published originally in 1970, the book has been out of print for two decades. This new edition, completely redesigned and typeset, adds five illustrations Lawrence prepared for the original edition but which were not included in it.

Aesop's fables are often ungentle tales with profound and instructive morals. Lawrence's bold and expressive pen-and-ink illustrations reflect both the charm and the severity of the fables themselves. The wisdom and depth of this collection will reach all who read it, from child to adult.

Born in 1917, Jacob Lawrence is one of the most celebrated artists alive today. His awards include his 1983 election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a National Arts Award in 1992, and his confirmation as Commissioner of the National Council of the Arts in 1978 by the U.S. Senate. He is professor emeritus of art at the University of Washington, and has also taught at the Pratt Institute, Brandeis University, and Black Mountain College. His paintings have been widely exhibited since his first major solo exhibit in 1944 at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and his work graces museum and private collections throughout the world.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0295976411
• ISBN13: 9780295976419
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: University of Washington Press
• Length: 56 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.4" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Review inaccurate. I thought I was getting 300+ pages. I got 50. The book I received is however illu

Lovely illustrations with a foldout in the back. Appropriate for very young children not advanced readers as it is only 50 pages.

Amazing Collection

This is an amazing product and worth every cent - a must have for those of us who want to riase principled children. It is kind large in that it can't sit on my bookshelf upright - but i wouldn't change the size as it accomodates beautiful wonderfully alrge pictures. My compaint - i would have loved larger font - but that of course is persoanl prefernce as the font is more than readable Again this is amazaing book - and the stories are so great - and to think of how old they are GET THIS BOOK

Free SF Reader

A handy collection from that bloke Aesop. A large number of stories seek to impart a moral lesson, while using a fantastic setting to disguise the impact, and enable them to be used on unsuspecting short humans, even. A little on the sneaky side, that Aesop character. Lucky he never met Basil Brush or Bart Simpson.

Animals as Human Nature.

We may never really know the true identity of Aesop the Man. But his legacy lives on in these fables, the morals of which can still find relevance in today's society. For those of you, whom are easily offended some of the fables bring up racial differences that may upset you. In particular fable 361:~ The Black man in the river, but then you would be merely taking things out of context of the time in which it was written. I found fable 136:~ The man and his daughter particularly sad and unpleasant, but it does remind you of the bad side of Human Nature. These fables express what being Human is all about, the bad and the good. I never tire of re-reading this book, and I think you won't either.

A Child's Perspective

I bought this book for myself and haven't had a chance to even open the pages for my own pleasure. My three-year old daughter was with me as I opened the package and immediately claimed it as her own. It has become her favorite night-time ritual, reading 10 fables a night. Her only complaint is that there aren't more pictures, only one or two every few pages.

Aesop's Fables

ISBN 0590438808 - Aesop's fables really do deserve the "Classics" title - these stories have been around for so long and still remain accurate, educational and informative. Perhaps this is due to the use of animals, whose behaviors don't hinge upon technology, rather than people. Short stories, each highlighting a lesson, which is printed in italics (in case you might miss it otherwise!). Adults might be surprised to find some lessons attributed to Aesop - things you've heard all your life and never thought about, such as "birds of a feather flock together". Younger kids might need a little help to understand some messages, but most are clear and simple. McGovern did a nice job with the re-telling of these gems. The illustrations don't come even close to living up to the colorful cover - maybe this was to reflect the timelessness of the stories, because a good number of the pictures are similar to very old artworks found in caves and archaelogical digs. That's just a guess, though, and the illustrations are the reason I'm taking away one star. A nice, super quick read for all ages, intended for the 8-12 set, and a must-read in one format or another. No one should go through their whole life without reading Aesop ONCE!