Aesop probably lived in the middle part of the sixth century BC. A statement in Herodotus gives ground for thinking that he was a slave belonging to a citizen of Samos called Iadmon. Legend says that he was ugly and misshapen. There are many references to Aesop found in the Athenian writers- Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, Aristotle and others. It is not known whether he wrote down his Fables himself, nor indeed how many of them are correctly attributed to his invention.
These 10 fables are given a fresh treatment in rhyme, and a new look by Rayevsky. His foxes, bears, lions and other animals appear in medieval and Shakespearean capes, jerkins and plumed hats, all in deep reds, subtle browns and greens. The verses are not always successful, often indulging in inverted syntax to rhyme, and uneven metrics. But phrasing is often clever, and humor is everywhere. In true Aesopian fashion, the morals are soundly thumped at the end: mouse and lion awkwardly learn, ``Yes, sometimes the weak and sometimes the strong/ Must help each other to save right from wrong.'' The boy who cried wolf is more snappily told, ``Please learn your lesson/ Young man and beware:/ Never cry `Wolf!'/ When the wolf isn't there.'' Ages 4-7. (September)
Gr 2-5-- Over the years, so many versions of these fables accredited to Aesop have been produced that it takes something special to set a new one apart from the pack. Hejduk's stylized paintings are in many ways remarkable, but not enough so to make this latest volume a standout. Based on Jacobs's classic 1894 collection, the text of these 14 fables retains much of his formal language and impersonal approach. This formality is in contrast to the relaxed, almost primeval quality of the artwork. Executed in tempera, the paintings are reminiscent of petroglyphs and Central American molas; each illustrates a complete fable and subtly conveys action through the positioning of the flat figures. But as innovative as these paintings are, the odd choice of color and lack of detail are more likely to appeal to adults. --Denise Anton Wright, Library Book Selection Service, Inc., Bloomington, IL
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