The Boy Who Cried Wolf & The Donkey in the Lion's Skin: (Aesop's Fables Easy Readers)
Aesop's Fables Retold Series
What’s inside...
This book combines two of Aesop's most beloved fables, 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' and 'The Donkey in the Lion's Skin'. Both stories offer timeless lessons about the consequences of deceit and the importance of honesty.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-8
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
The Boy
The Donkey
Discussion points
What do you think the boy in 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' learned by the end of the story?
How do you feel about the way the other characters reacted to the boy's actions?
In 'The Donkey in the Lion's Skin,' how did the donkey's disguise change the way others treated him?
What would you have done if you were in the donkey's position?
How do these stories show the importance of honesty and being true to yourself?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to convey the emotions of the characters, making the storytelling more impactful and relatable.
Ask your child to imagine they are one of the characters in the fables and consider how they might feel in those situations.
Encourage your child to connect the morals of the fables to real-life scenarios, enhancing their understanding and application of the lessons.
Discuss the consequences of the characters' actions and how different choices could have led to different outcomes.
Highlight the importance of trust and integrity, discussing how these values are important in your child's own life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Honesty is the best policy
Explanation: In 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf,' the shepherd boy learns the hard way that lying can lead to losing trust. Each time he deceives the villagers, their trust in him diminishes, until they no longer believe him when he actually needs help.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by understanding the importance of being truthful with family and friends, ensuring trust and clear communication in their relationships.
Example Lesson: Appearances can be deceiving
Explanation: In 'The Donkey in the Lion's Skin,' the donkey learns that dressing as a lion only superficially changes how others see him, but not who he truly is. His real identity is revealed when he speaks.
Real-World Application: This story can help children recognize that it's more important to be true to oneself rather than trying to fit an image. It encourages authenticity and self-awareness in social interactions.
Example Lesson: The consequences of irresponsible behavior
Explanation: In 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf,' the repeated false alarms set by the boy lead to a real crisis being ignored, teaching that irresponsible behavior can have serious consequences.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of responsible communication and how their actions and words have impacts on others' responses and trust.
Example Lesson: Understanding true bravery
Explanation: The donkey in the lion's skin initially feels brave in his disguise, but true bravery is shown when one confronts fears without pretenses. The story exposes the superficiality of bravery based solely on appearances.
Real-World Application: This fable can inspire children to face challenges with genuine courage and not to rely on how they appear to others to define their bravery.