Treasury of Aesop's Fables
Fairy Tale Treasuries Series
What’s inside...
A delightful collection of Aesop's timeless fables, each accompanied by charming illustrations and moral lessons. 'The Hare and the Tortoise', 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' and 'The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs' along with 13 more best-loved tales are retold by popular children's author and illustrator, Val Biro. The stories are presented in simple language suitable for younger children and are paired with bold, colorful paintings full of amusing detail and expression.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
12-14
Length
192 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think the characters in the fable made the choices they did?
What lesson can we learn from this fable?
How would you have acted if you were in the same situation as one of the characters?
Can you think of a time when something similar happened to you or someone you know?
How do you think the story would change if it happened today?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading techniques, altering your voice for different characters to make the fables more engaging.
After reading a fable, encourage your child to draw their favorite scene or character. This can help them think more deeply about the story and its moral.
Connect the fables to real-life situations your child may encounter, highlighting the relevance of the lessons learned.
Encourage your child to guess the moral of the story before revealing it, to enhance their analytical thinking skills.
Discuss the historical context of Aesop’s Fables, helping your child understand the broader significance of these stories across cultures and generations.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Honesty is the best policy
Explanation: In 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf,' the story illustrates how frequent lying leads others to distrust you, even when you're finally telling the truth.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of being honest and the consequences of lying, which helps in building trust with friends and family.
Example Lesson: Slow and steady wins the race
Explanation: The tale of 'The Tortoise and the Hare' teaches that consistent effort, no matter how slow, often leads to success, unlike overconfidence and hastiness.
Real-World Application: Kids understand the value of patience, perseverance, and hard work in achieving goals, whether in academics, sports, or daily tasks.
Example Lesson: Teamwork leads to success
Explanation: In 'The Bundle of Sticks,' the fable shows that strength lies in unity, and working together makes individuals stronger and able to overcome challenges.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied in collaborative tasks at school or in playing team sports, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and mutual support.
Example Lesson: Kindness is rewarding
Explanation: In 'The Lion and the Mouse,' a small act of kindness by the mouse towards the lion is later reciprocated by the lion when the mouse needs help.
Real-World Application: Children learn that being kind and helping others can lead to positive outcomes and can create lasting friendships.
Example Lesson: It is wise to prepare for the future
Explanation: Through 'The Ant and the Grasshopper,' children learn that the ant's preparation for winter by collecting food during summer contrasts with the grasshopper's lack of foresight.
Real-World Application: This story encourages kids to plan ahead and think about the consequences of their actions, useful in managing tasks, homework, and personal responsibilities.