1981 Caldecott Medal Winner

Another one where I'm not sure about the illustrations... ink and watercolor? Oh well, they're pretty anyway.

A series of modern fables on themes such as "At times, a change of routine can be most healthful," or "A child's conduct will reflect the ways of his parents." Interesting, but nothing special. ( )

Some of the genius of this collection is that they don't contradict each other, as so many of Aesop's do. Another part of it is that each could be a whole novel, but Lobel distills them into their essence.

This is true of my favorites. The one about the camel who works to be a dancer, with the moral "Satisfaction will come to those who please themselves" actually should be a book; I'd read it. Meanwhile the point is made here. And my other favorite is the last, about the mouse who goes on a quest to see the ocean: "All the miles of a hard road are worth a moment of true happiness." Ahh, lovely. ( )

This classic collection features a variety of moral tales, often with animal characters that embody human traits. Each story conveys a moral lesson, emphasizing values like wisdom, kindness, and cunning. The engaging narratives highlight the importance of making thoughtful choices and the consequences of one’s actions. ( )

This was a great read-aloud for my third grade class. The illustrations are cute and funny. Students were asked to predict Lobel's moral of each fable, then we discussed, as a class, whether we agreed or disagreed with them. ( )

Each fable features animal characters, a single illustration, and a snappy little moral. A bit word-heavy for a picture book, but it might be fun to read the story and have the kids guess what the moral is. ( )