The Emperor's New
Clothes:
Once
upon a time, there was an emperor who would like to wear new clothes and he
spent all the money for buying new clothes while his people lived in poverty.
One day, two cheaters came to this country and they lied that they could make
graceful and magic clothes and identify whether people were qualified to serve
the emperor's clothes. The emperor was very happy and he granted many treasures
to the two cheaters.
Androcles and The Lion:
Although
most people possess everything needed for a comfortable existence, some do not
fully appreciate what they have. This riveting retelling of Aesop's timeless
fable emphasizes the importance of gratitude as it goes beyond the original
tale.
When Androcles enormous effort results in harsh punishment, he
finally realizes the impossibility of satisfying his demanding slave master.
Even though capture means his delivery to very hungry lions, Androcles escapes. When
he comes across a wounded lion, he quickly and kindly offers aid. This results
in a budding friendship between the pair until their unfortunate capture. What
follows illuminates the significance of an act of kindness and gratitude for
life and freedom.
Stone Soup:
In a village full of
selfish inhabitants, the idea that making stone soup would bring them all
together might be hard to swallow literally! With
a few stones as the initial ingredients, three famished soldiers cleverly
convince the villagers to contribute all of the items needed for a delicious
pot of soup. In this spirited adaptation of the beloved folktale, preparing a
simple pot of soup teaches the villagers that sharing brings happiness and
celebration. After reading this heart-warming tale, children will certainly
want to make a pot of their own stone soup. Because it makes a great activity
for the classroom, suggest it to a favorite teacher, and remember that
individuals can accomplish more when working together.
Little Red Riding Hood:
Sometimes there is danger
in being too friendly as is the case with kind-hearted Little Red Riding Hood
in this loveable rendition of a Brothers Grimm classic. Distracted by the Big
Bad Wolf with a bouquet of lovely flowers, the kind-hearted little girl forgets
her mother's instructions and strays from the path on the way to Grandmother's
house. Little does she know, the crafty wolf has devised a wicked plan to
arrive at her house first. Will
Grandmother meet an unfortunate end? Young readers will enjoy this lively tale
illuminating the importance of listening to parents. Colorful and whimsical
illustrations make a perfect accompaniment to this delightful story.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf:
Nicholas knows that
guarding the family’s sheep is important, but he also thinks it’s one of the
most boring jobs in the world. He decides to make his day more exciting by
shouting “Wolf!” so the townspeople will run to help. His practical joke is a
huge success from his point of view, but the townspeople are furious.
Nicholas realizes his mistake when the wolf
attacks and everyone refuses to respond to his cry for help. This retelling of
Aesop’s classic fable carries the story beyond the wolf’s attack, and
illustrates the power of honesty and forgiveness.
Tortoise and the Hare:
Harry the Hare never
stops bragging that no one can beat him in a race. The animals go to Mr. Wise
Owl to find out how to stop Harry Hare from boasting. They vote to have a race,
but everyone declines to race Harry Hare but Teddy Tortoise, the slowest of
them all. It’s utterly foolish to the forest animals to expect Teddy Tortoise
to win.
Harry Hare bolts from the starting line like a
flash of lightning. Since Harry Hare is so far ahead, he decides to eat and
rest awhile. Teddy Tortoise keeps plodding along. The shouts of the forest
animals wake up Harry Hare—and the race is decided by a fraction of a second.
Through Teddy Tortoise’s perseverance, he wins the race and puts the bragging
hare to shame. This retelling of Aesop’s classic fable shows that preparation
and perseverance lead to success. Harry
the Hare never stops bragging that no one can beat him in a race. The animals
go to Mr. Wise Owl to find out how to stop Harry Hare from boasting. They vote
to have a race, but everyone declines to race Harry Hare but Teddy Tortoise,
the slowest of them all. It’s utterly foolish to the forest animals to expect
Teddy Tortoise to win.
The Little Red Hen:
A good effort reaps a
great reward"" is a phrase often quoted by a multitude of moms and
dads throughout the world. This retelling of a classic folk tale drives the
message home in a charming and colorful way. While Little Red Hen works to grow
her wheat, the dog, the cat, and the duck are full of excuses not to help. With
each step, Little Red Hen offers to share the wheat in exchange for assistance,
but the fair-weather friends always have more pleasant things to do. Will this
affect their chances for a delicious slice of bread? This fun tale shares more
than just a great moral. Readers will also enjoy a recipe offering a
scrumptious, home-baked loaf of bread.
The Miller, His Son, and
their Donkey:
The
miller Elmo and his son Mort have a problem—instead of standing up for what
they know is right, they follow everyone else’s opinions. When a farmer
complains that Elmo is overworking the donkey, Elmo and Mort mill the grain.
When others complain that his prices are too high, Elmo reduces the price, even
if he’s losing money. When a friend suggests Mort steal apples with him, Mort
goes along with the plan.
Their trouble worsens when they take their
donkey to sell at the market and listen to all the advice they hear along the
way. By trying to please everyone, they end up pleasing no one and losing their
donkey. This retelling of Aesop’s classic fable illustrates that the path to
success means standing up for what is right.
Chicken Little:
The
phrase ""jumping on the bandwagon"" describes the actions
of a person who joins in a cause without really considering whether it is the
right thing to do. As exemplified in this cheerful retelling of a classic fable
for children, this may not always be the wisest choice. Believing in a foolish
superstition, Chicken Little is convinced that the sky is falling. In her
distress, she convinces a number of other animal friends that this is indeed
the case. One after another, the animals join Chicken Little, soon forming a
frantic pack. Fortunately, Chippy Chipmunk steps
in with wise intervention. What follows confirms the importance of critical
thinking and the possible dangers of gullibility.
The Lion and the Three
Bulls:
Sometimes
it is hard to comprehend why certain individuals choose to spread gossip about
others. In this rendition of Aesop's timeless fable, the reason is
crystal-clear: the lion is hungry and would do anything to have a delicious
bull for dinner.
Using malicious gossip, the sly fox helps the
lion by separating the bulls for capture on the promise that he receives his
own tasty portion of the meal. What the fox does not know is that the lion
plans to devour him for dessert. Will the lion eat the bulls and the fox?
In addition to cautioning children about the
malicious spiral that gossip causes, this timely tale also illustrates the
importance of unity.
The Lion and the Mouse:
Bitsy the mouse has a difficult time finding food for her
family, so she decides to move by Leo the lion’s den. Bitsy gets caught while getting too curious. When Leo
discovers her, Bitsy nearly
becomes the lion’s dinner. She offers to help Leo someday if he will let her
live, an idea he finds so funny that he sets her free.
The tables are turned when Leo gets caught in a
hunter’s trap. Bitsy keeps her
word and comes to the rescue. Although Leo can’t believe tiny Bitsy can help him, she tries her best. Just as the hunters
are about to capture Leo, Bitsy makes
one last bite, and Leo bursts forth from his trap. This retelling of Aesop’s classic
fable illustrates that great things often come in small packages.
The Country Mouse and
the City Mouse:
City
Mouse turns up his nose at the Country Mouse’s simple home and plain food. Back
at his house in the city, he treats his country cousin to a soft bed, beautiful
gardens, and a buffet of delicious things to eat. Country Mouse is greatly
impressed with City Mouse’s riches until he meets a cat and nearly loses his
life in a mousetrap.
City Mouse might have a beautiful home with
fancy trappings, but Country Mouse prefers his own home where he has a cozy
bed, healthy food, and a safe, peaceful life. Join Country Mouse and City Mouse
in this modern-day retelling of a classic Aesop fable, to learn that peace and
safety are more valuable than material possessions.