Grades: 2nd-3rd

This book had three small fables all in one and they flowed really well together to teach lessons. It would be a good story to read to young students. ( )

Summary:
Three Aesop Fox Fables written by Paul Galdone is a book that includes three short fables. The first one is The Fox and the Grapes. This fable teaches a lesson on scorning what one cannot get. The fox tries and tries to get the grapes but fails and eventually gives up saying “I am sure those grapes are sour.” The second fable is The Fox and the Stork. The fox invites the stork over for dinner and pulls a joke on the stork. He serves dinner in shallow dishes the stork cannot eat from. The stock then invites the fox for dinner the next night and serves dinner in long vases that the fox cannot eat from. The lesson of the story is tricksters cannot complain when they in turn are tricked. The third and final fable is The Fox and the Crow. The fox delivers all types of compliments to the crow and the last is “I am sure your voice is even more beautiful”. The crow liked the completed and open her mouth to sing and dropped the cheese down to the fox. The moral of this fable is never trust a flatterer.

Personal Reaction:
I had never actually heard these fables before but I really enjoyed them. They teach valuable lessons but at the level of understanding and a kid would have. The pictures do a really good job of depicting the words. I would definitely read this book to kids because of the important lessons and the level of understanding. I like how short they are too because they would be easy to read to a kid and keep their attention.

Classroom Extension Activities:
1. Teach what a fable is and explain that they all have a deeper meaning behind the story. See if the kids can tell you what the lesson is.
2. Have a coloring sheet of a fox.
3. Have a snack of grapes or cheese to go with the different stories. ( )

Charming illustrations in color. Each fable is humorous, simple to understand and would be enjoyable for young children to older ones. A brief history of Aesop and his fables which illustrate human vices, follies and virtues. Source: back page of book