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    Fables
    Fables
    Fables
    Audiobook45 minutes

    Fables

    Written by Arnold Lobel

    Narrated by Mark Linn-Baker

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Winner of the Caldecott Medal

    A pig flying through marshmallow clouds? A camel pirouetting through the desert? Where else could a reader find such marvelous things but in a fable? From the author-illustrator behind beloved Frog and Toad, Arnold Lobel, comes a collection of humorous, silly fables that will delight readers young and old.

    “The most remarkable of the author-illustrator’s 60-plus bestselling award winners.” —Publishers Weekly

    “There is enough cheerful nonsense in Mr. Lobel’s fables to endear any child listener.” —The New York Times

    “Lobel has come up with a magical addition to an ancient genre of storytelling.” —Newsweek

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 20, 2009
    ISBN9780061901638
    Fables
    Author

    Arnold Lobel

    Arnold Lobel (1933–1987) illustrated many wonderful children’s books but is most beloved for his Frog and Toad stories, including the first one, Frog and Toad Are Friends, published in 1970. The books have garnered much acclaim, including a Caldecott Honor for Frog and Toad Are Friends and a Newbery Honor for Frog and Toad Together. These were followed by Frog and Toad All Year and Days with Frog and Toad.

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    Reviews for Fables

    4/5

    178 ratings17 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Fables is a cute book to teach valuable life lessons. The illustrations are amazing and go perfectly with each little story. My favorite lesson had to be that of the fox and the two ducks. It reminds us that changing our ways can indeed be a good thing. This is something the ducks learn when the fox attacks them after taking the same way to their pond everyday.
    • 5/5
      A collection of humorous, silly fables by Arnold Lobel. The fables will entertain and teach a meaningful moral. They are short stories with vivid pictures.
    • 3/5
      I'm a big fan of short stories with aspects of wonder and magic, so I found this book to be a great read with great variety. For each of the twenty fables, the author's text occupies one page and beautiful illustration on the facing page. The author is also mindful to give a moral to each story. While the moral is genuine and hits home for many readers, the tone of the fables is cheerful and playful rather than moralistic. This aspect of the stories illuminates the minds of young readers especially while also incorporating important life lessons they should take into consideration as well.
    • 2/5
      Fables by Arnold Lobel is a book I feel indifferent about. This book is a bunch of short stories compiled together with what seems to be advice quotes following each story. I felt indifferent about this book because of it range of stories and ideas. Some of the stories were happy and normal and some were just downright strange. I couldn't tell if these stories had an agenda or were meant to be funny. The story The Cat and the Visions is about a cat fishing for and envisioning a large fish to eat. As time goes on he keeps envisioning a smaller and smaller fish since it seems unlikely that he’ll catch a big one. But in the end, he catches a big fish because he never gives up. This story had a happy ending and seemed to teach patience. But in contrast you have the story The Baboons Umbrella. It is just a weird story with no meaning. In this story the baboon wants to have sunlight come through the umbrella he’s carrying because it is stuck open. Instead of just putting the umbrella down or not carrying it he decides to cut large holes in it. Well of course, shortly after he does this it begins to rain and he gets soaked. The one thing I did like about this book were the small advice quotes after every story. Even though most didn't make sense I enjoyed the concept of leaving the reader with a thought. I liked the ones such as “At times, a change of routine can be most helpful”, “Even the taking of small risks will add excitement to life” and “A child’s conduct will reflect the ways of his parents.” But then you get some off the wall ones like “All’s well that ends with a good meal.” And the one that followed a story about a pig on a diet going to the candy store to find it closed, “A locked door is very likely to discourage temptation.” They just didn't make sense. I feel like the big idea in this book is entertainment. Having the collection of different short stories doesn't allow for an overall theme. And the quirkiness of the stories also make me feel like there is no deeper meaning involved.
    • 5/5
      really enjoyable short fables. So many and so creative.
    • 5/5
      Fables is a collection of short stories that teach a lesson. The stories are entertaining and easy to read, but make an obvious point to teach a lesson. I found the stories very interesting, they are quick reads and very easy to understand what is the meaning behind the story. These stories could easily be used as examples to inspire children to create their own stories and/or morals. This could also be used to open conversation about morals.
    • 5/5
      Lobel, Arnold. Fables. New York: HarperCollins Children’s Books, 1980Title of Fable: The Hen and the Apple TreeCharacters: Hen and WolfSetting: Hen’s houseTheme: fable, life lessons, trickster tale Genre: Traditional Literature, Children’s fictionGolden Quote: “It is always difficult to pose as something that one is not.”Summary: Twenty original fables about an array of animal characters from crocodile to ostrich.Audience: Children 3 years of age and upCurriculum ties: discuss morality and cautionary tales; characteristics of trickster tales; compare and contrast this trickster tales with othersAwards: Caldecott Medal Winner, 1980Personal response: I remember reading Lobel’s fable book when I was a child and I thoroughly enjoyed it just as much then as I do today. I chose the fable entitled “The Hen and the Apple Tree” to go along with motif of trickster tales, but also because it is quite a hysterical fable. The Wolf thinks that The Hen can’t figure out that he is disguised as an apple tree to try and eat her, but The Hen is not as dumb as he thinks she is which makes his intelligence rather questionable. In this trickster tale, the one doing the tricking does not get away with it! Another aspect I like about Lobel’s Fables is remains true to the traditional versions (in both text and illustrations) and accompanies each tale with the moral of the story the end.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book because it has a quote after each short story. The Ducks and the Fox - two ducks take a stroll to the pond along the same route and the fox finds out. one duck wants to change but the other duck is comfortable. the fox is waiting for them then tries to grab them in his sack. They flew away but was sure to find another way next time. The quote is saying sometimes change is good.King Lion and the Beetle - King Lion was very self aware and went to walk around with his robe, crown and jewelry. Everybody bowed and he tried to get close to the beetle to see if it was bowing as well. He bent down too hard and the heavy objects made him fall over into a mud pile. The quote is saying the higher you are in yourself then the longer distance you have to fall.The Lobster and the Crab - Lobster and Crab went on a boat even though the waters were fierce. Crab was scared the boat was sinking but Lobster was enjoying it. Once they got to the ocean floor, Crab finally saw the beauty surrounding him. The quote is saying taking risks can bring excitement.The Baboon's Umbrella - Baboon umbrella's was stuck open so he could not enjoy the sunshine. His friend told him cute holes in it and he could then feel the sun. Baboon did, and he was happy, but then the sun went around and it started raining. Baboon was now soaked. The quote is saying that you can't take advice from everybody.The Camel Dances - Camel wants to be a ballerina so she practices long and hard. She performed for an audience but they did not think she did or looked good. This did not discourage Camel because she knew she did good and danced for herself. The quote is saying happiness comes from within not from the acceptance of others.The Mouse at the Seashore - Mouse sets out on a journey to see the ocean. His parents know they cannot stop him but tell him to be careful He is attacked by cats, birds and dogs. When he finally gets to the shore, he is bloodied and bruised but also he is mesmerized by the sight. The quote is saying the road may be long and hard but the end is worth it all.
    • 5/5
      **Reviewer's note: this review only focuses on "The Mouse at the Seashore."The Mouse at the Seashore is an endearing story about a mouse who leaves his parents venture out to the seashore. Despite his parents' warnings about, "the world [being] full of terrors," the mouse is adamant about his decision and goes off on his journey. The mouse is attacked by a cat, dogs, and birds - and although the mouse is bloodied, bruised, tired, and frightened, the mouse reaches the shore and is flooded with peace as he experiences the moon and the stars over the ocean. The moral of the story direct and easy to comprehend, and is indicated after the end of the fable: "All the miles of a hard road are worth a moment of true happiness."As in most of Aesop's fables the plot is very easy to follow and stays true to the oral tradition as the content is composed with descriptive narration and interactive dialogue between characters. The story is accompanied by only one picture - the illustration is poignant and symbolic of the entire story - it shows the small injured mouse, with half its tail, his many footsteps behind him, and looking up to the beautifully and richly drawn sky. Perfect read-aloud for ages 6-9, and sends a warm, loving message about success and determination.
    • 5/5
      A great collection of short stories that each teach a different moral lesson. The stories are each one page and deal with a character and their situation. At the end, a one line moral meaning to the story is given. Often very poigniant. " A first failure may pave the way for later success." "All the miles of a hard road are worth a moment of true happiness."
    • 3/5
      This book teaches many lessons through its many fables. It is a Caldecott Medal winner. This book is great for helping kids look at the problems they are having or may face with responsibility. It teaches problem solving in a fun and interesting way.
    • 4/5
      Caldecott Award winner, book of fables with nice watercolor illastrations. I love fables. They're short and get the children to think about personal improvment. The different story lessons can be applyed at different times.
    • 4/5
      A collection of fables created by Arnold Lobel each with a moral. Each fable is written on one page with a single accompanying illustration on the opposite page. Very funny!
    • 4/5
      Age Appropriateness: PrimaryGenre: This book is a collection of many fables, each with a moral at the end of the story, and were all written by Arnold Lobel. Since most of the fables contain an element of magic and the majority of them have talking animals, this book would be considered a collection of Fairy Tales. Each story also contains a moral at the end that teaches the reader something about life such as, " Satisfaction will come to those who please themselves."
    • 4/5
      A collection of fables by classic author Lobel, fables are stories that tell a moral and use animals as primary characters. Lobel's characters are a bit off the wall, but entertaining. Caldecott Medal.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful illustrations that go along perfectly with each fable.
    • 3/5
      Modern fables with modern morals at the end. Not my favorite Lobel book, still nice stories.