First sentence: A crocodile became increasingly fond of the wallpaper in his bedroom.
Premise/plot: Arnold Lobel is the author and illustrator of this lovely collection of (new) fables. The fables include:
The Crocodile in the Bedroom
The Ducks and the Fox
King Lion and the Beetle
The Lobster and the Crab
The Hen and the Apple Tree
The Baboon's Umbrella
The Frogs at the Rainbow's End
The Bear and the Crow
The Cat and His Visions
The Ostrich in Love
The Camel Dances
The Poor Old Dog
Madame Rhinoceros and Her Dress
The Bad Kangaroo
The Pig at the Candy Store
The Elephant and His Son
The Pelican and the Crane
The Young Rooster
The Hippopotamus at Dinner
The Mouse at the Seashore
Each fable is one spread. One side the text; the other side the illustration. All fables star animals. There is a moral or lesson to be learned at the end of each.
My thoughts: It's not like I loved, loved, loved, crazy-loved each and every fable equally. There were some that I didn't really feel a connection with and "like." But there were about five or six that I do absolutely love like crazy and feel are must reads.
The first one "The Crocodile in the Bedroom" I related to because the crocodile clearly has some OCD issues going on. And if you're need for ordered perfection interferes with you living a normal life...well...you need some help. I don't think the Crocodile is going to be getting help anytime soon.
"The Hen and the Apple Tree," "The Baboon's Umbrella," and "The Bear and the Crow" I think should be required reading. Particularly for the modern church. Not only for Christians, mind you, I think every single person could use a dose of these fables to help survive 2020.
"The Camel Dances" brought a smile to my face.
"The Bad Kangaroo" should be required reading for teachers. I am guessing--pure speculation--that they can relate all too well.
"The Pig at the Candy Store" could very well be many, many, many, many people's life story. A Pig goes on a quest to the candy store--even knowing full well that it will make him fatter in addition to giving him gas and heartburn--but alas, the candy store is closed! The Pig goes home congratulating himself on his WILL POWER.
Those were the stand-out fables for me. Have you read Fables? Do you have any favorites?
© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers
1 comment:
I've read it (and reviewed it here: http://www.drttmk.com/books/fables). I remember its existence, but my review expresses mostly confusion, and doesn't concentrate on any particular fable. I decided at the time that it was well written, and that maybe they were commentaries on the idea of fables as a whole.
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