The Fabled Life of Aesop



Last updated Sunday, May 23, 2021

Author: Ian Lendler
Illustrator: Pamela Zagarenski
Date of Publication: 2020
ISBN: 1328585522
Grade Level: 2nd    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: May 2021

Synopsis: The Tortoise and the Hare. The Boy Who Cried Wolf. The Fox and the Crow. Each of Aesop’s stories has a lesson to tell, but Aesop’s life story is perhaps the most inspiring tale of them all.

Gracefully revealing the genesis of his tales, this story of Aesop shows how fables not only liberated him from captivity but spread wisdom over a millennium. This is the only children’s book biography about him.

Includes thirteen illustrated fables: The Lion and the Mouse, The Goose and the Golden Egg, The Fox and the Crow, Town Mouse and Country Mouse, The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Dog and the Wolf, The Lion and the Statue, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The North Wind and the Sun, The Fox and the Grapes, The Dog and the Wolf, The Lion and the Boar.

Note to readers:
•  This book has wonderful illustrations. Try doing a "picture walk" through this book before starting to read to the kids!
•  Here is a podcast of Ian Lendler talking about Aesop and his fables, and how Ian came to write this book:

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  What do you know about Aesop (pronounced ee · saap https://www.google.com/search?q=pronounce+aesop&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS720US721&oq=pronounce+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i67l2j0i67i433j0i433l6.5128j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8/
•  Lots of countries in many parts of the world have had slaves - even in democracies. The USA had slaves before 1863, and Greece, the original democracy, was built on the work of slaves.
•  How do you tell a story that keeps you from getting into trouble without lying or stretching the truth?
•  What is a moral? How does an author use a moral?
•  Watch for stereotypes about characteristics of certain types of animals - sly foxes, clever mice, hard-working ants. What kind of stereotypes about animals can you think of? (Friendly dogs, sneaky cats, etc.)

Vocabulary


Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  As you read the fable to the kids, stop at each point and talk about what you’re thinking. Just before you reach the end of the fable, state the lesson that you’ve learned. Uncover the lesson given by the author. Did you reach a similar conclusion? Discuss.
•  Which fable did you like the most? Why?
•  Which fable relates the most to your life?

Craft ideas:
•  Make a card for Mother's Day - for your mother, grandmother, aunt, someone who takes care of you and looks after you.
•  Check our craft ideas on Pinterest!
https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/may-2021-fantasy-folklore-fairytales/

Special activities:
•  Screen share with the kids during the Zoom session this word search puzzle at : https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/2323140/the-fabled-life-of-aesop/. The kids can use Zoom's screen annotation tools to draw circles around the words as they find them. You may need to help with words displayed vertically, diagonally, or backwards.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!