The Tortoise and the Hare: An Aesop's Fable

Abstract

Through an oversight, I bought a new set of ABCMouse books replicating the earlier series published in 2012 and 2013. Like the other four books in this series, this book has seen slight changes in its 2016 printing, apparently the third printing. Four pages are added at the end of the book, two pages of advertisements including awards and two of vowel sounds. The early bibliographical information now includes “10% recycled paper” but the title-page has dropped reference to free apps. The book still apparently numbers the front cover as Page 1. As I wrote of the first edition, the book is aimed at younger children. It explains, for example, that a tortoise is a kind of turtle and a hare a kind of rabbit. The story is generally traditional. This hare stops to play and then deliberately "takes a nap," telling himself that he can catch up even if he falls asleep. The final double-page spread may be the best illustration of the book. The winded, sweating hare crosses the finish line while the tortoise looks on sipping a drink through a straw. There are two pages of glossary at the back of this very sturdy book.