Dr. Gardner's Fables for Our Times
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Authors
Gardner, Richard A.
Myers, Robert
Issue Date
1981
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Book, Whole
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Abstract
Here are thirteen original fables ranging from seven to eighteen pages in length. The Introduction for Adults on 16 treats fable as one of the purest forms of allegory and adds But the sine qua non of the fable is that its protagonists be animals. Gardner presents his stories here to show healthy ways of adapting. Children in particular can talk about their behavior better in the form of stories. In particular, Gardner likes to use a Mutual Storytelling Technique in which he creates stories modelled after one which a child has already given but showing healthier ways of adapting. His first story (21) shows that a showoff peacock loses out when it comes to forming a family, because the peahens all think that he will be more interested in himself than in their children. In the second (27), Roo stays in his mother kangaroo's pouch when his twin Koo starts going out to play with others. Roo is afraid of being hurt. After some struggle, he learns to risk the pain of the outside world for its pleasures. The Dogs and the Thieves (77) is a version, I would say, of BW. During a robbery, Barky barks, but he has always barked, and no one pays attention. Besides, he is afraid to bite. When Sparky, who has not always been barking, barks, people pay attention; and he bites the thieves. The stories seem to me simple and effective for children. They are followed by a few lessons in each case.
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Publisher
Creative Therapeutics
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Identifier
3648 (Access ID)