Told and Retold: Around the World with Aeos's Fables

Abstract

One usually does not speak of Aesop "around the world," and so I have been curious about this attractive, large-format (9¼" x 11¼") children's book of 32 pages. The introduction supplies perspective: "many familiar stories that we call Aesop's fables are still being told around the world. You may recognize some of these stories." Berry is a linoleum block printmaker. That may give a suggestion about the strong and highly personal style of these illustrations. Berry's forms are strong and even massive. Some sense of the drama may come from viewing the two-page spread, including two text-boxes, for the first fable, "The Heron." That fable is ascribed to eastern North America; LM to East Africa; GA to East Asia; TH to southwest North America; FG to the Middle East and Asia; "The Bear and the Bees" to western South America; CP to southwest Europe; "Two Goats" to central-west Europe; and WC to North Asia. Two-page spreads interrupt the sequence of stories, as though to give a reflective pause. These pages show gatherings of the various animals mentioned in the fables. The last of them pictures Aesop too, in the same pose as we find on the dust-jacket and front-cover. GA receives an utterly positive spin. The ants reconsider, thank the grasshopper for entertaining them, and pass her some food. The grasshopper's summertime music helped them to work even harder than usual and to store extra food that they are now willing to share. "The Bear and the Bees" is also well shaped. The bear was about to eat berries when he noticed the beehive and began to nose around it. A single bee stung him on the nose. He lost his temper and attacked the whole hive. He should have eaten the berries!