Creighton University

Each 24-page pamphlet follows the same pattern.  First, in "Story Time," a version of the Aesopic fable is told, enhanced by lively cartoons and silly and rather crass humor.  On 18, the original fable is told in briefer form.  On 22, young readers are encouraged to "Get in on the Hi Jinx."  An expanded moral is followed by a segment of probing questions offered on 23 as "One More Step."  In BW, the three questions are "Do you think the boy had a good reason for crying wolf?  Why or why not?  2. Have you ever felt tempted to lie because you were bored?  If so, what did you do about it?  3. Is it ever okay to lie?  Explain your answer."  A final page offers vocabulary, resource books, and resource websites.  Clever stuff!  The back cover proclaims "Aesop's fables have never been this funny."

True to this series, the retold version of BW adds colorful details about what the boy wants to do to overcome boredom and the not-very-attractive offers he makes to the people whom he has just fooled.  The third encounter has the boy proclaiming that the wolf has not only big teeth but bad breath.  I agree that the story would appeal to children of age 8 to 12.  At the end the boy could only cry and offer bad jokes, one of which is presented at the end of this version's story..  As 18 declares, "This version of the story is different from the original. It has jokes and silly images.  But the moral stayed the same."  The questions on 23 may provoke good reflection.

True to this series, this retold version of GA is funny.  The fun starts on the first page of the story when a small ant says "I'm totally going be on the seafood diet this winter.  When I see food, I'll eat it!"  Much of the story is consumed with the grasshopper's account of all the "important" things he did during the summer, like competing in spitting contests and watching video games.  The story ends apparently still during the summer, with a view forward to the coming winter that will be hard on the grasshopper.  I agree that this version would appeal to children of age 8 to 12.  As 18 declares, "This version of the story is different from the original. It has jokes and silly images.  But the moral stayed the same."  That moral is "There's a time for work and a time for play."  The questions on 23 may provoke good reflection.

True to this series, this retold version of GGE is funny.  The fun starts early when the goose's female owner starts selling the eggs online.  "A golden egg makes such a wonderful birthday gift!"  The woman, now rich, puts a milkshake machine into every room in her big house.  "The woman grew to LOVE having money and things."  "But the lazy goose laid only one egg a day."  In a situation crafted like a marriage proposal, the woman after a candlelit dinner asks "Would you do me the honor of laying more eggs every day?"   The next two steps could be characterized as "please, please" and "tantrum."  Neither works.  The clever-for-kids text then, after the killing of the goose, continues "'I've made my goose egg-stinct,' the woman said sadly.  'I hope I don't get arrested for fowl play.'"  I agree that this version would appeal to children of age 8 to 12.  As 18 declares, "This version of the story is different from the original. It has jokes and silly images.  But the moral stayed the same."  That moral is "Those who have plenty want more and so lose all that they have."  The questions on 23 may provoke good reflection.

True to this series, this retold version of LM is funny.  The fun starts when the lion, having had a lovely meal and being sleepy, "put in his earbuds and put on some music."  A mouse was skittering up a hill, but, alas, "she didn't know the hill was actually a lion."  The lion has been dreaming of steak, and he sees the mouse as his steak when he is awakened.  This mouse offers to entertain the lion as an example of what mice can do.  Then the mouse plays the comedian.  When that also does not work, the mouse says that he can do something for the lion – and that statement makes the lion laugh!  When the mouse asks the netted lion if he needs some help, the lion's answer is "Duh."  The fable ends with the lion asking the mouse to turn on the music: "Let's dance!"  I agree that this version would appeal to children of age 8 to 12.  As 18 declares, "This version of the story is different from the original. It has jokes and silly images.  But the moral stayed the same."  That moral is "A kindness is never wasted."  The questions on 23 may provoke good reflection.

True to this series, this retold version of TH is funny.  The fun starts when the hare tells the tortoise insulting jokes about his slowness, like "It takes you an hour to fall down!"  The hare listening says in a speech bubble "This is turning into a bad hare day."  Ouch!  These jokes last for several pages.  At the tortoise's suggestion of a race, the hare answers that he is faster than the internet.  The tortoise, running as fast as he can, passes three blades of grass in ten minutes.  The hare near the finish line thinks that it would be funny to sleep here and still win.  "That would be hilarious."  The awakening hare, when the tortoise is about to finish the race, declares "I'd better hare-y up!"  The tortoise celebrates his victory by taking a "shellfie," a tortoise selfie.  I agree that this version would appeal to children of age 8 to 12.  As 18 declares, "This version of the story is different from the original. It has jokes and silly images.  But the moral stayed the same."  That moral is "The race is not always to the swift."  The questions on 23 may provoke good reflection.

True to this series, this retold version of WSC is funny.  The fun starts when this wolf orders a pizza but then realizes that he has no money.  He decides to go after sheep, but the shepherd chases him away.  This shepherd exclaims "My what big teeth you have!  Oops!  Wrong story."  This wolf considers possibilities, like a helicopter or a magic wand, and rejects them.  Then he comes on the idea of using an old Halloween costume.  After the wolf makes off with one sheep, the female shepherd looks at the wolf-sheep as a good meal.  When the shepherd carries her off, she cries "Ah-wooo" and the shepherd responds "I think you mean 'baa.'"  I agree that this version would appeal to children of age 8 to 12.  As 18 declares, "This version of the story is different from the original. It has jokes and silly images.  But the moral stayed the same."  That moral is "The evil doer often comes to harm through his own deceit."  The reflections on 22 are apt for children, and the questions on 23 may provoke good reflection.