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Chick-fil-A "Between the Lions"

2004 Series

These are sixteen-page colored pamphlets designed as premiums to accompany Chick-fil-A "kids meals."  "Between the Lions" is apparently a TV series featuring lions reading stories. They appear on the photographic pages 2, 3, and 16 to frame the story as Mama or Papa lion reads to their cubs.  Though the illustrators differ for each booklet, the narrator for each is Mary Weber.

2004 The Boy Who Cried "Wolf!". Retold by Mary Weber. Illustrated by Joe Ewers. Paperbound. Naples, FL: Chick-fil-A Between the Lions: Frederic Thomas, Inc.. $1 from Dianne Wills, Madison, AL, through eBay, Oct., '05. Extra copy for $2.50 from Kami Snowbarger, Jenks, OK, through eBay, June, '05. 

Michael daydreams about doing things as important as those done by his older brother Philip; it is curious that the names are contemporary while the dress and surroundings are ancient Greek. In fact, Michael is too lazy to take up his older brother's invitations to learn about the things he does. Michael is bored with his shepherd's job and does not believe that there is a wolf to threaten the sheep. Michael plays his trick not to laugh at the people but to seem as important as his brother. The next time Michael yells "Wolf!" he even rubs dirt on his face and rips his clothes, and again the people think he is brave and important. It is first then, when the people ask whether he has been lying, that he laughs at them. The art is simple and telling; maybe the best image is that of Michael in a hammock spurning his brother's offer to teach him how to sail (5).

2004 The Grasshopper and the Ants. Retold by Mary Weber. Illustrated by Jim Durk. Paperbound. Naples, FL: Chick-fil-A Between the Lions: Frederic Thomas, Inc. $1 from Dianne Wills, Madison, AL, through eBay, Oct., '05. Extra copy for $2.50 from Kami Snowbarger, Jenks, OK, through eBay, June, '05. 

This is a sixteen-page colored pamphlet designed as a premium to accompany Chick-fil-A "kids meals." This first set of five booklets in 2004 was followed by another set of five in 2005. "Between the Lions" is apparently a TV series featuring lions reading stories. They appear on the photographic pages 2, 3, and 16 to frame the story as Mama lion reads to her cubs. Gary the Grasshopper meets the ants when they are carrying away the leaf on which he has been slumbering as it flows down the river. The second time occurs when an ant tries to carry away the big carrot that Gary has discarded during a picnic lunch. The ants actually give him a little food in winter, but the queen ant makes a clear point that he should learn a lesson about preparing for the winter. Perhaps the most telling illustration shows the ants carrying off Gary on his leaf (6).

2004 The Lion and the Mouse. Retold by Mary Weber. Illustrated by Paul Lopez. Paperbound. Naples, FL: Chick-fil-A Between the Lions: Frederic Thomas, Inc. $1 from Dianne Wills, Madison, AL, through eBay, Oct., '05. 

This is a sixteen-page colored pamphlet designed as a premium to accompany Chick-fil-A "kids meals." This first set of five booklets in 2004 was followed by another set of five in 2005. "Between the Lions" is apparently a TV series featuring lions reading stories. They appear on the photographic pages 2, 3, and 16 to frame the story as Mama lion reads to her cubs. Marvin the Mouse is going to shop for cheese. On the way he hops across a river on the backs of crocodiles. The lion goes straight from freeing Marvin to being caught in the net. Rather incredibly, Marvin is alerted to the lion's plight because of water splashing on his head; the water consists of the trapped lion's tears. Perhaps the most telling of the illustrations shows the lion lifting Marvin by his tail (9).

2004 The Fox and the Crow. Retold by Mary Weber. Illustrated by Fred Marvin. Paperbound. Naples, FL: Chick-fil-A Between the Lions: Frederic Thomas, Inc. $1 from Dianne Wills, Madison, AL, through eBay, Oct., '05. Extra copy for $2.50 from Kami Snowbarger, Jenks, OK, through eBay, June, '05. 

This is a sixteen-page colored pamphlet designed as a premium to accompany Chick-fil-A "kids meals." This first set of five booklets in 2004 was followed by another set of five in 2005. "Between the Lions" is apparently a TV series featuring lions reading stories. They appear on the photographic pages 2, 3, and 16 to frame the story as Mama lion reads to her cubs. Carson is a very good looking crow. In this version, a boy at a picnic, taken with Carson's good looks, gives him the piece of cheese. A snake, a frog, and a mouse all try to get part of Carson's cheese. Fay Fox first asks for a part of the cheese, but then, refused, she has to find another plan. Her next ploy is to build a platform to come close enough to snatch the cheese from Carson's beak. Fay then cleverly disguises herself with a hat and sunglasses. She comes back and claims to be looking for a handsome crow named Carson who sings the sweetest tunes. The best of the illustrations shows the fox falling as the pile of logs teeters (12).

2004 The Tortoise and the Hare. Retold by Mary Weber. Illustrated by Steve Haefele. Paperbound. Naples, FL: Chick-fil-A Between the Lions: Frederic Thomas, Inc.. $1 from Dianne Wills, Madison, AL, through eBay, Oct., '05. Extra copy for $2.50 from Kami Snowbarger, Jenks, OK, through eBay, June, '05.

This is a sixteen-page colored pamphlet designed as a premium to accompany Chick-fil-A "kids meals." This first set of five booklets in 2004 was followed by another set of five in 2005. "Between the Lions" is apparently a TV series featuring lions reading stories. They appear on the photographic pages 2, 3, and 16 to frame the story as Papa lion reads to his cubs. Hector Hare does chores like washing the dishes so quickly that his mother has to ask him to do it again. Tommy the Tortoise, by contrast, is slow and careful. Hector first suggests the race. Ritzy Raccoon interviews the two contestants before, during, and after the race. During the race, Hector does cartwheels and handsprings, signs autographs, and has a snack. The finish is very close, but Tommy can stick his neck out just enough--as in Disney's presentations.

 

2005 Series

2005 The Country Mouse and the City Mouse. Retold by Mary Weber. Illustrated by Fred Marvin. Paperbound. Naples, FL: Chick-fil-A Between the Lions: Frederic Thomas, Inc. $1 from Dianne Wills, Madison, AL, through eBay, Oct., '05. 

This is a sixteen-page colored pamphlet designed as a premium to accompany Chick-fil-A "kids meals." This first set of five booklets in 2004 was followed by this set of five in 2005. "Between the Lions" is apparently a TV series featuring lions reading stories. They appear on the photographic pages 2, 3, and 16 to frame the story as Papa lion reads to his cubs. Cooper lives a quiet life in a country home; his cousin Cindy invites him through a carrier pigeon. They meet at the farmers' market and soon are watching a parade. They get a ride on a floating balloon and go to the kiddy matinee at the movies. At the theater, Cooper gets stuck in some bubble-gum! Cindy's home happens to be featuring a birthday party on this very day. One attack from the ugly city cat has Cooper scampering home, where he finds his friend the dog waiting for him. The moral here is "Life isn't perfect, no matter where you live" (15).

2005 The Woodsman and the Amazing Fish. Retold by Mary Weber. Illustrated by Jim Durk. Paperbound. Naples, FL: Chick-fil-A Between the Lions: Frederic Thomas, Inc. $1 from Dianne Wills, Madison, AL, through eBay, Oct., '05. Extra copy for $2.50 from Kami Snowbarger, Jenks, OK, through eBay, June, '05. 

This is a sixteen-page colored pamphlet designed as a premium to accompany Chick-fil-A "kids meals." This first set of five booklets in 2004 was followed by this set of five in 2005. "Between the Lions" is apparently a TV series featuring lions reading stories. They appear on the photographic pages 2, 3, and 16 to frame the story as Papa lion reads to his cubs. The biggest curiosity in this version is that a fish rather than Mercury or a water-spirit offers the various axes. This lucky "fish of many colors" is Gayla. The happy recipient of her largesse is the woodsman Zack. The best of the illustrations (13) pictures the man "with beady eyes and a sly smile" (12) who stands apart from the others. This man not only does not get to keep the silver axe, but he has lost his own axe by throwing into the water. Gayla calls to him as he leaves to say that she does have something for him, namely words of wisdom: "Honesty is more valuable than silver or gold" (15).

2005 The Farmer, His Daughter, and Their Donkey. Retold by Mary Weber. Illustrated by Steve Haefele. Paperbound. Naples, FL: Chick-fil-A Between the Lions: Frederic Thomas, Inc. $1 from Dianne Wills, Madison, AL, through eBay, Oct., '05. 

This is a sixteen-page colored pamphlet designed as a premium to accompany Chick-fil-A "kids meals." This first set of five booklets in 2004 was followed by this set of five in 2005. "Between the Lions" is apparently a TV series featuring lions reading stories. They appear on the photographic pages 2, 3, and 16 to frame the story as Papa lion reads to his cubs. There are several surprises in this version of MSA. Tucker is taking his daughter Emma and their donkey Boots to town, not to sell the donkey but to sell the vegetables that are loaded on the donkey. They meet a wild array of people on the road, including two high-society women in a fancy coach, a troop of traveling acrobats, and a dashing nobleman. Tucker and Emma carry Boots into town. There is a great moral announced here: "You can't succeed if you're always worrying about what other people think" (15). My favorite illustration presents the sneering rich women (8).

2005 The Crow and the Pitcher. Retold by Mary Weber. Illustrated by Paul Lopez. Paperbound. Naples, FL: Chick-fil-A Between the Lions: Frederic Thomas, Inc. $1 from Dianne Wills, Madison, AL, through eBay, Oct., '05. 

This is a sixteen-page colored pamphlet designed as a premium to accompany Chick-fil-A "kids meals." This first set of five booklets in 2004 was followed by this set of five in 2005. "Between the Lions" is apparently a TV series featuring lions reading stories. They appear on the photographic pages 2, 3, and 16 to frame the story as Papa lion reads to his cubs. The other animals look up to Kendra the Crow for her wisdom and cleverness. She creates, for example, a pulley to bring water up to her nest. Forest animal friends give Kendra several ideas, like breaking off the top of the pitcher, tipping the pitcher, and using a quill as a straw. After solving the problem of the water-pitcher, Kendra installs a plastic bag as a rain-canopy over her nest. Her bliss there during a rainstorm (15) may be one of the best illustrations.

 

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