Week 2 Reading Diary, Continued: "Aesop for Children (Winter)"

A continuation of fables from Aesop for Children, illustrated by Winter.

The Wolf and the Goat
I like how in this story the goat was not outsmarted by the wolf like it is in many other fables. In another version I could see the goat coming down from the cliff but having lots of friends with him, enough to make the wolf flee.

The Cat the Cock, and the Young Mouse
What a great way to relay the lesson of not judging a book by its cover. The naïve mouse thought the cat was his friend and the cock was his foe, when it was actually the other way around. I like that it was a young mouse who was learning this lesson from his mother.



Illustration for The Cat, the Cock, and the Young Mouse by Winter

The Fighting Bulls and the Frog
This fable told a lesson I hadn't thought much of before- when the great fall out the weak must suffer for it. When reading I saw how this could be related to government and people and events of day. The frogs were quite wise to know what fate was coming upon them.

The Fox and the Crab
I liked that the crab was adventurous and searched outside of his comfort zone for a new home. The sad fate that awaited the crab was immediate and I wish there were more to the story that just his demise. Perhaps the crab could become friends with the crab.

The Eagle and the Beetle
I liked how this story ended with an explanation for how things are now- the bird eggs lie in nests in the spring and the beetles sleep in the ground. I also liked seeing how a tiny beetle was able to avenge his wrong doing to such a great extent. In another version the tables could turn and the bird could go after the beetle eggs.

The Quack Toad
A good lesson comes from this story- Those who would mend others, should first mend themselves. I enjoyed the tenacity of the toad to think he could be a cure all doctor. It kindve related to how people should solve their own problems before meddling in other peoples.

The Animals and the Plague
This is the first fable I have read so far by Aesop that has made me sad; most others have made me giggle or feel content with the outcome, but not this one. In this fable the ass is wrongly chosen to suffer the pain of all for his deed which was minuscule and not deserving of such a fate. To right this wrong, I may choose to twist the end of bring the donkey back to punish the others. The weak are made to suffer for the misdeeds of the powerful.

The Cat and the Old Rat
I thought the cats guises were pretty clever, all to get a meal. Then I also enjoyed the old rats wise advice to the younger rats. I am sure this old rat has quite the story to tell, after all he was duped before only to learn his lesson and not to be tricked a second time.

The Ant and the Dove
This story warmed my heart; I enjoyed seeing these unlikely friends helping each other out. It was cool to see the initial kindness of the bird then be turned back to also benefit the bird. I could see a life long friendship forming from these initial small encounters. Its good to learn that a kindness is never wasted.

The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle
I liked that the cocky cock was knocked off his pedestal. It just goes to show that being too prideful can be a downfall. It is better to be modest and feel proud than to boast; because you never know when an eagle may be waiting to strike, like in this fable.

Stay tuned to see which fable I choose to branch off of for my next story!