Aesops Fables - Coloring Book

Aesop's Fables: A COLORING BOOK BY Charles Santore

Aesop, the legendary fabulist of ancient Greece, gave us rules to live by through his famous fables. His stories teach us about the benefits of being kind, humble, cautious, and grateful. They teach us about fairness, hard work, and the difficult things in the world. And they teach us that it is best to be ourselves.

When artist Charles Santore set out to illustrate his selection of Aesop’s fables, he chose those featuring animals rather than people. The animal kingdom, with its huge variety of characters, provides perfect examples of what it means to be human. The wily fox, the stubborn goat, the wise mouse, and all the other animals, in their own ways, represent the different parts of who we are.

Santore, who is best known for his lush, narrative illustration of children’s classics, has decided to share his drawings of Aesop’s fables here for you to color. His black-and-white drawings helped him create the watercolor paintings shown on the inside of this coloring book’s covers. As you color, you can think about how you might draw some of these stories. When you’ve finished, you can use the blank pages at the back of the coloring book to illustrate your favorite fables.

Images include: “The Crow and the Pitcher.” Moral: In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out; “The Wolf and the Crane.” Moral: In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains; “The Wolf and the Lamb.” Moral: Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through; “The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.” Moral: Harm seek, harm find; “The Vain Jackdaw.” Moral: Fine feathers do not make fine birds, and more.

• Casebound book with a special lay-flat binding and sturdy, flexible cover
• 48 pages with 21 images to color on high-quality paper
• Size: 8½ x 11 in.
• Coloring pages are blank on the back so they can be cut out and displayed.