This picture-book version of three of Aesop's better-known fables includes the fox's pursuit and rejection of the "sour grapes," his comeuppance at the hands of the stork over the shape of their soup dishes, and his flattery of the crow into singing and dropping the coveted cheese from her mouth. James Reeves expanded all three tales into more dramatic stories in his more inclusive collection of Aesop's fables, but Galdone's selection and his humorous, animated pictures make Aesop accessible to younger children. The fox's wary glances, self-satisfied grin and disdainful posturing provide all the comment a child will need on the straightforward narration of the text.
