Creighton University

The emphasis here belongs, I believe, on "young."  Sixteen double-page spreads offer each a two-word sentence with "crow" as its subject.  The effect is good.  Simple, large images take the crow through the process of finding water and searching for a solution for getting the water.  One of the images near the center stretches the whole crow in the midst of his efforts.  A page before the story speaks of the lesson of slowing down instead of taking only a quick solution.  A page after the story coaches parents on helping young people read a book like this.  I welcome this approach to a standard fable and look forward to the other pamphlets in the series.  7" x 10".

A key statement for understanding this presentation of the fable comes at the end of the introduction: "Finally, on the last page of the book, justice arrives.  What a happy lion!"  It is about the bullying gnat being finally put in his place.  That same introduction tells parents that this version will emphasize "blends," like "fl, gl, pl, br, cr."  The introduction has further tips on how to read the story with young children.  The visual presentation of this fable swirls, as does the gnat.  The gnat chants taunts at the lion as he stings him in various places and swirls on, concluding each time with "Who's afraid of a lion?"  The intensity and activity build until, in mid-sentence, the gnat is caught in the spider's web.  This time we read only "Who's afraid of."  A final page talks with parents about reading with their children.  7" x 10".

This longer pamphlet takes a young reader through many phases of the fox's efforts to get the grapes.  He splits his tail.  He trips and bites his lip.  He jiggles and joggles.  The recurrent result: "No grapes."  Tears in the later images and especially in the last image show the fox's disappointment.  The introduction focuses on disappointment.  Parents will be able to say to their children "Remember when you were learning how to read and we read the book about sour grapes.  Let's figure out a better way to handle your disappointment."  Strong colored images.  28 pages.  7" x 10".