Creighton University

The chief features of this twelve-page large-format (8" x 11½") pamphlet are the prose rendition of the fable through the book, climaxed by La Fontaine's poetic version on the last page, and Romain Simon's delightful art work.  Though this is the twentieth book in the collection that is illustrated by Simon, it seems not to repeat the art from any of the other publications.  The front cover -- repeated on 5 -- shows the fox serving a shallow dish and smiling, while the stork seems to grimace.  The fox in fact shows a wonderful range of emotions from glee to malice to self-satisfaction and delight.  His departure is marked also with fine chagrin.  Culled from the library of École St-Romain and Académie Langlois in Quebec.  I have four of the set of six apparently published together.

The chief features of this twelve-page large-format (8" x 11½") pamphlet are the prose rendition of the fable through the book, accompanied by La Fontaine's poetic version in segments along the way and as a whole on the last page, and Romain Simon's delightful art work.  Though this is the twentieth book in the collection that is illustrated by Simon, it seems not to repeat the art from any of the other publications.  The front cover -- putting together images offered separately on 6 -- gives a hint that Simon will delight in showing this fox's emotions as he carries his French purse.  The title-page shows the fox licking his chops after the first bite out of the circular cheese.  We next see him lounging, again licking his chops, as he first smells the cheese.  We next see him seeking and then finding the cheese and then flattering the crow.  Just after the winning smile I have already mentioned, we see the fox's open jaws ready to snap up the falling cheese.  Our last view shows him sneering back at the shamed crow.  Culled from the library of École St-Romain and Académie Langlois in Quebec.  I have four of the set of six in the set.

The chief features of this twelve-page large-format (8" x 11½") pamphlet are the prose rendition of the fable through the book, climaxed by La Fontaine's poetic version on the last page, and Romain Simon's delightful art work.  Though this is the twentieth book in the collection that is illustrated by Simon, it seems not to repeat the art from any of the other publications.  The front cover -- repeated on 11 -- shows the lion with his tongue out facing the mouse.  The title page image shows the lion bouncing free from his net and laughing.  When this lion roars in his net, all the animals run and take cover.  Culled from the library of École St-Romain in Quebec.  I have four of the set of six apparently published together.

The chief features of this twelve-page large-format (8" x 11½") pamphlet are the prose rendition of the fable through the book, climaxed by La Fontaine's poetic version on the last page, and Romain Simon's delightful art work.  Though this is the twentieth book in the collection that is illustrated by Simon, it seems not to repeat the art from any of the other publications.  The front cover -- repeated on 11 -- shows the hare reaching the goal and rejoicing while the frantic rabbit is arriving into the picture.  The telling of the fable here follows La Fontaine's slightly different version which has the hare waiting at the starting point of the race, sure that he can begin and win whenever he wants.  Perhaps the pamphlet's best image is the large centerfold of the lounging hare.  This pamphlet approaches its fable slightly differently from others in this series.  Small segments of La Fontaine's verse appear on every page, while larger prose segments break it open for younger listeners.  This pamphlet is produced one year later than some others in the series, and features a slightly different heading on its cover: "une fable de La Fontaine" instead of "fable de la Fontaine."  Culled from the library of École St-Romain and Académie Langlois in Quebec.  I have four of the set of six in the set.