Creighton University

The adaptation of this 16-page pamphlet from the 20-page booklet of 1997 brings several changes.  The cover-picture is different; in fact it is one of the two 1997 illustrations eliminated from the story, namely those showing the elephant in his underwear.  The text has several changes.  The biggest change, in the title and on the last page, is the substitution of humility here for honesty there.  This version of the story again features an elephant as emperor.   The imposters' claim is changed.  There it was "Only wise people will see this fabric.  It will be invisible to fools."  Here it is "Only the wisest people in the land will see this fabric.  It will be invisible to fools and to those who are unfit for their office."  I find the earlier version on both counts better.  Again the wife is the first to be allowed to see the fabric.  The boy again cries out that the emperor is wearing nothing but his underwear.  This version is weaker again when the emperor waits until the end of the parade to return home and it is not here to put on simple clothes but to put on "some clothes."  Editing can be a curious business!

Here is a copy of the 2001 printing of this book first published, apparently, in 2000.  This is a cleaner copy than our 2000 copy.  I will repeat my comments made on that copy.  The adaptation of this 16-page pamphlet from the 20-page booklet of 1997 brings several changes.  The cover-picture is different; in fact it is one of the two 1997 illustrations eliminated from the story, namely those showing the elephant in his underwear.  The text has several changes.  The biggest change, in the title and on the last page, is the substitution of humility here for honesty there.  This version of the story again features an elephant as emperor.   The imposters' claim is changed.  There it was "Only wise people will see this fabric.  It will be invisible to fools."  Here it is "Only the wisest people in the land will see this fabric.  It will be invisible to fools and to those who are unfit for their office."  I find the earlier version on both counts better.  Again the wife is the first to be allowed to see the fabric.  The boy again cries out that the emperor is wearing nothing but his underwear.  This version is weaker again when the emperor waits until the end of the parade to return home and it is not here to put on simple clothes but to put on "some clothes."  Editing can be a curious business!

I include this book because it helps complete a series containing fable books.  According to this story, a fisherman catches a golden fish and, asked by the fish to return it to the water since he is an enchanted prince, he does so.  For that the fish grants him a wish, but the fisherman says that there is nothing that he needs.  What a surprising response!  The wife sends the fisherman back to ask for a nicer house, and he does so, and the fish grants his wish.  A few days later, she sends him back to the fish to ask for a castle.  Done.  She sends him back yet again to ask that they be king and queen.  Done.  The next morning the wife wants power over the rising of the sun!  The fish again tells him to go home to his wife.  He finds her in their humble cottage.  She understands now: "Each new and better thing only made me think I wanted more.  But the more I got, the more unhappy I became.  I forgot to be happy with what I already had."  The fish's growing annoyance is well expressed visually, as well as in the text.  Typically for this series, characters are depicted visually as animals.  Here the fisherman and his wife seem to be badgers.  "Less can be better."

I include this book because it helps complete a series containing fable books.  According to this story, four animals being turned out for being old band together to become a musical group.  The first performance happens to be at a house taken over by four thieves, who scatter when the cacophonous concert begins.  The four live happily in this house from there on out, eager to give concerts to anyone who would listen.  The illustrations are particularly good.  The classic view has the four standing on top of each other rooster on cat on dog on donkey.  The final image of their banquet in the house is particularly engaging.

Here is the 2001 printing of this book first printed, I believe, in 2000.  I repeat here remarks I made there.  I include this book because it helps complete a series containing fable books.  According to this story, four animals being turned out for being old band together to become a musical group.  The first performance happens to be at a house taken over by four thieves, who scatter when the cacophonous concert begins.  The four live happily in this house from there on out, eager to give concerts to anyone who would listen.  The illustrations are particularly good.  The classic view has the four standing on top of each other rooster on cat on dog on donkey.  The final image of their banquet in the house is particularly engaging.

I include this book because it helps complete a series containing fable books.  The story and its illustrations are taken from Publications International's hardbound booklet of ten pages from 1997, "The Gift: A Tale of Generosity."  Texts are shortened, and two illustrations are dropped in this sixteen-page pamphlet.  I will repeat here what I wrote about that little book.  Percy and Amelia are twins.  Here they are pictured as bear cubs.  Percy loves flying his kite, and Amelia loves bird-watching with her binoculars.  As they approach their birthday, each knows what to give the other, but neither has the money.  Amelia buys Percy a new tail for his kite, but she has to sell her binoculars to do it.  Percy buys Amelia a case for her binoculars, but needs to sell his kite to do it.  When they open gifts, they laugh, have a picnic, and declare that this has been the best of birthdays.

I include this book because it helps complete a series containing fable books.  The book is derived from a parallel hardbound book published by Publications International in 1997, "The Tale of Johnny Appleseed: A Story of Love."  Texts are edited and shortened, and two of the illustrations are dropped from that 20-page book in this 16-page pamphlet.  As I wrote there, in this development of the Johnny Appleseed legend, a seed dropped by Johnny watches over the decades as civilization develops and even encroaches on the tree's life.  The event of a neighborhood boy falling asleep in the tree occasions a decision to move it to a park, and the park invites people to play and picnic.  That boy encourages people to name the park after Johnny Appleseed.  "Take time to plant a tree or feed the birds with a friend.  It is an act of love that everyone will appreciate!"

I include this book because it helps complete a series containing fable books.  The book is derived from a parallel hardbound book published by Publications International in 1997, "King Midas: A Tale of Wisdom."  Texts are edited and shortened, and two of the illustrations are dropped from that 20-page book in this 16-page pamphlet.  As I wrote there, in this development of the Midas legend, Midas is approached by a surprise visitor who offers him the gift of transforming whatever he touches into gold.  This visitor is pictured as a grasshopper, and Midas and his beloved daughter Marygold are pictured as something like hedgehogs.  The next morning Midas delightedly turns object after object into gold, even the roses loved by Marygold.  She comes to him upset over a golden rose.  When Midas tries to comfort her with a hug, she too is turned into gold.  Midas encounters the same spirit and admits to having learned his lesson.  He follows instructions to get water from the river and sprinkle it onto all that has been transformed, and these things then revert to their former state.  Once Marygold is transformed back, Midas loses his preoccupation with counting his money and learns to enjoy the great outdoors.  "A wise person knows that money or gold cannot buy happiness and that simple things can be the best."

I include this book because it helps complete a series containing fable books.  This fairy tale, replete with magic, tells of a boy who loses his oats to the North Wind's blasts as he brings them home.  He trudges to the North Wind and asks for his oats back.  The North Wind replies that he cannot retrieve them but he can give the boy a magic tablecloth that supplies all the food he and his mother need.  A clever innkeeper replaces the magic tablecloth with a plain one.  When the boy returns to the North Wind, he receives a magic piggy bank that produces all the money he needs.  The same thing happens at the inn.  On his third trip to the North Wind, the boy receives a magic rope that will tie someone up on command.  The boy, who by now knows that the innkeeper is a thief, feigns sleep and captures the innkeeper.  He receives back the stolen tablecloth and piggy bank, and he and his mother live well and safely.  The boy and his mother may be beavers, the North Wind a polar bear, and the innkeeper a wolf.  "Because of the boy's bravery and persistence, he and his mother lived happily ever after."

Here is a 2001 printing of a book already included in the collection in its 2000 printing.  I include this book because it helps complete a series containing fable books.  This fairy tale, replete with magic, tells of a boy who loses his oats to the North Wind's blasts as he brings them home.  He trudges to the North Wind and asks for his oats back.  The North Wind replies that he cannot retrieve them but he can give the boy a magic tablecloth that supplies all the food he and his mother need.  A clever innkeeper replaces the magic tablecloth with a plain one.  When the boy returns to the North Wind, he receives a magic piggy bank that produces all the money he needs.  The same thing happens at the inn.  On his third trip to the North Wind, the boy receives a magic rope that will tie someone up on command.  The boy, who by now knows that the innkeeper is a thief, feigns sleep and captures the innkeeper.  He receives back the stolen tablecloth and piggy bank, and he and his mother live well and safely.  The boy and his mother may be beavers, the North Wind a polar bear, and the innkeeper a wolf.  "Because of the boy's bravery and persistence, he and his mother lived happily ever after."