Aesop's Fables
“Belling the Cat”
by Aesop
The mice want to be safe from their enemy, the cat. One mouse had an idea to put a bell on the cat to warn the mice when the cat was near.
The mice want to be safe from their enemy, the cat. One mouse had an idea to put a bell on the cat to warn the mice when the cat was near.
How two traders get their plow and child back.
The Town Mouse visits the Country Mouse. The food was different from what the Town Mouse was used to. He complained and invited the Country Mouse to visit him in the city. During the Country Mouse’s visit he was frightened by his experiences. He decided it was better to eat poorly and be comfortably safe than eat richly and be afraid for one’s life.
The Tin Man save the Mouse Queen and she, in turn saves the Lion.
A bat uses whatever best choice he has at the time to save himself from predators.
The clouds their backs together laid
John Dolittle, a knowledgable doctor in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh, finds that his love of animals is taking a toll on his finances.
A child plays in a hay-loft.
While the dolls are away, two curious, naughty mice explore the dolls’ house and steal their furniture.
This book tells the story of a poor tailor, his cat, and the mice that live in his shop. He has many scraps of cloth and ribbons left over that are too small for any practical use. The mice take these and make fine clothes for themselves. The tailor sends his cat Simpkin to buy food and a twist of cherry-colored silk for a coat the mayor has commissioned for his wedding. While the cat is gone, he frees the mice from teacups where Simpkin has imprisoned them. When Simpkin returns and finds his mice gone, he hides the twist in anger. When the tailor falls ill, the mice save the day by completing the coat.
I know some lonely houses off the road
A rooster fears that his dreams will come true.
This book tells the story of shopkeepers Ginger, a tom-cat, and Pickles, a Terrier. They allow their customers credit and are unable to collect enough to pay the bills and subsequently go out of business. Their competition, Tabitha Twitchit, raises her prices once customers are forced to shop there and a few try to compensate by selling some specialized goods with limited success. Eventually, Henny Penny, a hen, reopens the shop.
Children and nature sleep at night; in day, they awaken and play.
The Winged Monkeys carry Dorothy and her friends to the Emerald City. The King of the Monkeys tells Dorothy why they must grant whoever has the Magic Cap three wishes.
A little bear is so happy about his surprise party that he goes into hibernation sleep early, but happy.
The Large Family children tell the Indian gentleman about their little un-fairy princess.
"When the corn ’s all cut and the bright stalks shine"
Tommy tries to catch Mr. Grouse. Mrs. Fox has five babies.
The two mice declare their love for each other and argue which house they would like to live in. They stay at Miss Dainty’s house until Shadow appears and they decide Whitefoot’s would be safer.
Mrs. Whitefoot tells Whitefoot to live on his own because there was not enough room in the nest for the two of them and the four babies. He was very surprised and proud of the babies.
Despite a warning from his mother, Tommy tries to steal one of Farmer Green’s hens.
A story about the animals in the Wet Wild Woods and how the cat that walked helped domesticate all the wild animals.
How a boy and a girl overcome a witch and get rid of their mean step-mother.
Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion find their way to the Emerald City.