Fables are short stories that teach clear moral lessons, often featuring animals that act like humans. Originating from ancient oral traditions, with Aesop’s fables being the most famous, these tales use simple and direct storytelling to convey important values such as honesty, kindness, and perseverance. By giving animals human traits, fables make ethical lessons memorable and accessible for children, helping them understand right from wrong in an engaging and timeless way.
Browse some of SWIC's children's fables below.
See one you like? Request it and pick it up at the Library Front Desk. Watch a video on how to request books. You will receive an e-mail from SWIC Library in your SWIC student e-mail when it is ready for pick-up.
Fables for Children: Books Online and On the Shelf @ SWIC Library
Chanticleer
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A proud rooster is tricked by a sly fox.
Chanticleer and the Fox
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King of the barnyard, Chanticleer struts about all day. When a fox bursts into his domain, dupes him into crowing, and then grabs him in a viselike grip, Chanticleer must do some quick thinking to save himself and his barnyard kingdom. Winner, 1959 Caldecott Medal Notable Children's Books of 1940-1970 (ALA) Winner, 1992 Kerlan Award
The Courage of the Little Hummingbird
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Across oceans, lands, and skies In whispers, shouts, and in many different languages the story of the little hummingbird of the Great Forest can always be heard
Elephant and His Secret: el Elefante y Su Secreto
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The elephant carries the mountain's secret with him as he sets off to see the world, a knowledge that helps him save all the animals.
Fables
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Winner of the Caldecott Medal A pig flying through marshmallow clouds? A camel pirouetting through the desert? Where else could a reader find such marvelous things but in a fable? From the author-illustrator behind beloved Frog and Toad, Arnold Lobel, comes a collection of humorous, silly fables that will delight readers young and old. "The most remarkable of the author-illustrator's 60-plus bestselling award winners." --Publishers Weekly "There is enough cheerful nonsense in Mr. Lobel's fables to endear any child listener." --The New York Times "Lobel has come up with a magical addition to an ancient genre of storytelling." --Newsweek
Fables from Aesop
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The wit and vigor with which Ennis retells these 187 traditional tales with appeal to the young as well as the old. The illustrations have been chosen from those done by J.J. Grandville for an edition of La Fontaine's FABLES that first appeared in 1838.
The Fox and Crow
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Students will act out the story of a hungry fox who tricks an unknowing crow. When the fox sees that the crow is holding a piece of cheese in its beak, he comes up with a plan to get the cheese. Can the fox trick the crow with flattery? This Reader's Theater script features roles written to match multiple reading levels. Teachers can assign specific roles to their readers based on each student's current reading level, allowing all students to get involved in the same activity and feel successful! Students will gain confidence in their reading fluency through performance, regardless of their current reading ability. While performing with others, students will practice performance, interacting cooperatively, reading aloud, and using expressive voices and gestures to better tell the story. These drama scripts for students are a great way to teach literacy and engage all learners!
The Grasshopper and Ants
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Students will act out the story of a lazy grasshopper and some hard-working ants. The ants spend the summer gathering food to prepare for the winter. They warn the grasshopper to do the same, but he just laughs at them and plays music all summer long. When winter comes, the grasshopper has no food, but the ants are just fine! Will the grasshopper learn his lesson? This Reader's Theater script features roles written to match multiple reading levels. Teachers can assign specific roles to their readers based on each student's current reading level, allowing all students to get involved in the same activity and feel successful! Students will gain confidence in their reading fluency through performance, regardless of their current reading ability. While performing with others, students will practice performance, interacting cooperatively, reading aloud, and using expressive voices and gestures to better tell the story. These drama scripts for students are a great way to teach literacy and engage all learners!
Lion and the Mouse
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In the Aesop fable "The Lion and the Mouse," a lion initially captures a mouse but spares its life after the mouse pleads for mercy. Later, the lion is caught in a hunter's net, and the mouse, hearing his roars, remembers his kindness and cheues through the ropes, freeing the lion. The story emphasizes that even the smallest creatures can be helpful and that kindness is never wasted.
The Lion and the Mouse (Caldecott Medal Winner)
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In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes.
The Midnight Panther
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Poonam Mistry weaves a captivating fable with stunning illustrations about courage and finding your place in the world. Panther loves the rainforest, but sometimes he feels as though he doesn't belong in the same way the other animals do--especially the other big cats. Panther desperately wishes he had the same bold qualities as Tiger, Lion, and Leopard. Thus begins Panther's adventure though the trees to find a way to be just as special and dazzling. With some guidance and a few mishaps, Panther finally discovers his own strength and beauty among the stars in the night sky.
The North Wind and Sun
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Students will act out this story of a bet between the north wind and the sun. The two argue over who is the most powerful and make a bet to see who can get a traveler to remove his cloak with their power. The harsh north wind tries its best with powerful force, but fails. The sun gently shines down warm beams of light, getting the traveler to remove his cloak quickly and showing the north wind that there is more power and strength in gentleness than in force. This Reader's Theater script features roles written to match multiple reading levels. Teachers can assign specific roles to their readers based on each student's current reading level, allowing all students to get involved in the same activity and feel successful! Students will gain confidence in their reading fluency through performance, regardless of their current reading ability. While performing with others, students will practice performance, interacting cooperatively, reading aloud, and using expressive voices and gestures to better tell the story. These drama scripts for students are a great way to teach literacy and engage all learners!
The North Wind and the Sun
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She Persisted meets Be Kind in this reinterpretation of a classic fable, whose timeless message of perseverance and hope will encourage readers to stand up for themselves. Who will win the war of trust-- the forceful, spiteful, cruel North Wind or the gentle, patient, determined Sun? This thought-provoking, gorgeous story portrays the many different definitions of strength, as told through the powerful bond of three sisters. Together they face The North Wind, a mighty wintry gale bent on destroying the sisters' old patchwork coats with his harsh words and powerful blustering. But these gray-haired sisters stand firm, bracing against the hateful Wind and his taunts, facing his negativity with practicality, resilience, grit, and gut. Their coats will not be blown off by force. It isn't until the Sun tries her own methods--generosity, warmth, and waiting--that the sisters make their own decision: it is time to remove their coats. It's the downfall of a bully, the downfall of aggression, the downfall of the Wind. With beautiful collage artwork and author Philip Stead's characteristically nuanced storytelling, this retelling of The North Wind and the Sun demonstrates the importance of persistence, the power of standing up for what you believe in, and the triumph of love over hate. A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Once a Mouse... A Fable Cut in Wood
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Marcia Brown retells an Indian fable from the Hitopadesa in this Caldecott Medal-winning tale of a mouse who becomes a tiger. When a small mouse's life is threatened by large jungle predators, a kindly hermit uses magic to change him into a cat, a dog, and a majestic tiger. But the proud tiger must suffer the consequences when he becomes ungrateful and forgets his humble origins. Marcia Brown's magical woodcuts bring this Indian fable to life with the mastery that won her a second Caldecott Medal.
The Rabbit and the Turnip
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A rabbit finds two turnips and, in a gesture of kindness, gives one away to a friend, Donkey. Donkey then passes it on to Goat, who in turn gives it to Deer. Finally, Deer, realizing it's for Rabbit, returns the turnip to him. Rabbit then shares the turnip with all his friends. The story highlights themes of generosity and sharing.
The Tortoise and Hare
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Students will act out the classic story of a race between a tortoise and a hare. The hare is always boasting that he is the fastest animal in the woods. Everyone is fed up with his boasting, so the tortoise challenges the hare to a race. Readers will find out if the slow-and-steady tortoise can beat the speedy hare! The roles in this script are written at different reading levels. This Reader's Theater script features roles written to match multiple reading levels. Teachers can assign specific roles to their readers based on each student's current reading level, allowing all students to get involved in the same activity and feel successful! Students will gain confidence in their reading fluency through performance, regardless of their current reading ability. While performing with others, students will practice performance, interacting cooperatively, reading aloud, and using expressive voices and gestures to better tell the story. These drama scripts for students are a great way to teach literacy and engage all learners!
Town Mouse, Country Mouse
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Mice overflowing with personality and richly detailed settings make this a favorite edition of the classic tale. Jan Brett introduces two engaging mouse couples eager to get away from their everyday lives. But when they agree to swap homes, they are plunged into unexpected adventures at every turn. In a story filled with suspense and humor, lush green country scenes alternate with the elegant details of a fine Victorian townhouse, making this a breathtakingly beautiful picture book.
Cornelius: A Fable
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The beloved fable about being yourself from four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Leo Lionni. Unlike other crocodiles, Cornelius walks upright, sees things, and does tricks no other crocodile can. His friends aren't impressed. "So what?" they say when he demonstrates standing on his head or hanging from his tail. At first, Cornelius is disappointed, but things aren't always what they seem, and life on the riverbeach is about to undergo some big changes. Children will draw inspiration from this tale of a crocodile who marches to his own drummer.
The Little Swineherd and Other Tales
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Six short stories include: The Duck and the Goose, The Little Swineherd, The Rooster Who Could Not See Enough of Himself, Circles and Straight Lines, The Alligator Who Told The Truth, The Raccoon's Song.