Aesop, in Rhyme: Old Friends in a New Dress

"Aesop, in Rhyme: Old Friends in a New Dress" by Aesop, adapted by Marmaduke Park, is a collection of rhyming fables that likely dates back to the early 1800s. This version of Aesop's classic stories seeks to both amuse and educate by using lively language and rhyming poetry to convey moral teachings. The book uses animal characters in different situations to show human flaws and good qualities, exploring ideas of wisdom, fairness, and what is right and wrong. The collection starts with several fables, each teaching a lesson about moral code, which comes to light due to animals interacting. To illustrate, one fable shares a wolf and a dog discussing their different lives, which highlights the troubles faced by those who seem to have it all. The stories continue with different animals—a herdsman, frogs, and boys—who each show different human characteristics, while teaching valuable life lessons, like the value of working hard instead of being lazy, and the outcome of being greedy. These beginning stories are a fun reminder that nature can teach us about ourselves and how we act.