Belling the cat and other Aesop's fables Book

Following upon their initial Aesop collection, published in 1988, singer-songwriter Tom Paxton and illustrator Robert Rayevsky teamed up a second time in Belling the Cat and Other Aesop's Fables, which presents ten fables, retold in verse-form. Here the reader will encounter such ubiquitous favorites as Town Mouse and Country Mouse, in which a country mouse learns that the simple life of peace and quiet is best. Here too are lesser-known, but equally appealing selections, such as the humorous Who's Helping Whom? (also sometimes known as The Stomach and the Feet), in which the stomach and feet debate their importance to one another. The other fables include:

The titular Belling the Cat, in which a group of mice, determined to protect themselves from a dangerous cat, discover that a good idea isn't always practicable...

The Night Singer (The Caged Bird and the Bat), in which a songbird learns too late not to call attention to herself...

Many Friends (The Hare With Many Friends), in which a hare learns the value of true friendship when all her supposed "friends" cannot be bothered to help her in a time of crisis...

The Crow and the Pitcher, in which a clever crow finds a way to get the water he needs...

Honesty Is the Best Policy (The Honest Woodcutter), in which an honest woodcutter is rewarded, and a dishonest one is punished...

The Bird Who Lost His Song, in which the kite loses his ability to sing when he attempts to imitate the sounds of a horse's neigh...

The Milkmaid and Her Pail, in which a careless milkmaid loses her milk when she becomes distracted by her visions of what she will do with it...

And finally, The Dog in the River (The Dog and the Bone), in which a greedy dog loses the bone he has by reaching for something more...


Paxton's verse makes for an entertaining read, with the enjoyment considerably enhanced by reciting each selection aloud. Accompanied by Rayevsky's engraving-like illustrations, with their whimsical sartorial details, this collection should appeal to young Aesop fans and nursery-rhyme lovers. A worthy second volume from this duo!