Caldecott Medal Winner

Fables

by Arnold Lobel

Summary

This collection gathers twenty original fables, each a short tale about an animal that ends with a witty moral of Arnold Lobel's own invention. Lobel pairs every story with a full page painting rendered in rich color and gentle humor, giving the crocodile, ostrich, hippopotamus, and other characters a memorable presence. The blend of clever wordplay and polished illustration makes the book both funny for children and sly for adult readers.

Historical Context & Significance

Arnold Lobel, already known for his Frog and Toad books, won the Caldecott Medal in 1981 for these fables that he both wrote and illustrated himself.