Les Fables en Action

Abstract

A lively introduction agrees with Rousseau that it is a mistake to offer children fables that are beyond them. The key thing to interest children is action. The author admits that there are few La Fontaine fables that fit easily into this program. MSA, for example, will rather reinforce the child's instinctive interest in refusing advice and doing things its own way. A setting brings together a widowed mother and three children and has them ready to hear contes and fables. In their first of thirteen soirees, the mother tells a story of a proud egocentric young girl who, because she is rich, is always at the center of her group of friends. A guest comes and, while the young girl is enjoying a piece of cake, asks if she can see the girl's dancing moves. She is proud to show them off, but the guest makes off with her cake in the meantime. This fable in action leads the young man to recite FC by LaFontaine, which he learned recently in school. The whole experience is so good that the children ask for another story. This time she tells the story of a poor student who stole the great tribute of the smartest and most popular student, who happened to fall sick. The cad delivered the tribute to the teacher as though it were his own and received the accolades of faculty and fellow students alike. But he forgot to burn the manuscript, and in fact it fell out of his pocket during some playing. He was discovered and shamed. Soon the real author revived and got the praise he deserved. One of the children is able to identify that this fable in action reminds her of BF, which she recites. So, I presume, it goes in the other twelve soirees. 308 pages. About 3½ x 5½. A frontispiece presents the setting of mother telling stories to three children. The title-page's illustration shows the theft of the piece of cake. I find other illustrations at 55 and 150.