Book Description

Galdone's dynamic, amusing pictures add much humor to the familiar tale of the industrious hen and lazy cat, dog, and mouse. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great book!
The little red hen does all the work. She cuts the grass. She baked the bread. She planted the grass. She takes the grass to the miller. My favorite part was when the cat sat down and crossed his arms.

Work Ethic
The Little Red Hen is a wonderful introduction to work ethic and the value of helping and doing things from scratch. It has nice repetitive elements which younger kids love and the step by step story telling much like "The House that Jack Built."

The Little Red Hen
This book teaches kids how they should not be greedy and they should help someone if they want something in return. This book is about a hen who plants, cuts, beats, takes the wheat to the mill all by herself and bakes some bread. Then her friends want some when it is done but since they didnt help the hen eats it all by her self. This book is a really good book i think it can teach kids a lot.

Excellent version of a classic.
I have this exact book from when I was little and now I am reading it to my 2 year old. The relatively simple text and repetition makes it a hit with budding readers. My son especially likes the "Not I" Said the Cat, "Not I" Said the Dog parts because the book incorporates different pics of each animal into the text each time this is repeated. (Making goofy voices for the cat, dog and mouse is a big hit too.) A nice lesson in the pay-back for working hard vs. laziness.

A Great Book
Teaches a valuable lesson about teamwork and helping out. Great illustrations. Easy to read for beginning readers. Paul Gladone has another winner! ... Read more

Book Description

All three pigs set out to seek their fortune, but two of them come to a sorry end. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great For Trips!
I always loved this story as a child, so it is one that I have inflicted on my daughter (almost 4) in hopes that she would love it as well. We were planning a trip, so I purchased the audio version so she could listen to the story while we were driving. While it is not the PC version where the first and second little pigs get away and run to the home of their brother with the brick home (they are actually eaten as each of their homes is huffed and puffed to the ground)--it is still a great story and provided hours of entertainment. We are constantly finding the value of books with tapes for car travel and it helps a lot when the books are well written and illustrated. This one is all of that and more.

A "back to basics" retelling of the classic story
When my older son became fascinated with the Three Little Pigs after seeing a version of it on Sesame Street, I did some research on this site to decide the best version to buy him in book form, and decided on this one. I was glad I did---as he really enjoyed many readings of this version until he moved onto new interests! It's not for the faint hearted, as the first two pigs do get eaten, and the pictures of the houses falling show sticks all over and pigs flying away, but that's life in fairy tales! The text is straightforward, the pictures are clear and well done. Consider this version!

Awesome!
This version of the Three Little Pigs is excellent. The original tale with the actual eating of the pigs and wolf. My tot is the sweetest kid in the world, and he loves this book. Definitely his favorite for a few weeks. I don't have the audio cassette version, but I recently bought the audio version of Rumplestiltskin, and it's great too. I'm actually on here now to buy more audio cassette books, as many Paul Galdone books as I can find.

My Two Year Old Laughs Until His Sides Hurt
My child loves this book/cassette combo. He loves it more than the so-called 'friendlier', non-pig eatin' versions that currently on the market. This, of course, surprised me...but I guess it shouldn't. This version is richer in conflict; and in turn, more thought-provoking than the other versions. If you think your child would enjoy this type of story line, like mine has; then by all means, purchase this combo for him/her! Only you know what is/is not suitable for your child.

My child fell in love with this combo when we checked it out at our public library. So much, in fact, that I had to find a way to purchase it.

Back to Tradition
This is a wonderful presentation of the original story without the moralisms of Disney's adaptation. There is bad and good luck, cunning, bravery and dealing with tough situations without whining. This leaves room for children to respond to the story and interpret it. My two year old grandson loved it, even if he didn't know what a churn was. The drawings are stylish. I recommend it as an addition to your basic library of classic children's tales. ... Read more

Book Description

The three goat brothers brave the terrible troll in a colorful version of the classic tale. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My Son Loved This Version
We have checked out a number of versions of The Three Billy Goats Gruff from the Library when my son was 4. This is the version he liked the most. It is very simple (as one reviewer uses as a reason to reject it) but for some ages, that simplicity is what makes it a favorite.

What the....!
I grew up with this story - what happened?! Somewhere in this grossly underproduced version they forgot that even in a kids story you need talented actors. Kids know when someone sounds wooden and unskilled - and you can't pawn something as poorly done as this off on them. They're smarter than that! I could've done a better job in my garage. "Under the bridge lived a troll..." Come on!

Faithful retelling of the fairy tale
My boys love this author's version of the Three Little Pigs, so I bought a few more of his fairy tales for them. They also liked this one, but not as much. That might just be because it's not quite as interesting a tale! But the illustrations are well done---especially the troll, who is truly scary looking! This is a good book for a reader who likes to do voices, as you really have to use dramatic effect to show how the biggest billy goat has a loud and intimidating voice while the little one has a tiny and timid voice!

I am the voice
Can I just put in a credit for myself here. I am the voice(s) on the audio cassette. Let me know what you think. Hope you enjoyed it. ... Read more

Book Description

Convinced the sky is falling, Henny Penny and a band of gullible friends march off to tell the king, only to meet their end at the hands of a wily fox. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Henny Penny needs some worky lurky
NOT to be confused with the tale of the little red hen. We've all heard, at one time or another, the tale of silly Henny Penny. Hit on the head by an acorn the silly chicken is convinced that the sky is falling. Running to tell the king she meets up with a range of different avian types until finally coming to crafty Foxy Loxy. This 1968 creation undoubtedly won many a supporter back in its day. A classic story, it deserved a classy set-up. Unfortunately, the book has not aged as well as it might have. Illustrator Paul Galdone's story is a bit dull for a while, and then it suddenly becomes a little shocking at the end. In true fairy tale fashion, Foxy Loxy and his brood have a 'fine feast' from their silly feathered friends. There's nothing particularly gratuitous about this. You don't see Henny Penny & Friends actually eaten. Nor are there any leftover remains when we view the parting shot of Foxy Loxy and his family. On the other hand, children who (for whatever reason) have grown attached to the silly birds aren't going to enjoy the black page that simply reads, 'From that day to this Turkey Lurkey, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Lucky, Cocky Locky, and Henny Penny have never been seen again'. I dunno. Maybe I'm being too modern. If the children of the late 1960s could take this book, shouldn't we assume our kids can today?

Perhaps. On the other hand, there's no getting around the fact that the book is (forgive me, but it is true) not particularly well illustrated. It's not badly illustrated, mind you. Just the same, the pictures aren't anything to crow about. They're flat. Colored occasionally in red, green or yellow. The three color palette may suit some, but it does grow a little wearisome to the wandering eye. If you're dead set on introducing your kids to the tale of Henny Penny, I suggest you seek out other more entrancing versions of this tale. For all its age and maturity, this is a simultaneously dull and shocking book to be reading the kiddie set at night.

Henny Penny
Henny Penny is a old english folk story about a hen who is one day gathering acorns.When one hits her on the head and she is convinced that the sky is fallling.So natraly she feels its her duty to tell the king. Along the way she meets some of her friends and ask them to join her on her quest to tell the king. Though when they almost get to the kings palace they meet Foxy Loxy who tricks them.

Parents:A great story to reinforce or introduce rhyming
Rhyming patterns help with spelling. A student can see the endings of words are the same and follow the patterns for other unfamiliar words. This makes decoding and spelling unknown words easier: Henny, Penny, Lenny, etc. fox, box, lox, pox. Follow-up with any Dr.Seuss book to reinforce rhyming and spelling. ... Read more

Book Description

The favorite Mother Goose rhyme about the three careless kittens who lost their mittens is given added appeal with Galdone's bold and colorful illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A very appealing and well done little book
My sons have requested this be read to them about 10 times just today! As all of Galdone's fairy tales or nursery rhymes, this is very true to the traditional telling. The special part here is the living, clever and detailed pictures. They show such neat details as a kitchen with catnip in every form---chopped, minced, blended, etc---in a spice cabinet! The cats' expressions are priceless---you wouldn't guess cats could be so expressive.

Adorable depiction of this classic rhyme.
My 2 1/2 year old loves this book! We have taken it out of the library so many times, I have finally decided it is time to own it! I think she identifies with the sweet kittens who get into trouble but then make amends and get to eat the pie after all. Both toddlers and preschoolers will love this beautifully illustrated book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Highly Recommend it! Fun and Educational!!
This book is wonderful and engaging. It is about a little boy, George W. Allen who shares his name and his birthday with George Washington. He knows many facts about George W. but he wants to know more. One day he decides he wants to know what George W. had for breakfast and the learning adventure begins!! I read it to my boys 6 and 4 and they loved it. My sons enjoyed the facts about George W. like: he had two horses named Nelson and Blueskin. There were many "fun facts" such as this in the book. I loved it because in addition to learning about George W., it shows children different ways to search for information. George Allen first goes to the library from there to the card catalog, and then the biographies. Then his family took a trip to Washington D.C., and to George Washington's home in Virginia. It's a great addition to any family library.

george washington's breakfast
You have the wrong illustrator listed. The illustration on the cover is by Tomie dePaola and you have Paul Galdone listed.

George W.Allen searches for his namesakes breakfast.
George Allen feels related to George Washington because they share a name and a birthday. He knows many facts about the first president but George Allen wants to know what Washington ate for his breakfast. His detemination to succeed makes the book an interesting tour through history. We learn many facts about Washington and also the rewards of perseverance.

A book you can sink your teeth into!
I like this book because it is full of wondering to do. You think: "Will George Allen find out? What is next? How will he handle the situation?" George Allen is trying to find out what George Washington ate for breakfast because he feels like he is related to George Washington! But he is having trouble. He goes to the library, but he doesn't find anything. After going to everywhere he can think of, he still can't find it. But he doesn't give up ... Read more

Book Description

"The classic tale of the old couple, with no children of their own, who bake a gingerbread boy to keep them company. Just as the little old woman is about to take him from the oven, he slips away and runs out the door past a cow, a horse, a group of threshers, mowers, etc. All follow in hot pursuit until the gingerbread boy meets up with a wily fox, and "at last and at last he went the way of every single gingerbread boy that ever came out of an oven . . . He was all gone!" A wonderfully frenetic cross-country chase is depicted in Galdone"s broadly humorous color wash drawings. Of the eight editions of this well-known story now in print, this hilarious version is the most delectable."
—School Library Journal, starred

"Galdone has already proven many times over that he is perfectly at home with those traditional nursery tales that are still preschoolers" favorites, and his expressive, unassuming style just right for their very young audience. . . . Children will follow along breathlessly . . . right up to that last snip snap snip when the Gingerbread Boy goes "the way of every single gingerbread boy that ever came out of an oven.""—Kirkus Reviews ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Classic tale
An old woman and an old man have no kids, so the old woman makes a gingerbread boy. When she opens the oven, the gingerbread boy jumps out and runs away. He gets chased by the old woman and old man, a cow, a horse, and some farmers out threshing. Eventually, a fox manages to catch the gingerbread boy through cunning, and the fox eats him up. Some kids may find the story quite scary, and may find the unhappy ending a bit disconcerting. But it's a classic tale and quite engaging. The book has about 1300 words.

Terrific story for 3 year olds!
My three and a half year old son loves this story which is about a gingerbread boy who runs away from people and animals who want to eat him, only to wind up in a river, on the back of a sly fox, who pretends not to be interested in him. The fox eats the boy but this story is not scary. My son tells me it is "OK that the fox ate the gingerbread boy because he is really a cookie, and not a real boy". I would not recommend this book to kids who are three and younger as it might scare and confuse them. This is an older traditional story, a classic. Highly recommended.

Perfect for a thematic unit on Gingerbread.
I will be reading this book along with some other similar titles to my youngsters. The pictures are very vivid and the repeated patterns make it easy for children to follow! ... Read more

Book Description

A verse version of the tale first published in England in 1807. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Work!
This is a wonderful approach to the fairy tale stories. I've read several of Mrs. Capps-Burgess books and all of them are excellent! They make extra special gifts for the young reader.

Not the Typical Tale
The illustrations for the version of Jack and the Beanstalk are wonderful, however, the text is from a 1807 version and is difficult to read easily. This is compounded by the fact that it is in rhyme so some of the words/grammer are really strange to keep the rhyme pattern.

A great new tale not of the fairy kind, but Faith.
Mrs. Capps-Burgess, the daughter of famed Arkansan Bible Teacher and farmer Charles Capps, does an extrodinary job of transplacing the traditional Fairy tales into Faith tales. A former reviewer has sent back her copy and declared that she, the reader, is religious. Herein lies the reason she misunderstands Mrs. Burgess. Mrs. Burgess is not religious, but rather maintains a relationship with Jesus Christ. It would be a mystery as to why Mrs. Burgess has written this new "twist" were it not for a fact that millions have stepped aside from religion and moved ahead toward this relationship building class for their children with Jesus Christ. In my opinion, only those parents who have strong Bible-believing faith, would approve of the works of Beverly Capps Burgess. Those who claim to be religious should probably continue to hold to traditional fairy tales.

The traditional tale has been changed into a religious story
I was quite surprised when I received this book since there was no indication in the description that the traditional tale had been transformed into a religious story. The subtitle is "Faith as a seed". God speaks to Jack and the Giant is the devil. At the end of the book there is a page headed "Your New Birth Day" where you are supposed to sign that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior. I am a religious person, but I find this type of book unacceptable and inappropriate..especially for the preschool age group suggested. I have returned the book. ... Read more

Book Description

A droll rendition of the old English ghost story about the teeny-tiny woman who found a teeny-tiny bone in the teeny-tiny churchyard. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Big Fun!
If you've ever been to a slumber party you've probably heard someone tell this spooky-fun tale. Illustrator Paul Galdone gives the royal treatment to this classic story of a teeny-tiny woman out on a teeny-tiny walk who finds herself a teeny-tiny bone and thinks of making a teeny-tiny pot of soup for herself. Humour and suspense in generous amounts follow the events that spiral out from her one simple act of bringing the bone home. The silly surprise ending is classic slumber-party fare...eek! This is a good story for around Halloween time due to its bedtime suspense and ghostly plot. Be sure to share this one with a new generation of kids. It's sure to be loved.

A great ghost story!
My son absolutely loves this story. He enjoys the fact that he can follow the words with the audio narrator and at the same time get spooky feelings about the Teeny-Tiny Woman! I am so glad we found this book - it is very unique and keeps his attention - no matter how many times he reads it. Definetly a keeper for our library! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Lemonade Trick by Scott Corbett
You might not have heard about a lemonade trick and magic mix,but in this book you will.Kerby Maxwell isn't a neat person but he's not as bad as he seems.Also you migth think this book is boring but when youre in an exciting part you'll like to read more and more and more about the story.This kid meets this old woman and she,gave him a chemistry set,but when he mixes it and gets near,oh no.....

I liked this book because it's interesting and emotional.The author gives examples so you would understand perfectly.Also because I didn't know some of the words and now I do and you'll learn new words too.He also describes how Kerby is feeling and everybody else too.I haven' read a book as interesting and remarkable as this book.

Worth mixing up a batch
Ah yes, those were much simpler times, when you could write a book that involved making magic potions with a chemistry set and drinking them or placing them in a lemonade vat... and not worry about getting sued. I'm curious - does the book come with a warning now? Or has the story been edited to reflect safer lab practices? Of course, to this end, few chemistry sets include anything that'll kill you anymore, either (justifiably so, I guess).

All cynical humor aside, this is a terrific children's book. The rest of the series is well worth tracking down, also.

A wonderful series
Oh happy day! For years I've been trying to remember enough about these books to track them down, and now a search engine has done it for me. I read this series of "Trick" books probably in their first printing and adored them. Now that I have children of my own, I've been trying to figure out how to describe them to a librarian in order to track them down. Now with a few clicks, here they are! I only hope they all come out in an affordable format soon. Kerby may not be the original Harry Potter, but I can't wait to re-read all of these. Yippee!

Its really fun to read.
Its wellwritten and funny.my favorite part of the book was when kerby got his chemistry set.Also when kerby hit bumpson the head with his sword.Kerby bent bump hat.

The book was really funny
I really liked the book it is really funny. I love this book so much I wish I could have a cemesrty set I would be driking it evry day. ... Read more

Book Description

Turtle needs Monkey's help in getting the banana tree out of the river, but she's sorry later when greedy Monkey demands more than his share of the fruit. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A FABULOUS story encouraging verbal expression.
I'm an elementary speech-language specialist and I use this book every year. I am picky in the books I choose to use in therapy, but this story allows for critical thinking, retelling, inferring, predicting..all the things that look for in interactive literature. Kids root for the turtle and love the "villian" characteristics in the monkey! Highly recommended. I have so much fun reading it that my kids can't help but catch the excitement! They all ran to the librarian begging to check out a copy! ... Read more

Book Description

This familiar nursery tale features a warmly appealing bear family and a naughty, gap-toothed Goldilocks. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A straighforward telling of the tale
This book passed the toughest test our household has to offer---my two sons asked for it to be read several times in one day. The pictures are vivid and clear and the story is told without fancy added details---just the facts of the fairy tale! I must admit I didn't find it that overly gripping, but I think that's because this isn't the most fascinating of fairy tales---but something about it appeals to kids---the bears? The 3 sizes of everything? Who knows? Whatever it is, it's a hit with my boys!

My 2.5 yr-old loves this traditional story.
I find Paul Galdone's illustrations a bit garish but my son clearly prefers this style over more subtle ones - like Margot Zemach or Jan Brett. I had to really look for a traditional version with the emphasis on the extremes, too hot, too cold, just right - so many modern versions drop this original prose. This had exactly what I was looking for. ... Read more

Book Description

Paul Galdone created hundreds of books in his lifetime. Many of his picture books quickly became accepted as the definitive version of traditional stories. Collected here are four of his most popular picture books: The Three Pigs, The Three Bears, The Little Red Hen, and Cat Goes Fiddle-i-fee. Parents who grew up with these whimsical retellings will enjoy revisiting them and sharing them with the family, bringing Galdone"s timeless artistry and bright, earthy humor to a new generation of readers. This attractive gift book includes every word and image in the original picture books, and features an introduction by noted children"s book specialist Leonard S. Marcus. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Favorite Tales, Masterful Illustrations
The familiar tales, The Three Little Pigs, The Three Bears, The Little Red Hen and Cat Goes Fiddle-i-fee can be found in many other editions, told and illustrated by many talented people, but it is in this treasury, in my opinion, that they truly shine as the beloved stories they are. Paul Galdone, winner of two Caldecott Honors, illustrated these tales with a deep committment to children and put so much lively humor into each drawing that they have been received with delight for decades. The expressions on the faces of the animals in the stories are so apt and evocative that they virtually tell the stories themselves. Large and colorful and filled with detail and activity they are perfect for holding the attention of young listeners.
Parents who may remember these gems from their own childhood will be interested in the short biography of this talented artist that is to be found at the beginning of the book. Whether you remember these stories and pictures from your own childhood or not, I guarantee you will delight in this treasury of stories and pictures that are a wonderful legacy for any child. ... Read more

Book Description

An old English cumulative rhyme introduces young children to their favorite farm animals with verses that prompt them to learn the sound that each animal makes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Sing-a-long Book!
It's great to have books to sing along to, and this is one of the best. The illustrations are great, the lyrics are fun, and kids of all ages enjoy the song. A great version of the song done by kids is on the CD Treblemakers ... ... Read more

Book Description

In this gentle yet suspenseful story, three adventurous little ducklings wander away from their barnyard home and unwittingly avoid disaster after disaster until they eventually return to the nest, where their mother takes them under her wing for a nap. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

go ron roy
go ron roy i love this story and i know you will to yuor kids will laugh learn and have fun at the same time.belive me ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Uplifting story
I have always loved this book. The story is timeless and the illustrations are beautiful. If your children have not seen this book, they are missing a true treasure. ... Read more

Book Description

A strange varmint haunts the woodsman who lopped off his tail and had it for dinner. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

An old childhood nightmare
I just checked this book out from the library after roughly 13 years (or longer)since I had last seen or heard it being told. Each Halloween of my grade school years, the music teacher would read this tale to us in a dimmed class room. It scared me horribly. I've got to admit,I was a very easily frightened child, but there it is. Seeing it today, through the eyes of a grown-up and horror-afficionado,I don't find it nearly so horrifying. However, I still think it's an excellent and eerily told tale. (The illustrations, which I had not forgotten,accentuate the spookiness of the story). I'd love to learn more about the history behind this folktale.

Terrifyingly memorable
I was 8 years old and going to a small public school in St. John's, Newfoundland, when my teacher decided to read us this story for Halloween. It scared me witless and I had nightmares about it up until high school.

Great Book, Annoying Audiotape
This is a great book, my 4YO son loves it. I would only warn you off the audiotape, as the author tells the story so slowly it's painful. If you are a Paul Galdone fan, I highly recommend that you try other books with audiotapes though. My son loves The Monster and the Tailer, Rumplestiltskin, and the Teeny Tiny Woman.

I found it woohooooo - Great book for elementry kids
Wow I finally found it. I couldint figure out what the spelling was at first this book and green eggs and ham is what I remember the most from my child years. The teacher had a great voice for this story two exp when she went tailypo tailllypoooooo I want my tailypo!! Dim lights with little ones and you will have a happy but scared child

Tailypo tailypo, now I want my tailypo
I read this book back in elementary school, and I''ve always remembered it. I didn't know whether it was in print any longer and am happy to see it is, because I search for every time I'm around the childrens book in a bookstore. I highly recomend this:) Just looking at the cover again makes me laugh....it's freaky, cute and morbid at the same time:) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Paul O. Zelinsky, 1998 Caldecott medalist for Rapunzel, also has three Caldecott Honor Books under his belt: Hansel and Gretel, Swamp Angel, and this fine edition of Rumpelstiltskin. Zelinsky's oil paintings are perfectly suited to the strange saga of the little man with the secret name who knows how to spin straw into gold. The golden light infusing the late medieval setting subtly reinforces the theme.

The visual characterization of Rumpelstiltskin is a triumph: an odd elfin man with bulbous eyes, a gigantic, flat black hat, impossibly skinny arms and legs, and long, pointed black shoes. This Rumpelstiltskin is not scary or horrid, but rather mischievous and weird. When the young queen finally guesses his name, and thus is able to keep her baby, he flies off on his huge cooking spoon (with a pout), true to the Grimms's 1819 version of the story. (Zelinsky provides notes on his text in the back of the book, indicating his careful research into various editions of the original Grimm tale.) Zelinsky's retelling is straightforward and smooth, with only a few lines of text on each page to complement the truly magnificent full-page illustrations. A delightful book worth its weight in gold! (Ages 3 to 7)

... Read more

Book Description

Twice the clever little monkey foils the attempts of the crocodile to capture him. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Crocodile oh my croc croc croc
You may have heard this story at some point in your past and you have merely forgotten it. For me, reading "The Monkey and the Crocodile" was particularly eerie. I felt as if I had read this story in some slightly altered form not too long ago. It was only when I recalled that this tale is told in Katherine Paterson's, "Of Nightingales That Weep", that I realized where I'd heard it before. Truth be told, the tale is much older than even that. Based on a Jataka tale from India, the story is (according to its Library of Congress heading), "A retelling of one of the Indian fables relating to the former births of Buddha in which as a monkey he manages to outwit the crocodile who decides to capture him". No real mention of Buddha is made in this story, however, so it is left up to the reader to make such a connection on his or her own.

When a crafty crocodile sets his sights on a tasty monkey in the trees, he tries a variety of methods to eat the furry primate. Each time, however, the cheeky monkey finds a way to get around being eaten. In the end, the crocodile admits defeat. "Monkey, I thought I was cunning, but you are much more cunning than I. And you know no fear. I will leave you alone after this". The monkey accepts the crocodile's compliment but makes it quite clear that he will be watching out for the crocodile anyway. The story, being a classic, is good. Unfortunately, Paul Galdone's illustrations do not live up to the tale. Though the crocodiles are particularly fun to look at, the monkeys are not very well drawn. You can feel a threat emanating from the pictures of the slick green reptiles, whereas the monkeys are rather cartoonish and sloppily illustrated. While a good story, a better illustrator could take this tale to an entirely different level. On the whole, it's a pity the book hasn't better pictures. But for an excellent collection of mean looking crocs, go no further than this.

The clever monkey
Title: The Monkey and the Crocodile
Author: Paul Galdone
Favorite Characters: the Crocodiles

This story shows which is smarter of the two, the Monkey or the Crocodile. One of the crocodiles decided that he wanted to eat a monkey. The other crocodiles said that it could not be done, but the crocodile would not listen to them. The crocodile choose one of the monkeys and trick him into coming into the water. It worked, but the monkey tricked him back and got safely to shore. The story goes on like this with the crocodile luring the monkey into a trap and the monkey getting out safely.
Near the end, the monkey gets trapped on an island because the crocodile is in the way of the path. You'll never guess how the monkey solves his problem. Figure it out by reading this book...

a favorite tale
That clever monkey has done it again. This book has pleasant illustrations and is a favorite of mine and my children.

Great for ages about 2 to 4
I've repeatedly read this book to my three-year-old granddaughter since she was two. When she visits us, it's one of the first two books that she asks for. (The other is the Goblin Story from Else Holmelund Minarik's "Little Bear's Visit.")

When she was two, she mainly liked the excitement of the "scary" crocodile. Now she enjoys the tricks that the crocodile and monkey play on each other. Also, this is a fun book to read aloud. You can easily add even more interest for your little one.

Jataka tale rewritten for children
Jataka tales are similar but not identical in structure to the animal fables of the West. One difference is that the characters are less "black and white" - the crocodile is clever, the monkey is cleverer. Neither is foolish.

Jataka tales are stories of previous births of the Buddha i.e. similar to the more complex avadanas that are translated from the Sanskrit or Tibetan traditions. While the children's books of them are fun and well worth reading, at some point reading a more comprehensive selection should be on the agenda. This book is just a fun introduction for a young child. ... Read more