A wonderful short and remarkable retelling in rhyme of the old Aesop fable
In this old tale a fox stumbles across a very proud crow, who is eating some cheese. What happens next is very funny and a valuable lesson for the crow, your little one and maybe even for you.
Retold by Brigitte Franssen; illustrated by Jef Franssen
It was a cold winter morning. The fox was yawning. The crow, high up in the trees was eating a delicious cheese.
But you know, this was no ordinary crow. This crow thought he was the best, much better than all the rest.
The fox, he saw down there below, could not even fly, high or low!
But the fox had smelt the cheese and looked up into the trees and when he saw the crow he immediately said "Hello".
"How do you do, your grace. How delicate is your face. How strong and gleaming are your wings. You should be one amongst kings!"
And then, the fox bowed and the crow felt, oh so proud.
"It would be a rare thing," the fox went on "if you could also sing".
The crow could not resist a quick trill up and down the scale to prove that he could sing like the nightingale.
Caw, Caw, Caw
"But that is fantastic!" said the fox all enthusiastic.
The crow, pleased with his voice began to make some more noise.
Caw, Caw, Caw, Caw, Caw
"Good gracious me," said the fox, "that really rocks!"
The crow, who thought he was so clever, began to caw louder than ever.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
But he forgot to hold the cheese, which fell down amongst the trees onto the ground where it was quickly found.
The fox had grasped the delicious cheese. And the crow, still high up in the tree cawed, "That is my cheese!"
But the fox said,
"This cheese, so divine, is finally mine!
See you next time".
The crow angrily croaked, "It's a crime!"
But he realised that he himself was to blame, if only he had not been so terribly vain.
And the crow hung his head in shame, but he would never forget the fox's name.
For cunning and clever tricks are the special art of the fox whose name is: Renard.
~ The End ~
This Tale is also available as a 30-page hardcover picture book. The book is specially designed for storytelling and contains more lovely illustrations by the late Jef Franssen than included above.
Still, it is a book that will delight both young and old.
You can buy this beautiful book online from Troubador Publishing Ltd at a price of £15.95.
