Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Familiar tales get a cute new spin in lively picture book.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
NATALIE PORTMAN'S FABLES are a retelling, in verse and illustrations, of centuries-old fables: a tortoise, against all odds, bests a hare in a race; two foolish pigs nearly fall prey to.a wolf, but their more prudent brother saves them; two mice learn that true friends and the simple life are best. The tales get a bit of a 21st century spin, with messages favoring mindfulness and green building.
Is It Any Good?
These lively, vocabulary-rich retellings of classic tales offer upbeat messages, lots of humor, comical illustrations, and 21st century spins favoring mindfulness and green building. Along the way, Natalie Portman's Fables has lots of hilarious little touches, like the Little Pig who, being more one for eating than working, builds his house out of chopsticks and discarded takeout containers -- which doesn't last long when the wolf arrives. Janna Mattia's colorful, lively illustrations bring the characters and situations to life, and offer lots of storytelling detail for kids who might not quite follow the words yet.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the original versions of the stories in Natalie Portman's Fables. How are these updated fables different? How are they the same?
the fables -- stories that also teach a lesson -- in Natalie Portman's Fables. Do you think it makes a point better to tell a story about it than if you just say it? Which fables do you think do this really well?
Fables are stories that also teach a lesson. Is it better to make a point by telling a story than by just saying it? Which fables do this really well?
Do you like rhyming words? How can telling a story in rhyme make it more fun?
Book Details
- Author: Natalie Portman
- Illustrator: Janna Mattia
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship , Horses and Farm Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
- Publication date: October 20, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 6
- Number of pages: 64
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 16, 2020
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