The Tortoise and the Hare: An Aesop Fable (Reading Rainbow Books)
PreSchool-Grade 1AMiles's introduction informs parents that "old stories" are good for new readers because of their use of familiar story lines and repetitive words. The author then uses these techniques in her retelling of this classic Aesop fable, using only dialogue, keeping the words to a minimum, and repeating certain phrases throughout. While the tale itself remains unchanged, this version has a modern bent to it, expressed primarily through the cartoon illustrations. All of the animals are dressed in colorful clothing, except for Tortoise, who wears nothing but his shell and a pair of sneakers. They all sport letters on their chests (Tortoise wears a 'T,' Hare an 'H,' and Bear a 'B") except for Fox, who has his whole name on his shirt. These cleverly placed clues will help children remember what letter each animal's name starts with. Amusing details include Tortoise's little round glasses perched on the end of his nose and the banners that cheer on the racers. A great choice for beginning readers to tackle on their own.ADina Sherman, Brooklyn Children's Museum, NYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.