These fables from around the world

recount the adventures of animals that not only can talk but also possess other all-too-human traits. A dozen full-color plates and numerous black-and-white drawings illustrate traditional stories of vice punished and virtue rewarded, including tales of a tortoise that couldn''t hold her tongue, a discontented cat, a rabbit that saved his country, and other curious creatures.

In "Reynard the Fox," the notorious trickster joins forces with a wolf until his partner''s greed drives Reynard to seek revenge. "The Butterfly and the Crane," a tale from Fiji, involves a race to a remote island, and the Flemish legend "The Angel Artist" tells how birds developed their bright feathers. "Zum, Zum, Ziss," "The Raven''s Revenge," "The Camel''s Neck," and other time-honored parables provide captivating entertainment for readers of all ages.