<DIV><DIV><B>Ten of Aesop's fables are given witty, fresh retellings by a modern storyteller</B></DIV><DIV> </DIV></DIV><DIV><I>"My name is Aesop! Once I was a slave. Now I am a free man. I have refreshments to sell and stories to tell. Stop for a moment—and enjoy!"<BR></I>   </div><DIV>Bob Hartman uses all his skills as a storyteller to add humor, irony, action, and clever dialogue to these retellings of 10 of Aesop's fables, which he has woven into an entertaining tale about a man who tells stories for a living. A rich mix of familiar and less well-known tales have been selected for their relevance to the life of children today. Streetwise tricksters get their comeuppance, virtue is rewarded, and readers are shown the benefits of good behavior—but these quirky stories are far from being typical morality tales. Animated, witty illustrations echo the fun flavor of the text.</DIV>