Master storyteller Bob Hartman breathes fresh life into these traditional fables with his much embellished retellings of Aesop’s originals. The moral at the heart of each story – “even the smallest creature deserves respect” in the Mouse and the Lion, “people often speak badly of things they can’t have” in The Fox and the Grapes and “Pretending to be something you’re not can get you into trouble” in The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing – are clearly made and well explained in the carefully crafted texts. Hartman sets the stories in context by describing Aesop and the purpose of fables.
Bob Hartman uses all his skills as a storyteller to add humour, irony, action and clever dialogue to these new retellings of ten of Aesop's fables, which he has woven into an entertaining tale about a man who tells stories for a living. Included is a rich mix of familiar and less well-known tales 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 behaviour - but with the Hartman touch these stories are far from being the typical moral tale. Animated, witty and characterful illustrations echo the flavour of the text.
Internationally acclaimed Bob Hartman is a much-loved performance storyteller for children. Renowned for his dynamic, energetic and interactive performances, Bob has entertained audiences on both sides of the Atlantic – from the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum to schools, bookshops and major festivals throughout the UK – including the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Northern Children’s Book Festival, both of which he has been a well-loved favourite at for a number of years. His audiences range in number from 10 to 100 and beyond and are enjoyed by all ages.
Bob’s storytelling programme combines traditional folk-tales from around the world, retold in his own inimitable style, with his own inventive stories. Bob loves to help children create their own stories on the spot, and also runs practical workshops for older children and adults who want to understand the power of storytelling and improve their skills.
Bob Hartman and is author of the Lion Storyteller series, a number of picture story books including Noah’s Big Boat, Dinner in the Lions’ Den, The Wolf who Cried Boy and The Three Billy Goats’ Stuff as well as Mr Aesop’s Story Shop and a series of books for adults: Telling the Bible and Telling the Gospel in which he offers his thoughts on storytelling and tips on how to tell stories in fresh and intriguing ways.
