Three timeless fables attributed to Aesop are brought together in this elegant retelling by Ana Maria Machado. In one story, two travelers encounter a bear and learn a valuable lesson about friendship and loyalty. In another, a pair of farmers allow greed to cloud their judgment when they become impatient with a goose that lays golden eggs. In the third, an aging lion devises a clever scheme to secure food, only to be outwitted by a more perceptive animal. Through memorable characters and concise narratives, the stories explore themes that remain as relevant today as they were centuries ago.

Retold by Ana Maria Machado, one of Brazil’s most celebrated children’s authors and recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of children’s literature, these classic fables gain renewed vitality through her engaging language and storytelling mastery. With more than one hundred published books and translations in numerous countries, Machado has played a pivotal role in introducing generations of readers to literary traditions from around the world.

Roberto Weigand’s illustrations bring fresh energy to these enduring tales. An award-winning illustrator and recipient of the Jabuti Prize, Brazil’s most prestigious literary award, Weigand combines expressive characters, dynamic compositions, and visual humor to enrich the narratives while preserving their universal appeal. Together, text and image create an inviting introduction to one of humanity’s oldest literary traditions, demonstrating why Aesop’s fables continue to resonate across cultures and generations.