Reviews

The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School by Candace Fleming

listen_learn's review against another edition

3.0

I was amused and irked by the short stories in this book. The author's twist on the fables was fun, but I felt it was all bit too...full of levity? Maybe I'm too character focused, but I always want to care about the people (or animals or inanimate objects) that I'm reading about and that didn't happen here.

booksnorkel's review

1.0

I didn't like this book very much. Each chapter was supposed to be a re-telling of a fable, or at least it's just a story that kind of fits one of Aesop's morals.

Any way the names are all kinda lame and don't really have any need to be weird some are a little bit fun but honestly Wayside school books are better thought out.

For second and third grade who may not like full books yet and need a book where every chapter is a story, that is completed.

deservingporcupine's review against another edition

4.0

Highly entertaining, especially because the kids weren't cute, or sweet, or endearing. I think children would really enjoy this book if it was taught alongside the original fables.

sandraagee's review

3.0

What an odd little book. Zaney humor is really best when it's cleverly backed by some intelligance, and it's this book's smart use of fable that really saves the story. Each chapter (and the chapters all stand pretty well on their own as short stories) is ended with a moral from one of Aesop's fables. These morals do a decent job of pulling the odd humor together into something more cohesive.

tabithar's review against another edition

5.0

This is a fun book to read aloud for kids. I plan to read more of it aloud to Em when she has a longer attention span. The stories remind me of the Sideways Stories from Wayside School with the added bonus that each is a twist on the oral tradition Aesop's Fables. Witty, sarcastic, education and humorous, I enjoyed it and definitely read part aloud.

rysewykreads's review against another edition

3.0

Quirky characters and an out of the ordinary teacher make me think of the Wayside School stories. But I must admit, the librarian in this book is lots of fun. Puns and bad jokes are everywhere. That's my kind of story. :)

abigailbat's review against another edition

3.0

No one is willing to teach the fourth graders at Aesop Elementary School (their reputation precedes them) until the fantastic Mr. Jupiter shows up. He claims to have translated for Big Foot and discovered the lost city of Atlantis, but can he handle this class? Silly, wacky stories, each a modern retelling of an Aesop fable, document a year in the life of the fabled fourth graders of Aesop Elementary. Pair this one with a collection of Aesop's fables and hand it to fans of the wacky humor in Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar.

http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2011/01/fabled-fourth-graders-of-aesop.html

librarybrods's review against another edition

3.0

The story of a quirky 4th grade class told through fables. Each chapter has a "moral" and though some of the humor seems forced and corny, there are moments of brilliance. Would be a great fiction read-a-loud paired with learning about traditional fables. I didn't love the underlying theme of the librarian swooning over the 4th grade teacher, though - just saying! (Mostly because I was imagining reading this out loud to students and it would be awkward at parts!)

ninafroms's review against another edition

2.0

*Read with children* Never have I read something that screams 2007 more. Some of the chapters were funny and got laughs but there were just too many “oh god” moments. Not great depictions of women and a lot of exotifying of other places

m2deloria's review against another edition

5.0

I love it when I can giggle when I read. Puns will do that to you. There were some groans, too.