A review by studiomikarts
Natalie Portman's Fables by Natalie Portman

lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

I selected this book as my reward for entering the Boise Public Library 2024 Summer Reading Challenge. I was enticed by the author's name—a vegan rewriting animal fables gave me hope for a more thoughtful depiction of the characters—combined with the beautiful illustration adorning the cover. I am happy to report that the illustration did not disappoint. It was expertly done, both as a storytelling tool and as a treat for the eyes. Unfortunately, the rewritten stories were not as thoughtfully penned as I hoped. There were still issues with the way the animals were written, more as symbols than characters. I think it was a big missed opportunity to help shift our culture toward a more empathetic view of our animal cousins. Despite my disappointment, for now I am keeping this book on my shelves, since it doesn't take up much room, and the illustrations are truly lovely.