A sweet version of the slave Androcles who is literally sent to fight the lion after running away as a slave. The illustrations are quite fable-like and children will appreciate the feel good ending to this classic myth. ( )

Required Read

Based upon the famous fable from Aesop, Janet Stevens' Androcles and the Lion expands upon the story of a runaway slave who aids an injured lion in the forest. Fleshing out the tale considerably, Stevens recounts Androcles' mistreatment at the hands of his owner, his flight to the forest and sojourn with the animals, and his kindness in pulling the thorn from the lion's paw. His eventual capture, and "reunion" with his new friend in the very public Coliseum, bring this little moral teaching tale about the rewards of kindness to a close...

While Stevens' retelling is competent enough, I did not find it particularly appealing, nor was I that impressed by her illustrations, which were a little too 'cartoonish' for my taste. That said, I think that this retelling might please younger readers, and story-hour attendees, who could have a very different response to Stevens' narrative and artwork. ( )

A young slave escapes from his master and wonders into the forest. He ponders upon a lion in pain and and helps the lion. They eventually get captured by the master. The master later announces that he must defeat a vicious animal or he will stay imprisoned for life. To his surprise the vicious animal is not so vicious to him after all. ( )

Runaway slave Androcles pulls a thorn from the Lion's paw and is rewarded for his kindness when he meets the lion later in a Roman arena. Aesop's fable as retold by Janet Stevens can help kids see the importance of the Golden Rule. ( )