Fables and Foibles Sylvia M. Vardell (bio) and Nancy A. Burris (bio) Editor's Note: Fables is a short story with a long history; included in it are the titles of all the winners of the Caldecott Medal. Once a mouse and the biggest bear you've ever seen found themselves keeping company on the little island of Ashantitozulu. African traditions suggest their friendship descends from the crowded days of Noah's Ark, but the animals of the Bible seem to have always room for one more among them. One fine day, just as the rooster crows, this mouse and bear, being much bothered by the tropical insect population, set out to find out why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears. A tree is nice for resting under, but the bugs this season were relentless. Fortunately, Madeline, the mouse, and Sylvester, the bear, didn't have to travel many moons before they met up with an oxcart man, named Sam Bangs, and Moonshine, his feline companion. That cat took an interest in the mouse and Sylvester had to effect Madeline's rescue. Sam told our animal friends about the little house where the girl who loved wild horses lived. "She knows about the song of the swallows, where the wild things are, and how to play Jumanji," he confided. He claimed that if they were strong and good, the fool of the world and the flying ship would agree to take them to her. Madeline and Sylvester were skeptical of this Cinderella plan. Instead, they thanked him and continued on their way. Once Madeline had to make way for ducklings in their path or risk being stampeded. Sylvester spotted a pretty red rock. "Finders keepers," he thought to himself. Our friends were now getting discouraged. They decided to split up and meet again nine days to Christmas at the egg tree. Sylvester (and the magic pebble) followed an arrow to the Sunday Revival. For Madeline, it was a time of wonder. The big snow had come to the northern part of the island and there was white snow, bright snow everywhere. The snowy day forced her to seek shelter with the funny little woman of Dru Mmerh Off who, in return, demanded to be told a story. "A story?" queried Madeline. She hesitated, then began, "Once a strange trio, including the chanticleer, and the fox, and the frog, went a-courtin' a sweet young pigeon. . ." Meanwhile, Sylvester was running into problems of his own. A tall, robed figure mounted the pulpit and began to preach about the old man of Baboushka, and the three kings of Duffy, and the devil himself! The preacher said a silent prayer for a child who trembled near the front. Sylvester continued on his solitary journey. He met a nightingale, Mei Li, whose lovely song promised to take him home. "May I bring a friend?" he asked, thinking of Madeline. As soon as he did, Madeline appeared beside him, and, in the next breath, our heroes found themselves resting on the moss under the old tree. (Remember the magic red rock?) Winter had discouraged those buzzing mosquitoes, and all in all, our worldly bear and mouse friends were quite content to stay put. Abraham Lincoln couldn't tell you a truer tale! Sylvia M. Vardell and Nancy A. Burris Sylvia M. Vardell and Nancy A. Burris both teach at the University of Houston, Victoria. Bibliography and Sequential Answer Key Fables. Arnold Lobel. Harper, 1981. Google Scholar Once a Mouse. Marcia Brown. Scribner's, 1962. Google Scholar The Biggest Bear. Lynd Ward. Houghton, 1953. Google Scholar The Little Island. Golden MacDonald. Ill. Leonard Weisgard. Doubleday, 1947. Google Scholar Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions. Margaret Musgrove. Ill. Leo and Diane Dillon. Dial, 1977. Google Scholar Noah's Ark. Peter Spier. Doubleday, 1978. Google Scholar Animals of the Bible. Helen Dean Fish. Ill. Dorothy P. Lathrop. Lippincott, 1938. Google Scholar Always Room for One More. Sorche Nic Leodhas. Ill. Nonny Hogrogian. Holt, 1966. Google Scholar One Fine Day. Nonny Hogrogian. Macmillan, 1972. Google Scholar The Rooster Crows. Ill. Maud and Miska Petersham. Macmillan, 1946 (traditional Mother Goose). Google Scholar Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears. Retold by...