The American Book of Fables

From the Everglades to the Great Lakes, from the sequoias of California to the rocky islands of Maine, The American Book of Fables invites us to rediscover the beauty of America -- her lands, her people, and her principles of liberty, law, and love.

In this heirloom collection of original and adapted fables, bestselling author and educator Matthew Mehan reimagines Aesop for the New World, replacing lions and tigers with buffalo, eagles, and many more animals from across our own beautiful country. Each tale -- crafted in the rhythms of classic verse and prose -- reveals the joyful and hard-won harmony of freedom and friendship that can, if we wish, continue to guide the hearts of Americans in their pursuit of happiness.

With sections "for Littles, Middles, and Bigs," this family companion speaks to all ages. The youngest will delight in its playful rhymes and humorous characters; older children will ponder its amusing moral tales; and adults will savor Mehan's rich wit, historical wonder, and layered reflections on the human heart. Taken together, the stories recapture that wit and wisdom, that warm gratitude, kind decency, and frontier spirit that have made America a republic unlike any other the world has ever known.

This volume features luminous illustrations of our nation's natural wonders in watercolor, ink, and oil by acclaimed realist-impressionist artist John Folley. It is all at once a work of beauty, a treasury of virtue, a handbook of liberty, and a joyful, unapologetic love letter to America.

For families seeking to renew their love for nature, neighbor, God, and country, The American Book of Fables is the quintessential keepsake for our nation's 250th anniversary and a celebration of the people, places, and principles that shaped America and that still call her -- and us -- to greatness today.

Matthew Mehan is Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Government at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College's Washington, D.C., campus. He has taught and designed humanities and leading citizenship curricula for over twenty-five years. Trained as a literary scholar, he earned a B.A. in Politics, an M.A. in English, and an honors Ph.D. in Literature from the University of Dallas. Mr. Mehan is the author of The Handsome Little Cygnet and Mr. Mehan's Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals, a best-selling illustrated book of poetry praised as "a new classic" in children's literature. He writes for both scholarly and popular audiences, with bylines in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and Moreana. He lives in Virginia with his lovely wife and their children.