Ellen C. Babbitt has collected, and retold the best thirty-nine of the 547 Jataka Tales. These charming fables originated in India sometime around the fifth century, and have been teaching children valuable lessons ever since.

Twenty-one more fables from the Jataka tradition of India, compiled at the request of children captivated by the charm of the stories in Jataka Tales, retold by the same author and illustrated by the same artist. Suitable for ages 7 and up.

These -Jataka Tales- as retold by Ellen C. Babbitt are stories about past incarnations of Buddha. The selection in this edition is deemed especially suitable for children. As Professor Felix Adler states in his foreword: -Long ago I was captivated by the charm of the Jataka Tales and realized the excellent use that might be made of them in the teaching of children. The obvious lessons are many of them suitable for little people, ...- This edition is fully illustrated.

Children will be enchanted by the quaint humor and timeless wisdom of these age-old fables drawn from Buddhist texts. Timid rabbits, noble deer, quarrelsome quails, greedy merchants, and other memorable animal and human characters populate the tales, all of which offer thought-provoking morals.
"The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking" illustrates the folly of offering a reply when silence is the best answer; "The Ox Who Won the Forfeit" testifies to the effectiveness of kindness rather than brute force; and "The Golden Goose" and "The Penny-Wise Monkey" demonstrate how greed can ruin good...