Book excerpt: In Aesop’s fable of “The Horse and His Rider,” a boy buys a horse without asking if it has been broken for riding yet. As he mounts his new steed, the horse takes off at a gallop, clearly not ready to be ridden. The central lesson is a good one for readers to consider: act quickly without thinking and suffer the consequences. More than a dozen other fables offer wisdom and advice through their accessible text and charming, full-color illustrations. Readers will enjoy Aesop’s animated characters as they begin to understand that those strong in self and character always triumph.