The Hare and the Tortoise: Fable by Jean de la Fontaine

Abstract

Here is a parallel to a number of books I have in both English and Dutch. All come from the same publisher and use the same artist. I have listed them all under 1955? The booklets build off of a fascinating concept: a second, longer story echoes the lesson of the fable. Here the mayor commissions two painters, Speedy and Slowcoach, to paint the façade of a house each. The two painters are friends and bet on who will finish first. Speedy dawdles in bed and is amazed to get up to find Slowcoach finishing. In this version, Speedy at least is old enough to have a wife who tries to get him out of bed early enough to compete. I like particularly the pictures of Slowcoach's last client admiring his yellow wall and of Speedy seeing Slowcoach's finished façade. Mulder on the cover of this version is Mulder & Zoon on the title-page here. Hunnik is not mentioned, but his signature is on the title-page and each of the four full-page colored illustrations inside the booklet.