Foxes, lions, wolves, donkeys and tortoises. In Robin Waterfield’s translation of these ancient stories, animals are used to capture a distinctly human nature.

The ant rested her head on the grasshopper’s abdomen, and he stroked her antennae as the sun shone through his tiny window. They had sex again, took a nap, ate some fruit, and watched a movie.

Sam Sacks ’s review of “Aesop’s Fables” (Books, Nov. 2) brings to mind a modern twist on an old classic: In the summer, the ants worked and saved, while the grasshoppers played.

The Ant and the Grasshopper Amy Lowry Poole. Holiday House, $17.95 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-8234-1477-2 This smooth retelling of Aesop's classic fable is set in the summer palace of the Chinese emperor.

The grasshopper spends the summer fiddling, while the ant labors under the hot sun. When winter comes, the anthill is stocked with food. And all the grasshopper has is memories of the music of summer.

The new or updated version of the fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper" begins: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

Thrift is for suckers,” the Ant said as he headed out the door, leaving the Grasshopper empty-handed. Michelle Malkin is author of Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild.

From upper left to center to lower center a trail of grasshoppers doing various activities. Upper right, profile of grasshopper reading and walking. Upper center, profile of grasshopper sitting at ...

From upper left to center to lower center a trail of grasshoppers doing various activities. Upper right, profile of grasshopper reading and walking. Upper center, profile of grasshopper sitting at ...

Published: Oct. 07, 2008, 1:21 p.m. By Barbara Rybolt | Independent Press Most people are familiar with the popular fable commonly attributed to Aesop, "The Ant and the Grasshopper".