The American Book of Fables Hardcover – May 19, 2026

From the Everglades to the Great Lakes, from the sequoias of California to the rocky islands of Maine, The American Book of Fables invites readers 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, best-selling author and educator Matthew Mehan reimagines Aesop for the New World, replacing lions and tigers with buffalo, eagles, manatees, and other creatures of our own blessed land. Each tale—crafted in the rhythms of classic verse and prose—reveals the joyful and hard-won harmony between faith, virtue, and freedom, showing how the gifts and laws of nature and nature's God can continue to guide and free the hearts of all Americans in their pursuit of happiness. With sections "for Littles, Middles, and Bigs," the book speaks to all ages. The youngest will delight in playful rhymes; older children will ponder and laugh with amusing moral tales; adults will savor Mehan's rich wit, historical wonder, and layered reflections on the human heart. Together, the book will help Americans to recapture that wit and wisdom, that gratitude and self-government, which are the foundations of both a good life and a great republic. Featuring luminous realist-impressionist illustrations by acclaimed painter John Folley—each an homage to American art, history, and landscape—this volume is both a moral treasury and a work of beauty. For families seeking to renew their love for nature, neighbor, God, and country, The American Book of Fables is more than a book—it is a keepsake, a handbook of liberty, and a celebration of the providence and the inspired generations that shaped America and that still calls her—and us—to greatness today. Read more