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The Cricket and the Ant Text & Illustrations: Annelie van Steenbergen What would we do without art and culture? The answer to this rhetorical question becomes particularly clear in times of war. In stable societies, artworks are often seen as luxury items, but once they are destroyed or banned, their essential nature is revealed. The […]
Support according to merit or to need? Read More »
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Annelie van Steenbergen, text and illustrations The Raven and the Fox As a child, I thought for a while that I could sing beautifully. To my own ears, my singing sounded pleasant and pure. Apparently, no one in my family agreed, as I never once received a compliment. Something like, “Wow, you sing so nicely!
Raven Caw or Fox Flattery? Read More »
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Annelie van Steenbergen text and illustrations [0] January 2026 ‘Traveling to each other’s ‘worlds’ allows us to be together by loving each other’ María Lugones Two Rats Sometimes a quote on a tear-off calendar prompts us to reflect a bit more on a particular topic. ‘Traveling to each other’s “worlds” allows us to be
Playful Rats from all Corners of the World Read More »
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The Man and the Snake Annelie van Steenbergen, text and illustrations November 2025 Turtles and snakes are not on the so-called list of pets and hobby animals. Since July 1, 2024, only mammals that are on that list may be bought, kept, or sold. Turtles and snakes are not mentioned, as they are not mammals.
Snake’s Taste of Her Own Medicine Read More »
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Two Dogs Annelie van Steenbergen, text and illustrations Our country has thousands of homeless people, including an increasing number of women and young people.[1] Can you imagine having to live under the bare sky like that? Or worse, that you are about to give birth and have no place to shelter and get proper care?
Don’t Bite the Hand that Feeds You….. Read More »
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The Wolf and the Crane Annelie van Steenbergen, text and illustrations In most fairy tales, fables and folk tales in Western culture, the wolf is the bad guy. Nothing is more satisfying than blaming this creature for your own misdeeds or stupidity. Think of the naive Little Red Riding Hood who ignores her mother’s advice
Is Crane Feeding the Wolf’s Gluttony or his Negative Image? Read More »
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The Walk Sieth Delhaas Vertaling Greg Suffanti I immediately began to speak she neither looked up nor back Had I tuned into her rhythm or she to mine? The forest breathed its autumnal breath and not a leaf moved and there was not another soul around to witness this wondrous pair. Then… she lightly turns
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The Lion, the Cow, the goat and the sheep Annelie van Steenbergen, text and illustrations ‘The righteous are bold as a lion. It is not good for a poor person to associate with rich rulers, for the powerful are never fair to the poor.’ That is the moral of the sixth fable [1] of Aesopus,
The Righteous are Bold as a Lion Read More »
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Tale by Heidi Muijen – drawing by Chrisje Ronde Translated into English by Joke Koppius and Greg Suffanti Once, in prehistoric times in the deepest of waters, a brave Octopoda encountered a Dogwinkle. The carnivorous gastropod introduced herself as “Nucella lapillus” and boasted that the entire North Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean, from the Strait
Nucella Lapillus Crowns Octopoda Read More »
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The Dog and the Meat Annelie van Steenbergen, text & illustrations ‘It happened that a dog had got a piece of meat in his mouth and, on his way home, walked across a plank with water underneath it.’ This is the first sentence of a fable of only four sentences by the Greek narrator Aesop
As Loyal as a Dog to the Bone in his Mouth Read More »
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The Rat and the Frog Text and Illustrations by Annelie van Steenbergen Translation by Greg Suffanti You don’t expect rats to go on a pilgrimage, with knapsack and pilgrim’s staff, on the way to a holy goal? And yet, the first sentence of Aesop’s third fable is: “One day the rat went on a pilgrimage.”
How Kite and Vulture outsmarted the Frog with his Rat Trick Read More »
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Admiring, wondering… from human to snail Based on both an autobiographical film and a story by Kristina Wassiljew and an Indian story Erfan Pourmohammadi We’re surrounded by admirable things…if only we’d really pay attention! The beauty of a snail, a modest animal, is considered almost unimportant, while it can make us admire and marvel at
Learn how to Slime like a Snail Read More »
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Life Lessons from Mole, Fox and Horse Based on a story by Charlie Mackesy Retold by Erfan Pourmohammadi Charlie often feels alone in life, until he comes across Mole who seems particularly passionate about pie. The two start a friendship; and when Charlie opens up about his fears, Mole manages to reassure him with his
Eat Cake, If You Don’t Succeed the First Time … Read More »
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The Wolf and little Lamb Annelie van Steenbergen, text and illustrations ‘Grandma, you would do so too, if you were alone in the wild and hungry!’ my eight-year-old granddaughter said sympathetically. She hung out on the couch with her nephew, each with a phone in their hands, playing a computer game together. In addition to
Honest wolves’ gluttony and hypocritical human decency Read More »
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The Rooster and the Stone Translation into English Greg Suffanti After a fable from Aesop and De La Fontaine, vijfde boek, fabel XVIII[1] [1] Jean de La Fontaine (nagevolgd door J.J.L. ten Kate) – De fabelen van La Fontaine – Amsterdam, Gebroeders Binger, 1875? (1e druk). Geïllustreerd met platen en vignetten door Gustave Doré. Annelie
Rooster stumbles on the Philosopher’s Stone Read More »
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Sharon Smallbone, texts and photo’s I get all my animals neutered but over the years I’ve still ended up with kittens. Usually they come from stray Mums I’ve been unable to catch in time but sometimes I get the Mums spayed only to find they already have a secret litter of kittens stashed away. They
No better mother than a cat Read More »
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International Rescue: Bobby Sharon Smallbone, text and photo I think one of my proudest achievements must be Bobby. He was a stray rough collie type dog. He saved himself from almost certain death by being very wily and keeping himself far from people. There were many out to get him. Despite his reticence he attached
From public enemy number one to therapy dog Read More »
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International Rescue: Squirmy Sharon Smallbone, text and photo Probably the first dog rescue I ever got involved with was Squirmy Pup, a tied-up chicken guard who was on my dog-walking route. I always brought him some biscuits and made sure he had fresh water on my way past. I had no choice. When my sister
Squirmy Pup Has the Life of Riley Read More »
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International Rescue: Binnie Sharon Smallbone, text and photo I’ve found myself caught in some ridiculous situations trying to help animals. But the Binnie saga probably took the biscuit. I was walking the dogs round the dirt track near my house and, unusually, I had to turn back and retrace my steps. If I remember rightly
Binnie Took the Biscuit Read More »
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The Seven Raven A Fairy Tale from the Brothers Grimm Retold and translated by Heidi Muijen and Greg Suffanti Once upon a time there was a husband and wife who had seven sons. They were very happy, but their joy was even greater when they finally had a daughter. However, she was particularly delicate and
The Journey of the Soul Read More »
