The Ibaizabal house has begun publishing the Classic Tales collection (as Erein Miniklasikoa recently did) and has dedicated several stories to children who are known for the tradition of our environment. There are six papers that have been published so far (The Musicians of Bremen, The Ugly Duckling, Landako Mouse and City Mouse, The Three Pigs, Aladino and the Wonderful Lamp, and finally, the Txitxarra and the ant we bring here). As you can see, they are known, popular stories that have come to us from many authors and traditions of our environment (Grimm, Andersen, Arab culture…).

The cigarra and the ant are one of the most well-known fables of La Fontaine. How the cigar that is dedicated to “laziness” in summer and the ant that works face the raw winter. From the beginning of the story we are told the characteristics of both characters: “The ant has been carrying wheat, seeds and crumbs to the anteater all summer. Do you know why it's so busy? Collect the food for the winter. When the cold comes, the pantry will fill. The ant is smart!”; “Along with the ant lives the cigar. Spend the summer singing: txir-txir, txir-txiiir, txir-txiiir… At the time of siesta sings the txitxarra and with his song all sleep in the shadow. The cigarra doesn’t think in winter.”

As the reader will know, when winter comes, the cigarette will have to ask the ant for food, and taking into account that he has acquired an experience, we will tell him that he will work next summer. But along with that, the cigar reveals to the ant that thanks to his music, thanks to his singing, the others have been able to rest perfectly. That is, in addition to physical work, art has its importance and its place in this world. There are many ways to feed, some are physical foods, some are foods that feed the mind.

The story is quite simple, easy to read (in capital letter is written a text with many images) and at the end of the book there is a more complete version of the story, the story or the fable for adults to read. Therefore, we have two versions of the story, summarized (the one that appears in capital letters and pages on the left, accompanied by the image on the right) and complete, at the end of the book. In addition, the format of the books helps the child to make an autonomous reading later, that is, once the story is known through images that he can only “read”. And, of course, those who have started reading, they alone have also read the text.

A suitable and recommended collection to strengthen our roots, those of our environment and the basis we make with all of them in a rapidly advancing society.