The Fables of La Fontaine: Reimagined as Happy Families Game
Seven emblematic fables by Jean de La Fontaine are brought to life through contemporary illustrations by Thomas Baas. Each fable becomes a “family” of cards, transforming these timeless stories into a playful, intergenerational object designed with Grimaud’s artisanal rigor.
The selected fables include:
  • The Raven and the Fox
  • The Hare and the Tortoise
  • The Fox and the Stork
  • The Ploughman and His Sons
  • The Oak and the Reed
  • The Grasshopper and the Ant
  • The Wolf and the Lamb
This collection blends heritage and modern creation, offering a game meant to be shared, transmitted, and enjoyed across generations.
A Game That Creates Connection
In an age dominated by screens, certain objects retain a rare power: gathering people around a table, shuffling cards, observing illustrations, and exchanging stories. A card game creates a suspended moment where time slows, and conversation flows freely.
Since 1848, Grimaud has cultivated the belief that a game can be more than entertainment — it can be an object of culture, transmission, and human connection.
The Fable as a Game
Each family of cards mirrors the narrative structure of its fable: characters, scenes, stakes, flaw, and moral. The cards become fragments of a story, inviting players to reconstruct the logic of the tale as they collect the family.
This approach marks a departure from traditional 7 Families games, which typically rely on generational relationships. Here, Grimaud explores the mechanics of storytelling, allowing players to rediscover the moral lessons embodied by animals that reflect human passions.
Thomas Baas offers a contemporary interpretation filled with humor, tenderness, and sensitivity. His characters embody human archetypes in which everyone can recognize themselves.