Children and parents go on a playful carnival ride complete with a bandwagon of animal friends that will have audiences bouncing, clapping and singing along to the catchy tunes at the Center for Puppetry Arts presents five timeless tales of fun and friendship in “The Tortoise, the Hare, and Other Aesop’s Fables.”

The presentation will be in the Downstairs Theater and runs from Aug. 13 to Sept. 20 at the Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta.

Featured are some of Aesop’s most famous fables including: “The Lion and the Mouse,” “The City Mouse and the Country Mouse,” “The Fox and the Crane,” “The Ant and the Grasshopper” and “The Tortoise and the Hare.”

This charming and energetic production is specifically designed for the very young with recommended ages of 2 and older. It employs lively original music, vibrant colors, engaging puppets, circus skills and minimal dialogue to appeal to the unique developmental process of preschoolers.

Audience members may come before showtime to hear some of the fables and color a special puppet to use during the performance.

Regular showtimes are 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sundays. A special sensory-friendly program will be from noon to 2:30 p.m. with the show at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30.

This special afternoon will allow guests with autism spectrum disorder to experience a sensory-friendly performance of “The Tortoise, the Hare, and Other Aesop’s Fables” as well as a sensory-friendly Create-A-Puppet workshop.

Tickets include entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop or To-Go Kit, where children can make a Hopping Hare Rod Puppet.

Tickets are $9.25 for members and $16.50 for nonmembers. They may be purchased online at www.puppet.org or by calling 404-873-3391.

Discount preview days are Tuesday, Aug. 11, and Wednesday, Aug. 12. 

For more information, visit www.puppet.org.