Rarest Kind of Best

CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER – 2010

The Lion and the Mouse

by Jerry Pinkney

Little, Brown and Company, 2009

34 pp.

Age: 2+

Interests: mice, lions, animals, Africa, fables, wordless books

Also by this author: Little Red Hen, John Henry, Aesop’s Fables, Noah’s Ark

Next: a full collection of Aesop’s Fables

A mouse accidentally wakes up a napping lion. The lion shows mercy, letting the mouse go. Later the lion is caught in a net. The mouse, hearing his roars, hurries over to help. He is able to chew through the ropes and the lion is freed. Both return to their families.

Aesop’s fable about the lion and the mouse is one of his most accessible and simple stories – perfect for the very young. Plus, in this book it is presented without words, save for a few simple animal sound effects.

Pinkney’s illustrations, as evident on the cover, are magnificent. It’s amazing how expressive his lion is. And the addition of the lion and mouse families give a nice context to the tale.

A simple, sympathetic and visually striking tale of kindness, with the added theme of size not mattering when it comes to helping out.

(This title at amazon.com)