The Lion & The Mouse

Jerry Pinkney (illustrator)

Walker Books, USA: 2009

ISBN: 9781406327595

Genres: fable, picture book

Winner of the Caldecott Medal, 2010.

Those familiar with Aesop's fables will know the tale of the lion, King of the Beasts, who captures a mouse that dares to walk across his tail. The mouse convinces the great cat that it would be an act of Kingly mercy to release such a small creature and suggests that one day it may be able to do the lion a good turn by way of thanks. The lion scoffs at the idea that such a tiny creature could be of any use to one as powerful as he but is, nevertheless, merciful. Not long afterwards the lion is captured in hunter's net and the mouse saves him by chewing through the ropes.

Jerry Pinkney is an outstanding American illustrator who exhibits in his own right. In this exquisite wordless picture book he brings to life Aesop's famous fable that demonstrates that all creatures have value, each according to their particular skills. Pinkney works in watercolour and lead pencil and in The Lion & the Mouse he's created an incredibly detailed expression of this apparently simple story. Pinkney's images carry the reader into the world of both creatures, placing them in the context of their families, the other animals that share their environment and the relationships between them. Pinkney demonstrates that both animals show greatness of heart - the lion through its mercy to its prey, the mouse by its courage. The illustrator has used every part of the book to immerse the reader in the story - from the front cover, from endpaper to endpaper and onto the back cover. Readers of all ages will pore over these highly tactile illustrations; illustrations that are so rich in detail that one can practically hear and smell the world in which the story takes place.

Cannot be too highly recommended.

Although Jerry Pinkney worked hard at school, he struggled with reading long before dyslexia was a recognised problem. Despite this he developed a love of books and stories. This informs his work, as he seeks to portray the complexity of character, story and context that books provide through language. He offers words of encouragement to those who, like him, struggle with words: "For the young person who is struggling in school, never forget there are many different ways to learn. Be curious. Do not be afraid to try. Do not be disappointed when making mistakes. You will discover your own unique way of understanding the things being taught. Learn from mistakes. Everything that happens to you will frame who you are, and who you will become. Your path to success will follow."

(http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/frameset.html)