Book Review – The Lion and the Mouse
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1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pinkney, Jerry. 2009. THE LION AND THE MOUSE. New York: Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316013567
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Lion, King of the Jungle, was disturbed from a peaceful rest by a tiny mouse one mid-morning in the “African Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya” (see Artist’s Note in the afterword). Angered by the nuisance, Lion contemplated destroying its prey. Somehow, Mouse convinced the great beast to release him to the safety of his family. Meanwhile, a pair of hunters on safari arrived in a jeep to set a trap. Lion became the victim caught by the snare, and thus caught in a predicament his size alone could not handle. Every animal in the forest were fully aware of his great misfortune due to the loud “roar” he gave; even mouse. Remembering how Lion set him free previously, Mouse came up with a strategy to also free Lion in order to repay the favor. Scratching and gnawing at the ropes of the trap took persistence, not necessarily great size. This proved that even the smallest creatures have something immeasurable to contribute.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This nearly wordless retelling of a famous Aesop fable is a delightful insight into the relationship between creatures big and small. The few words that were used, involved mostly animal sounds (i.e. whoooo, grrr, squeak, etc.). These words, though limited, were imperative in providing the reader with a sensory experience, which captured the essence of the story. Pinkney’s award winning illustrations, however, were the central focus that brought this age-old retelling to life. Visual elements such as the following really showcased the talent of this author/illustrator: the presentation of animal’s facial expression, detailed images that helped display an underlying theme of family (i.e. a family of ants on a blade of grass near the beginning of the story; families of elephants, birds, and giraffes; and the mouse’s and lion’s family displayed), an aerial view of the forest, and windowpanes exhibiting the sequential steps Mouse took to rescue Lion. In all, the pictures told the story in an effective way that will have a special presence in years to come.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Pinkney has no need for words; his art speaks eloquently for itself.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Starred Review - “The ambiguity that results from the lack of words in this version allows for a slower, subtle, and ultimately more satisfying read.”
1. CONNECTIONS
· Other versions of this tale could be studied to compare/contrast outcome and character perspective. Students could explore writing different outcomes. This can also be done using wordless picture books.
· Another variants/versions of this book:
White, Mark. 1971. THE LION AND THE MOUSE: A RETELLING OF AESOP’S FABLE. ISBN 1404802169
· Websites with video clips featuring different versions of this tale:
Other resources used:
This book review was created as an assignment for a course at
Texas Woman’s University.
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