The Lion and the Mouse Review

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Pinkney, Jerry. 2009. The Lion and the Mouse. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-0-316-01356-7.

Aesop's fable The Lion and the Mouse is a reminder that even the smallest creature can have a big impact when the situation requires action. In this well-loved tale, a mouse accidentally disturbs a sleeping lion who surprisingly sets the mouse free. The lion's decision not only saves the mouse's life, but eventually saves the lion's life also. Poachers trap the lion, but the mouse, remembering the lion's kindness, uses her sharp teeth to release the lion from the poacher's net, allowing him to go free.

Jerry Pinkney's almost wordless picture book reveals the story with lush illustrations that fill the page and delight the eye. He uses pencil, watercolor, and colored pencil to capture the vast African landscape showcasing the wildlife of the area. The reader is encouraged to explore each page and absorb every detail as the story unfolds. Even the book jacket captures the reader immediately with the lion's face filling the cover with no title or author information distracting the eye. The lion's eyes lead the reader to look at the back cover where the mouse can be seen in the camouflage of grassland hiding from his predators.

The opening pages of the book highlight the size of the mouse by showing her compared to the lion's paw print and the wide horizon of the Serengeti plain. The story then beautifully unfolds with each turn of the page until the final spread showing the two families, happy and complete, thanks to the shared kindness of the lion and the mouse. The few words that Pinkney includes as part of his illustrations enhance the wildlife experience by expressing the natural sounds of the animals depicted. Be sure to read the artist's note for a look into Pinkney's writing process; it is fascinating.

Jerry Pinkney was awarded the 2010 Caldecott Medal for The Lion and the Mouse as well as the 2009 Parents' Choice Gold Award, 2010 Horn Book Awards Honor Book, 2010 New York Times Best Illustrated Books, and 2010 Indies Choice Book of the Year Winner, New Picture Book. More about his stellar career and interesting story of overcoming dyslexia to be an author can be found at http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/frameset.html.

The Horn Book

* "By retelling Aesop's fable entirely in his signature pencil and watercolor art, Pinkney encourages closer exploration of the pleasing detail with which he amplifies it... It will be a challenge for libraries to make every gorgeous surface available, but it's a challenge worth taking on."

Kirkus Reviews
"A nearly wordless exploration of Aesop's fable of symbiotic mercy that is nothing short of masterful."

* "Pinkney enriches this classic tale of friendship with another universal theme - family - affectingly illustrated in several scenes as well as in the back endpapers... African species grace splendid panoramas that balance the many finely detailed, closeup images of the protagonists. Pinkney has no need for words; his art speaks eloquently for itself." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)


Aesop's Fables were widely known when I was young, but I'm not sure if they are as loved now, so I will be using them in story times more in the coming year beginning with this one. Many connections can be made beginning with the acts of kindness shared, the moral that all creatures have talents no matter their size, and exploring the morals presented in the other fables. This version also offers the opportunity to delve deeper into the environment and wildlife of the Serengeti. I also enjoyed reading about Jerry Pinkney and would like to share his story with the families I serve. 


Amazon. Editorial reviews. http://www.amazon.com/The-Lion-Mouse-Jerry-Pinkney/dp/0316013560. (Accessed September 22, 2013.)

Barnes & Noble. Editorial reviews. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lion-the-mouse-jerry-pinkney/1101089622?ean=9780316013567. (Accessed September 22, 2013.)