THE LION AND THE MOUSE by Jerry Pinkney Book Review

Bibliography

Pinkney, Jerry.2009. THE LION & THE MOUSE. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-316-01356-7

Plot Summary

In this wordless retelling of an Aesop fable, a single mother mouse escapes the claws of a hungry owl, only to find herself trapped within the paw of a huge lion. The lion lets the mouse go only to find himself caught and bound by poachers’ ropes high above the ground. To the rescue comes the little mother mouse, she chews the ropes until they give way and free the lion. The mother mouse proves that even small creatures are capable of great things.

Critical Analysis

Pinkney was inspired by living next to a nature preserve. The book is set on the plains and among the creatures of the African Serengeti. Author and Illustrator Jerry Pinkney tells the fable of THE LION AND THE MOUSE is a wordless picture book.  Through Pinkney’s illustrations the sounds of the owl, the lion, the mouse, and the poacher's jeep will leave readers staring at the detail and living realism of this famous fable for hours. Pinkney gives the characters expressions without becoming cartoonish, in the full color artwork of this book. He uses “pencil, watercolor, and colored pencils on paper.”

Review Excerpts

2010 Caldecott Medal Winner THE LION AND THE MOUSE illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney

Hans Christian Anderson Award

School Library Journal, starred review “This story starts on the cover with the glorious, golden countenance of a lion. No text is necessary to communicate the title: the direction of the beast's gaze and the conflicted expression on his tightly cropped face compel readers to turn the book over, where a mouse, almost filling the vertical space, glances back. The endpapers and artist's note place these creatures among the animal families of the African Serengeti. Each spread contributes something new in this nearly wordless narrative, including the title opening, on which the watchful rodent pauses, resting in one of the large footprints that marches across the gutter. In some scenes, Pinkney's luminous art, rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, suggests a natural harmony, as when the cool blues of the sky are mirrored in the rocks and acacia tree. In other compositions, a cream-colored background focuses attention on the exquisitely detailed and nuanced forms of the two main characters. Varied perspectives and the judicious use of panels create interest and indicate time. Sounds are used sparingly and purposefully—an owl's hoot to hint at offstage danger or an anguished roar to alert the mouse of the lion's entrapment. Contrast this version with Pinkney's traditional treatment of the same story (complete with moral) in Aesop's Fables (North-South, 2000). The ambiguity that results from the lack of words in this version allows for a slower, subtle, and ultimately more satisfying read. Moments of humor and affection complement the drama. A classic tale from a consummate artist.”

Connections

* Activities found at the following website http://www.dltk-teach.com/fables/lion/index.htm

* Children love fables because most of them feature animals as the main characters. Get out a flannel board and allow students to retell the story at a center.

* Make hand held puppets with a craft stick and allow students to act out the story in groups. Grade students on their ability to retell in sequence order.

(Book images from www.amazon.com)