The Lion and the Mouse Review

 

Hi everyone! Here is my 5th review, from a favorite author/illustrator:

Book Review #5, The Lion and the Mouse!

1.       Bibliography: Pinkney, Jerry.  Little, Brown and Company, 2009. ISBN 99780316013567.

2.       Plot Summary: This wordless book is a retelling of the traditional tale of The Lion and the Mouse. This book uses only lustrous illustrations combined with a few animal sound effect words such as “grrr” and “screech” to tell a tale of friendship. A little mouse wanders around an African landscape, when he is caught by a lion. Rather than eat or hurt him, the lion lets the mouse go free, where he is returned to his mouse family. Later, hunters set a trap, catching the mighty lion in a net. While out exploring again, the mouse sees the trapped lion. Although he is small, he uses his teeth and hands to gnaw through the rope, freeing the lion. The mouse, again, returns to his family, but not before a small acknowledgement from the lion is given.  The themes of returning favors of kindness, heroes can be small, and friendship are all clear.

3.       Critical Analysis: I am a big fan of Pinkney’s work, especially because we both are University of the Arts alumni. His artwork is colorful and exciting. This book appears to be a watercolor work with a simple earth tone palette. Because this version of the story is wordless, it is extra important that the illustrations convey the characters’ feelings, plot line, and theme. Even the inside jacket is illustrated, first showing readers the various animals who live in the lion’s kingdom, and ending with showing the lion reunited with his beautiful family. Pinkney made a choice to have the only words as onomatopoeia animal sounds. It starts in the beginning with owl sounds of "who" and "screeeech" to enhance the setting, and show the mouse's ability to be quick on his feet, as he escapes becoming the owl's breakfast,  This reinforces the idea that readers are alone in nature with the creatures, that this is an animals’ tale. In fact, the only only human characters are the enemies here, shown as hunters setting a trap. While Pinkney chooses to give the animals faces and expressions, the human characters' faces are hidden by hats, showing readers that this not their story, or even their world. The illustrations take on different angles, sometimes aerial views, sometimes close ups, and sometimes comic book style panels. These angles also help tell the story. Several two page spreads showcase the lion and mouse’s initial meeting. When the illustrations focus in on just these two characters and no surroundings, it is impactful in reinforcing that this story is really about the two of them, and how their small acts can help one another. At the end, the lion and the mouse share a look with one another, one of acknowledgement and respect. Just as the book started out with the mouse alone on his wanderings, it ends with him alone squeaking with his family. He has taken a piece of the net trap that he freed the lion from as a toy for his family to nibble on. Since this is how the mouse freed the lion, this possibly symbolizes future friendships between the mice and other animals formerly known as their predators. This is a beautiful book to teach theme, or social emotional concepts of empathy and kindness. This is also a book that would work as a teaching tool for young children developing their literacy skills, or ELL students.

4.       Review Excerpts:

·         2010 Caldecott Award Medal, Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine 100 Greatest Books for Kids list entry

·         From Publishers’ Weekly, “Pinkney has no need for words; his art eloquently speaks for itself”.

·         From School Library Journal, “Pinkney’s luminous art, rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, suggests a natural harmony.”

·         From The Horn Book, “An attractive take on the familiar folktale, particularly appropriate for age groups.”

5.       Connections: Display with other wordless books. Have children write their own lines for various pages.

·         DePaola, Tomie. Pancakes for Breakfast, ISBN: 9781328710604

·         Wiesner, David.  Tuesday, ISBN: 9780395870822

·         Kerascoet. I Walk with Vanessa, ISBN: 9781524769550

·         Becker, Aaron. Journey, ISBN: 9780763660536

Teach children about the Caldecott award and have them nominate books they think should be recipients.

Link the book to other traditional tales. Take a poll for children’s favorites and display the results.

Have children make lion or mouse masks that they can wear.

Teach children about the various animals that live in Africa such as giraffes, elephants, and zebras. Ask them which ones they would like to write a friendship story about.