"The Lion and the Mouse" by Jerry Pinkney

 

"The Lion and the Mouse" 

by Jerry Pinkney

40 pages /  E-Book / Folktale

Summary: After escaping the grasp of a hungry owl, a mouse finds itself in the clutches of a lion. The lion does a noble thing and lets the mouse run away free. Some poachers set up a net to catch wild game. The lion gets caught in the netting and is trapped. The same mouse comes to rescue it.

Evaluation: This retelling of Aesop's Fable accompanied by Pinkney's illustrations makes for a delightful reading experience for the reader. There are no words ( just onomatopoeia ) in the story, which leaves the reader to fill in the noises and plot-line with his or her imagination. The warm colors used in the illustrations match the warmth inside of the lion and mouse's heart as they help each other in times of despair. Using this book to teach about humanity and compassion could prove as a successful hook for a classroom lesson.

Appeal Terms: fable, lively, heartwarming, inspirational, thought provoking, introspective