The Lion and the Mice

August 15, 2011

Aesop's lion and mouse (or mice, as this case has it) have never looked more stylish.

With his massive frame stretched across the page, a wacky-hued lion sleeps. But when a tiny mouse, resplendent in olive-green heels and a tuft of electric-blue fur, finds herself next to the lion, he wakes up. The wry narrator intones (and readers will agree): "Uh-oh." But true to the fable, the lion lets the mouse go, with the mouse squeaking in reply, "One day I will help you." (Sharp-eyed readers will notice that the gray bars, which were previously melded into the background design, are now also found in front of the lion). The mouse returns, with the help of many fashion-forward rodent friends, and fits a key into a never-before-seen padlock. The lion is free—presumably from a zoo—and the mice are happy. As an added bonus after the moral is delivered, the lion says "thank you." Two lessons in one! The story not quite as haut-couture as its art, with chopped sentences and direct exposition that serve its intended audience of beginning readers well, if not elegantly. But the illustrations round everything out, giving context clues and a shift in perspective, zooming back to reveal the complete picture.

Likely a bit more turquoise and abstract than Aesop had in mind, but fantastic visual fun. (Early reader/folktale. 2-5)

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October 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 1-In this uneven easy reader, the traditional fable is presented in an urban setting, with the lion stuck in a cage instead of a net. The mouse is lost, and the lion not only spares her life but also lifts her up so she can find her home. The mouse returns with an entire community of mice who work together to unlock the cage (though how/where they get the key is a mystery). The Emberleys' characteristic eye-popping abstract art is as delightful as ever, but suffers in the smaller format. While earlier collaborations such as The Red Hen (Roaring Brook, 2010) showcased the bold figures with lots of white space, Lion is set against an abstract night/cityscape and is composed with varying perspectives that may be confusing for emergent readers who are looking for context. The short sentences and simplified storytelling that make it appropriate for early readers prevent it from being an enjoyable read aloud: "The mouse comes back./More mice come./The lion roars." The quirky little rodents in their fancy boots are utterly charming, but the overall effect of the book is disjointed and will be confusing to its intended audience.-Anna Haase Krueger, Antigo Public Library, WI

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