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The Lion and the Mouse | July 20, 2016

by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, September 2009)

There are many, many picture books that adapt Aesop’s Fables for children. I’ve read and enjoyed several picture books featuring one or more of Aesop’s Fables, and every author/illustrator brings their own talent and voice to these timeless tales. However, after hundreds of years of telling and re-telling, it seemed unlikely to me that there could be a truly fresh and innovative take on these stories. Thus, I was delighted to read Jerry Pinkney’s Caldecott-winning The Lion and the Mouse, a wordless re-telling of the fable by the same name. Without a single word (other than a few onomatopoeia to provide atmosphere), Pinkney’s beautiful art tells not just the sequence of events, but also develops the characters of the mighty lion and the meek mouse. This book is a wonderful example of a classic story told in an innovative way, keeping this ancient fable relevant for a new generation.

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