THE LION AND THE MOUSE

"Other than some squeaks, hoots and one enormous roar, Pinkney'sinterpretation of Aesop's fable is wordless — as is its strikingcover, which features only a head-on portrait of the lion's face. Mottled,tawny illustrations show a mouse unwittingly taking refuge on a lion's backas it scurries away from an owl. The large beast grabs and then releasesthe tiny creature, who later frees the lion who has become tangled in ahunter's snare. Pinkney enriches this classic tale of friendship withanother universal theme — family — affectingly illustrated inseveral scenes as well as in the back endpapers, which show the lionwalking with his mate and cubs as the mouse and her brood ride on his back.Pinkney's artist's note explains that he set the book in Africa'sSerengeti, 'with its wide horizon and abundant wildlife so awesome yetfragile — not unlike the two sides of each of the heroes.' AdditionalAfrican species grace splendid panoramas that balance the many finelydetailed, closeup images of the protagonists. Pinkney has no need forwords; his art speaks eloquently for itself. Ages 3 — 6.