The Lion & the Mouse
Copyright
Text and illustrations copyright © 2009 by Jerry Pinkney • All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. • Little, Brown Books for Young Readers • Hachette Book Group • 237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 • Visit our website at www.HachetteBookGroup.com • www.twitter.com/littlebrown • Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. • The Little, Brown name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc. • First eBook Edition: September 2009 • ISBN: 978-0-316-07122-2
Contents
Copyright
Begin Reading
Artist’s Note
Praise for Little Red Riding Hood
Sometimes even THE KING needs help…
and
little friends may prove to be GREAT friends.
In award-winning artist JERRY PINKNEY’s stunningly rendered wordless adaptation of one of Aesop’s most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted.
To my first great-granddaughter, Zion McKenzie Noel and to all things that squeal, purr, roar, hoot, screech, bark, meow, chirp, and neigh. —J. P.
WHO Who Whoooo
ARTIST’S NOTE
Of all Aesop’s fables, “The Lion and the Mouse” is one of my childhood favorites: the tale of a mouse who accidentally disturbs a lion from his rest, and the lion who makes a life-changing decision to release his prey. When the mouse remembers her debt, she frees the lion from a poacher’s trap. For me, this story offers far more than a simple moral of how the meek can trump the mighty.
Since working on my collection Aesop’s Fables, I have felt drawn back to these two seemingly opposite characters. As a child I was inspired to see the majestic king of the jungle saved by the determination and hard work of a humble rodent; as an adult I’ve come to appreciate how both animals are equally large at heart: the courageous mouse, and the lion who must rise above his beastly nature to set his small prey free. It was gratifying, then, to place these two spirited creatures head-to-head on this book’s jacket, each commanding powerful space and presence.
Since most retellings of the classic are sparse in text, a wordless version seemed quite natural; yet these engaging characters led me to make the story even fuller by providing a sense of family and setting. Living next to a nature preserve, I am fascinated with the vast medley of sounds coming from the surrounding woods, and that chorus of chatters and squeals helped shape the idea of selectively using animal sounds to gently enhance the story, while allowing the visuals—as well as the reader’s imagination—to drive the narrative.
My curiosity and reverence for animal life has grown over the years, and my concern for them grows in equal measure. It seemed fitting, then, to stage this fable in the African Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya, with its wide horizon and abundant wildlife so awesome yet fragile—not unlike the two sides of each of the heroes starring in this great tale for all times.
PHOTO © MYLES C. PINKNEY
JERRY PINKNEY is one of the most heralded children’s book illustrators of all time. Among his many awards and honors, Mr. Pinkney has received four New York Times Best Illustrated Awards, and has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. He is a five-time recipient of both the Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King Award. He lives with his wife, author Gloria Jean Pinkney, in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. The artist’s Web site is www.jerrypinkneystudio.com.
Praise for Little Red Riding Hood
An ALA Notable Book
“Beautifully designed and rendered artwork… make this book a standout.”
—School Library Journal
“Delightful… just right for [a] preschool audience.”
—Booklist
Jerry Pinkney, The Lion & the Mouse
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