The Lion and the Mouse by: Jerry Pinkney

Bibliography:
Pinkney, Jerry. 2009. The Lion and the Mouse. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316013567
Plot Summary: Pinkney's illustrations clearly move the plot along, but because this is a wordless picture book, the plot is open for interpretation. Pinkney sets the story in the African Serengeti where various creatures abound. What we know for sure is that a little mouse stumbles upon a large lion who sets the mouse free. The lion subsequently gets caught in a trap set by humans. The lion's loud roars are heard by the mouse who comes to gnaw at the rope trap and, this time, it is the mouse who sets the lion free. The rest of the story, the details, are for the reader to tell.
Critical Analysis: Because the retellings of The Lion and the Mouse are always a little different, a wordless rendering of the fable suits it perfectly. First time "readers" can recreate the fable in any way they see fit. Does the lion initially want to eat the mouse and the mouse convinces him to set her free or does the lion want nothing to do with a little old mouse? There is no right or wrong answer and that is the beauty of a wordless picture book. The cover of the book is the lion's face up close; there are no words. The lion is looking to his right which ironically leads the reader to turn the book over instead of open it up. On the back of the book is the mouse seemingly smiling back at the giant predator. The fact that the mouse occupies the same amount of space as the lion speaks to the equality and interconnectedness of all living beings. There are different morals that may be taken from this fable with the traditional one being how the weak can trump the mighty. Others might include how there is something great within all of us and we are all capable of amazing things, how cooperation is key to success, or how leaders are nothing if they do not respect those whom they wish to lead.
Review Excerpt(s):
2010 Caldecott Medal winner
2009 Parents' Choice Gold Award winner
Starred review from School Library Journal: "A classic tale from a consummate artist."
Connections:
Read other picture book retellings of Aesop's Fables such as Helen Ward's The Hare and the Tortoise or pair The Lion and the Mouse with other wordless picture books such as those of David Wiesner.