LSSL 5360: Module 2 -- Traditional Literature


The Lion & The Mouse
By Jerry Pinkney




1)    BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pinkney, J. (2009). THE LION & THE MOUSE. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.  ISBN 9780316013567


2)    PLOT SUMMARY
Pinkney’s wordless version of The Lion and The Mouse starts off with the mouse scampering away from an owl and landing on top of a lion.  The lion is startled awake by the mouse and plays with the prey for a bit for gently setting it free.  Immediately the mouse runs back to his mice, and the lion goes back to his normal routine of roaming freely.  Unbeknownst to the lion there are some men setting up a trap, and while he’s walking around he sets it off.  When the mouse comes across the lion in its predicament he immediately gets to work setting the lion free.  He’s able to chew the cords, and repay his debt to the lion.  At the end of the book, both families of the lion and mouse are coexisting in harmony together. 


3)    CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Pinkney’s adaption of one of Aesop’s fables is a true work of art.  The Lion and The Mouse is a wordless version of the famous fable, and as a result the illustrations are detailed and tell the story itself.  With just a few noises here and there from animals, Pinkney is able to convey the theme of friendship through beautiful illustrations.  This is a great book to read aloud to students, and have them infer and tell the story in their own words based on the illustrations.  Another teachable concept from Pinkney’s book is theme, and how to identify if in a story.  The use of watercolors gives a realistic feel to the animals, and transports readers to the African Serengeti.  This is truly a breathtaking book that teaches a valuable lesson!


4)    REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Kirkus’ Review:  “Artist-rendered display type ranges from a protracted “RRROAARRRRRRRRR” to nine petite squeaks from as many mouselings. If the five cubs in the back endpapers are a surprise, the mouse family of ten, perched on the ridge of father lion’s back, is sheer delight. Unimpeachable.”  (Reviewed 5/20/2010)

Publisher Weekly’s Review:  “Pinkney enriches this classic tale of friendship with another universal theme—family—affectingly illustrated in several scenes as well as in the back endpapers, which show the lion walking 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's Serengeti, “with its wide horizon and abundant wildlife so awesome yet fragile—not unlike the two sides of each of the heroes.””  (Reviewed 7/27/2009)


5)    CONNECTIONS
v This is a great book if you are teaching:
o   Inferences
o   Theme
v Other similar stories:
Pinkney, Jerry.  THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE  ISBN 0316183563
Pinkney, Jerry.  THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS  ISBN 0316400815
Anderson, Hans Christian.  THE UGLY DUCKLING  ISBN 068815932X


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