Rediscover the tale of the simple country mouse who meets a cousin from the big city, magically retold by Helen Ward. Beguiled by his cousin's amazing stories, the country mouse visits the electric city. Unfortunately the town mouse forgot to mention the noise, the tall buildings - and the dangerous dogs! Helen Ward's 1930's New York is at once gorgeous and frighteningly busy - so that in the end, the reader understands both why the town mouse loves his exciting life and why the country mouse is contented with his peaceful home
Before today, my favorite illustrated version of 'The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse' was from Paul Galdone in the new early spring 2012 publication format. While I still love that one, this one is amazing and perfect for including Christmas time in a subtle years past sort of way. This is a large picture book and the illustrations are incredible and present the world from a mouse-eye-view. The first image I saw of the fox, I jolted a little bit - really putting you in the mind and frame of the mouse, sitting back watching the fox slink past. What's amazing about this book is as the city mouse is describing to the country mouse the wonders of where "he" lives the illustrations take a twist on the descriptions of the city and bring them to life in comparable thoughts of the country. The book is full of imagination and beauty. It is absolutely the most beautiful telling of this Aesop Fable that I have seen. Sharing the beauty that is present in both the country and the city and how each atmosphere is right for "that" mouse. Great opening for imagination and discussion. I'm sure we'll be reading this one plenty of times. Great for read alouds and snuggle reads, any shelf would benefit from holding this one.
*Thanks to Candlewick Press for providing a copy for review.*
Reading updates
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Started reading
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9 November, 2012:
Finished reading
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9 November, 2012:
Reviewed