The Lion and the Mice

by Rebecca Emberley, Ed Emberley (Illustrator)

Overview

In this color-drenched interpretation of Aesop's fable, a mouse, in colorful attire suitable for a night on the town, finds herself trapped by a caged lion in the city zoo. The mouse begs to be released and promises to help the lion one day. The lion is skeptical but releases her nonetheless. Later that night, the mouse returns with mouse friends—as spiffily attired as she herself—and together they unlock the lion's cage and prove that "little mice can be big friends." An I Like to Read® book. Guided Reading Level E.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823426416
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	06/01/2012
Series:	I Like to Read Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	240L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rebecca Emberley has written and illustrated more than thirty books for children. She lives in Maine.

Ed Emberley has created more than eighty books for children, including DRUMMER HOFF, which won the Caldecott Medal. He lives in Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

"Aesop's lion and mouse (or mice, as this case has it) have never looked more stylish. . . . . fantastic visual fun."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 1—In this uneven easy reader, the traditional fable is presented in an urban setting, with the lion stuck in a cage instead of a net. The mouse is lost, and the lion not only spares her life but also lifts her up so she can find her home. The mouse returns with an entire community of mice who work together to unlock the cage (though how/where they get the key is a mystery). The Emberleys' characteristic eye-popping abstract art is as delightful as ever, but suffers in the smaller format. While earlier collaborations such as The Red Hen (Roaring Brook, 2010) showcased the bold figures with lots of white space, Lion is set against an abstract night/cityscape and is composed with varying perspectives that may be confusing for emergent readers who are looking for context. The short sentences and simplified storytelling that make it appropriate for early readers prevent it from being an enjoyable read aloud: "The mouse comes back./More mice come./The lion roars." The quirky little rodents in their fancy boots are utterly charming, but the overall effect of the book is disjointed and will be confusing to its intended audience.—Anna Haase Krueger, Antigo Public Library, WI

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