Author: Rand Burkert
Illustrator: Nancy Eklhom Burkert
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Year: 2011
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell
Awards: featured on the "Calling Caldecott" blog; Kirkus, School Library Journal, & Publisher's Weekly starred reviews, Booklist Editor's Choice & Notable Books
Summary: A retelling of the classic Aesop fable set in the African grasslands. This book is printed on such luscious paper with gorgeous brush, ink, and pencil illustrations. The story is the traditional tale, although in the author's note he says that he wanted Mouse to take top billing here since it's usually the lion. It's written with a very sophisticated tone and would be an interesting compare & contrast Pinkney's Caldecott-winning take on the same tale.
Classroom Ideas: This book has amazing vocabulary (hurrying, scampered, tawny, runt, "in a bad humor", Sire, whiskery, hurled.....) It would be great to talk about scarcity of words and choosing them carefully with young writers. The setting also takes center stage here and a discussion of the grasslands (striped African grass mouse & baobab tree) would be appropriate. Fables are always great sources for discussing theme as well.
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