The lion & the mouse

Aesop's classic fable of the lion who frees a mouse who later returns the favor is wordlessly and gorgeously brought to life by Jerry Pinkney. Intricate watercolors let the the familiar story unfold, as far more than simple morality tale. Pinkney's omission of narrative and dialogue, replaced only with painted sound effects (e.g. the "squeak squeak" of the mouse's babies), encourages readers to slow down, absorb and analyze the illustrations, and interpret the tale in a new way.
Although the lion appears somewhat possessed in a few of the illustrations, the overall quality is superb: depth, color, balance, and texture masterfully create a lush and inviting work of art. This is a great choice to share with a child in your life, as it invites conversations about the illustrations and the story they tell, the motives of the title characters, poaching, and of course the lessons that can be learned.