The Walk of the Field Mouse
A Picture Book
Published on 23. May 2024
Book
Hardback
64 pages
978-1-990252-32-7 (ISBN)
Description
A field mouse summons its inner strength in The Walk of the Field Mouse, a timeless picture book about taking on life's many obstacles by award-winning creators Nadine Robert and Valerio Vidali.
One morning, out for one of its usual walks, a field mouse discovers something rather unusual: a mysterious blue object sitting at the foot of a big rock. As a group of animals gather to carefully inspect the object, they realize that a robin's egg has rolled down from its nest all the way at the top.
Wondering who will roll it back up, the field mouse quickly volunteers, only to be met with laughter and mockery from its fellow animals. The field mouse, spurred on by a determination to prove them wrong, musters all of its strength to take on the Sisyphean task-but will it succeed?
One morning, out for one of its usual walks, a field mouse discovers something rather unusual: a mysterious blue object sitting at the foot of a big rock. As a group of animals gather to carefully inspect the object, they realize that a robin's egg has rolled down from its nest all the way at the top.
Wondering who will roll it back up, the field mouse quickly volunteers, only to be met with laughter and mockery from its fellow animals. The field mouse, spurred on by a determination to prove them wrong, musters all of its strength to take on the Sisyphean task-but will it succeed?
Reviews / Votes
"An epigraph quoting Camus ("One must imagine Sisyphus happy") helps position the story, which champions persistence, even in the face of scorn, and highlights the quiet pride that can be part of doing something difficult." * Publishers Weekly, starred review * "Vidali's digital art uses perspective beautifully to convey the massive effort undertaken by the field mouse as it struggles mightily to achieve its objective . . .A powerful, folkloric tale of persistence and quiet dignity." * Kirkus, starred review * "Any picture book that opens with words from Albert Camus has great ambitions . . . recalling Leo Leonni's Frederick . . . One illustration makes quite an impact, with the tiny brown mouse somersaulting down the hill against wordless, double-page spread of sky blue." * Youth Services Reviews * "What looks like frustration and futility-the Sisyphean struggle-can be recast as an exercise in grit and optimism... In the determination of the little field mouse, 4- to 8-year-olds will find a worthy role model well-suited to the active, purposeful nature of springtime." * The Wall Street Journal * ""Readers will take delight in the field mouse's success and mentally put it in their storehouse of resources." * Canadian Review of Materials *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Canada
Publishing group
Comme des geants inc.
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Third Grade, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Illustrations
Full-color illustrations throughout
Dimensions
Height: 317 mm
Width: 246 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
670 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-990252-32-7 (9781990252327)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Nadine Robert, the founder of the publishing house Comme des geants, has always had a strong passion for illustrated children's books that have a powerfully built narrative approach combined with strong images. She is a recent recipient of the 2022 Governor General's Award for her story Clover, and has received Best Book of the Year honors from Kirkus and a New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book award. She lives in Montreal with her family.
Valerio Vidali is an Italian illustrator whose picture books have been adapted into over a dozen languages across several continents. One of his recent works, Hundred: What You Learn in a Lifetime has sold over 200,000 copies worldwide. Vidali is also the recipient of numerous awards, including two New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book honors in 2013 and 2018. He lives in Berlin.
Valerio Vidali is an Italian illustrator whose picture books have been adapted into over a dozen languages across several continents. One of his recent works, Hundred: What You Learn in a Lifetime has sold over 200,000 copies worldwide. Vidali is also the recipient of numerous awards, including two New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book honors in 2013 and 2018. He lives in Berlin.