Town Mouse, Country Mouse

A simply gorgeous peep-through picture book that introduces us to one of Aesop's most well-known fables in a simple rhyming text. The detail in the images is a delight and simply demands exploration. We see what each mouse has packed - what would children pack for their own trips away? - and the contrasts between the town and country couldn't be greater. What do the children love (or dislike) as urban or rural dwellers? The cut-throughs on each page are used beautifully to help develop the contrast of town and country, and the unfamiliar dangers that the little mice face (poisoned berries, cheese in a mouse trap); the small images that line every page provide further snapshots of the mouse's experiences in these new worlds. Perhaps children could take their own photographs of their environment, to show the dangers it can pose and create their own book exploring their local environment? The final spreads, where each town and country mouse - safely home - sees their own familiar (but the same) moon is especially effective. A really lovely picture book. Picture book / Ages 4+ / Reviewed by Emily Smith.

Suggested Reading Age 5+