The Return of Mouse and Mole

-
Back in 1993, an utterly charming, quiet book was published and captured the hearts and imaginations of so many. So, when I received the information that Graffeg Press was going to re-issue these books, I was beside myself with joy. That Mouse and Mole would be available to a new generation of readers is so wonderful. I had to give it a special shout on Fallen Star Stories.

MOUSE and MOLE
author: Joyce Dunbar 
illustrator: James Mayhew
Graffeg Press (16 May 2019)
ISBN: 9781912050406
Those great friends Mouse and Mole always spend their days together. But what will they do tomorrow? That all depends on what sort of day it is. If it's lovely and fine, they plan for a picnic with cheese and cucumber sandwiches, taking their new picnic basket to a nice, quiet spot in the sun. If it's a wintry sort of day, they will just stay home in front of the fire and toast muffins and roast chestnuts. But what will Mouse and Mole do if it's an in-between sort of day? Well...something in-between, like tidying up. It always needs to be done. It doesn't really matter what they do, as long as they are in it together.
Love this picture of mole coming downstairs with his hot water bottle!
Such a wonderful, warm, gentle series, Mouse and Mole are perfect for sharing, reading aloud and for young, newly competent readers to read on their own. The adventures of these two friends are full of quiet humour and witty banter, bringing delight to even the gloomiest and most restless sort of days. They are quite philosophical in their own right and do touch on concepts that require consideration; friendship, environment, being flexible when settling disputes, allowing feelings to be what they are and compassion and understanding; without making a huge noise about these things which would spoil the tale. Mainly, they are charming, holding attention with their depiction of everyday life. I love the chapters on 'tidying up', pointing out the frustrations and feelings of the task...so typical, yet so funny. Mouse and Mole hold their own alongside the great characters and stories of childrens' literature. The intimate world view of these two friends give a nod to the world of The Borrowers, with the small cosiness infused in the pages. There are echoes of Wind in the Willows, with the antics of the animal community living quite a human life.
And of course, they hearken back to those other two animals friends, Frog and Toad, the series for young readers written by Arnold Lobel in the 1970s (a big favourite in my house.) Mouse and Mole are even dedicated to 'dear old Frog and Toad.' The simple, funny, sometimes poignant text of Joyce Dunbar sits alongside the wondrous full-colour illustrations of James Mayhew gracing every page; with exquisite detail and expression creating illustrations that take the reader directly into the world of Mouse and Mole...and trust me, you'll want to stay there. Wonderful, wonderful tales that will win the hearts of children and adults alike; quietly joyous (and don't we all need that?). Simply timeless.

All four Mouse and Mole books are due out this Thursday, 16 May. I suggest you read them all.
https://www.graffeg.com/about-graffeg/authors/joyce-dunbar/
https://www.graffeg.com/about-graffeg/authors/james-mayhew/




(p.s. If you haven't yet got your hands in the Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel, I suggest you seek them out.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rights of the Reader

-
Image
The Rights of the Reader; Daniel Pennac, illustrated by Quentin Blake Summer is here and we do encourage summer reading with numerous incentives and programmes. It is important for children (of all ages) to 'keep their reading up' outside of school time. This is the time when kids develop their own taste in books and can be free to read books of their own choosing. And this is the single most important factor in young people developing a lifelong reading habit. But how do we, as the 'gatekeepers' of kids reading, encourage them properly without running the risk of thrusting pressure and our own ideas on them? Do that and you'll run the risk of pushing them away from reading, and there are already so many distractions for the young reader to contend with that can tempt them elsewhere. Published by Walker Books; 9781406300918 In 1992, French writer Daniel Pennac originally published this little gem of a book; The Rights of the Reader. I highly recommend
Read more

The Summer of Lily and Esme by John Quinn....25 years

-
Image
This year marks the anniversary of the publication of an extraordinary book. In 1991, Poolbeg published The Summer of Lily & Esme by John Quinn and in the 25 years since, it has never been out of print. The Summer of Lily & Esme tells a quiet story, filled with compassion, friendship, memory and heart. It is the story of Alan, an 11-year-old boy who has moved from the city into a house in the countryside; in the middle of nowhere.The house is old and extremely large and immaculate; and there is a locked, boarded over attic room that is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young boy who died tragically. Alan is not too pleased with this move and becomes even less thrilled when he discovers his closest neighbours, in fact his only neighbours, are a pair of elderly sisters, Esme and Lily, who seem to be suffering from dementia.  When Alan falls down a hill of brambles and weeds, the sisters, who believe they themselves to be children, mistake Alan for their
Read more

Launch of Genesis by Eilis Barrett

-
Image
A week ago, I played a small part of the launch of Genesis , the much-anticipated sequel to Oasis by Eilis Barrett; this time at Charlie Byrnes Bookshop in Galway. Vinny Brown introduces Eilis Eilis is a remarkable young woman, as you might imagine since she is 18 years old and this is her second book. ( Oasis was published when she was 16.) Articulate and accomplished, it is a real privilege to know her, to hear her speak and to read her writing. Genesis author: Eilis Barrett publisher: Gill Books (8 September 2017 ISBN: 9780717174355 Genesis picks up the story of Quincy Emerson. She now finds herself a captive once again, in the maximum-security prison, the Colosseum as a security risk. Held in deplorable and brutal conditions in the prison, where anarchy rules and rival gangs wage a 'street war' of sorts, Quincy takes care to not make an enemy of either gang boss, while holding allegiance to no one but herself and her comrades on the outside. Food is scarce an
Read more