The Walk of the Field Mouse: A Picture Book

(Hardback)

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Publishing Details

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Description

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

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 *

Vidalis 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 Leonnis 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 futilitythe Sisyphean strugglecan 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 mouses success and mentally put it in their storehouse of resources. * Canadian Review of Materials *

Author Bio

Nadine Robert, the founder of the publishing house Comme des gants, has always had a strong passion for illustrated childrens books that have a powerfully built narrative approach combined with strong images. She is a recent recipient of the 2022 Governor Generals 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 Childrens Book award. She lives in Montral 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 Childrens Book honors in 2013 and 2018. He lives in Berlin.