The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (review)

Sonorous descriptive language ("He knew the insect-filled fields of summer and the ripe, rich orchards of autumn") provides plenty of appeal in this elegant retelling of Aesop's classic fable in which a country mouse decides that the rich city ways come at too high a cost. The watercolor art is sumptuously idyllic, with both rural and urban locales looking pretty darn lovely, from the verdant meadows and freshly harvested golden fields of the country to the bright lights, finely ornamented architecture, and well-heeled residents of the city. The bright-eyed, naturalistic mice are beautifully rendered, and their sleek coats (red-brown for the country mouse and chocolate for the town mouse) practically invite petting. Although the focus here is clearly on the mice, there's a pleasantly nostalgic, early-twentieth-century look to the clothing, vehicles, and décor of the human world as well. A few illustrations provide enjoyable moments of sly humor or anticipation, such as when the town mouse declares that the city is free of "dangerous wild animals" as the two mice are shown passing a sleeping fawn in the country, and when the mice, gorging on the mouthwatering offerings of the dessert table in the town mouse's home, are spotted by a disapproving, party-hat-wearing pet pug. While some kids may think the country mouse is missing the boat (that dessert table is awfully tempting), nature-loving youngsters will especially appreciate his choice.