The Lion & the Mouse(2010 Caldecott Medal Award)狮子和老鼠-2010凯迪克金奖绘本 9780316013567

The 2010 Caldecott Medal winner is The Lion & the Mouse.
The screech of an owl, the squeak of a mouse and the roar of a lion transport readers to the Serengeti plains for this virtually wordless retelling of Aesop’s classic fable. In glowing colors, Pinkney’s textured watercolor illustrations masterfully portray the relationship between two very unlikely friends.

《狮子和老鼠》也被称作《狮子和报恩的老鼠》，出自世界上最早的寓言故事集《伊索寓言》。这部作品原本的故事是这样的——狮子睡着了，有只老鼠跳到了他身上。狮子猛然站起来，把他抓住，准备吃掉。老鼠请求饶命，并说如果保住性命，必将报恩，狮子轻蔑地笑了笑，便把他放走了。不久，狮子真的被老鼠救了性命。原来狮子被一个猎人抓获，并用绳索把他捆在一棵树上。老鼠听到了他的哀嚎，走过去咬断绳索，放走了狮子，并说：“你当时嘲笑我，不相信能得到我的报答，现在可清楚了，老鼠也能报恩。”

This story starts on the cover with the glorious, golden countenance of a lion. No text is necessary to communicate the title: the direction of the beast's gaze and the conflicted expression on his tightly cropped face compel readers to turn the book over, where a mouse, almost filling the vertical space, glances back. The endpapers and artist's note place these creatures among the animal families of the African Serengeti. Each spread contributes something new in this nearly wordless narrative, including the title opening, on which the watchful rodent pauses, resting in one of the large footprints that marches across the gutter. In some scenes, Pinkney's luminous art, rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, suggests a natural harmony, as when the cool blues of the sky are mirrored in the rocks and acacia tree. In other compositions, a cream-colored background focuses attention on the exquisitely detailed and nuanced forms of the two main characters. Varied perspectives and the judicious use of panels create interest and indicate time. Sounds are used sparingly and purposefully—an owl's hoot to hint at offstage danger or an anguished roar to alert the mouse of the lion's entrapment. Contrast this version with Pinkney's traditional treatment of the same story (complete with moral) in Aesop's Fables (North-South, 2000). The ambiguity that results from the lack of words in this version allows for a slower, subtle, and ultimately more satisfying read. Moments of humor and affection complement the drama. A classic tale from a consummate artist.

作者杰里?平克尼在童年时期最喜欢看的书便是《伊索寓言》。《狮子和老鼠》这个小故事带给他的不仅仅是故事本身的寓意——弱者如何胜过强者，而更是故事中两个相互对立的主角之间关系的神奇变化。对于杰里而言，他很赞赏老鼠的无畏和知恩图报，同时也很欣赏超越了与生俱来的兽性施放了小老鼠的狮子。它们的博大胸怀带给了他莫大的感动。