In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes.

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Picture Book category by the Indies Choice Book Award. It was recognised by the Caldecott Award. The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. It also was recognised in the Grades K-2 category by the Buckeye Children's Book Award. It was recognised in the Grades K-3 category by the Volunteer State Book Award. Also it was recognised in the Horn Book Award - Picture Book category by the Boston Globe. It was recognised in the Ages 0-7 Years category by the Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens. It was recognised by the Texas Reading List. It was recognised in the Picture Book category by the Parents' Choice Award. It was recognised in the Fiction Picture Book category by the Cybils Award. The Cybils Awards is a group of readers passionate about seeking out and recognizing books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens. To accomplish that goal, the Cybils Awards works to recognize books written for children and young adults that combine both the highest literary merit and popular appeal.

There are 40 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2009 by Little, Brown & Company .

Jerry Pinkney has been illustrating children's books since 1964 and has the rare distinction of being the recipient of: Five Caldecott Honor Medals