Customer Reviews

Seven Blind Mice (Caldecott Honor Book)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book retells the ancient Indian tale of seven blind men who try to decide what an elephant is like based on examining one part of it. In this book, it is seven blind mice that examine the elephant; six of them draw incorrect conclusions based on one feel, whereas the seventh mouse takes it's time, and learns the truth about the elephant. I was particularly pleased with the moral of this story.

The mice are each of a different color and examine the elephant on a different day, which helps expose children to the concepts of color and days of the week. The artwork is humorous which helps with children too young to read, and the text is simple enough for young readers. For reference purposes, my own 1st grader had no problem reading this book.

This children's book is not only a wonderful tale but it also uses beautiful illustrations that only enhance the story. The book would be an excellent resource for teachers to use when teaching about morals, the importance of taking your time, or even collages (art). This is a wonderful book with a strong moral story line and exciting, eye catching pictures.

Six out of seven curious mice draw fast conclusions of the unknown. The seventh, the wise takes time to learn. A beautiful book full of color that excites the imagination and transfers wisdom.

This book was wonderful. The illustrations were so bright and distinct. There are seven blind mice tring to figure out the identity of an object by feeling it. The first six mice make their decisions very quickly, therefore making the wrong choice. The seventh mouse takes his precious time. He runs on top of the object. He runs back and forth. When he finally makes his decision it is the correct one. This book would be great in teaching children to look at every angle of a situation before making a decision.

Seven Blind Mice is a beautiful book to share with children. Young's magnificent collage illustrations set against a stark black backdrop are mysterious and compelling. His text is sparse, poetic, and wholly to the point. Every time I have shared this book with my kindergarten class, they have asked for it again and again. I heartily recommend it for children,parents, and teachers. Young's message to know the whole elephant before you proceed is a timely one for everyone.

This is a children's book based on the famous Indian fable about blind mice who encounter an elephant, each describing it differently: the moral being that you must "see" the whole object to truly know it. The book was a 1993 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustration in a book for children and the beautiful collages enhance the story. This is the best presentation of this famous tale that I have seen.

Seven blind, multi-hued mice attempt to analyze an elephant, each "seeing" it from its own perspective. But when the white mouse's turn comes, *she* shows the others how to look at the whole problem. Colorful and educational on so many levels, I highly recommend this book to all parents, especially those with daughters!

This book works best if you have an open mind. The book could be used in teaching color, texture, shape, days of the week, and many other things.

This book works best if you have an open mind. The book could be used in teaching color, texture, shape, days of the week, and many other things.

Ed Young is nothing so much as an artistic version of Eric Carle. Not that I have anything against Eric Carle (author of "The Hungry Caterpillar") but in "Seven Blind Mice", the artist has imbued his book with such amazing colors and textures that it's a wondrous delight to look through. The story is the classic folktale of the seven blind men and the elephant, rendered mousey. In this story, seven blind mice (not the usual tailless three) come across a large elephant. Each mouse feels a different part of the elephant and comes up with a different idea of what the large object blocking their path is. The moral of the story is summed up nicely at the end as, "Knowing in part may make a fine tale, but wisdom comes from seeing the whole".

Each scene displays the colorful mice (each a different vibrant color) against a black background. These cut-outs are positioned perfectly in each scene to convey movement, mindset, and personality. Though they may be similar shapes, they are by no means identical. But I really can't convey the beauty Young has created here. The elaborate papers used for the elephant's skin or the evocative mind's eye scenes of what the elephant might be. Each time a colored mouse describes what the elephant is (whether pillar or spear or cliff) that object appears on the opposite page in brilliant beautiful papers the color of the mouse describing it.

Pretty doesn't describe it. Beautiful comes close. But spectacular is the most accurate statement that can be made about this book. Now go buy it.