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Summary
Summary
From internationally acclaimed author-illustrator Dan Yaccarino comes a heartwarming tale about finding your own courage.
Meet Morris Mole--he has always been a little bit different. When the moles are running low on food, it's up to clever Morris to save the day. With a little help from an unexpected friend and a lot of digging, Morris learns that even the smallest creatures can do big things.
Featuring Dan Yaccarino's bright and distinctive art, Morris Mole is sure to win the hearts of all readers.
Author Notes
Artist and freelance illustrator Dan Yaccarino graduated from the Parsons School of Design in New York in 1987.
Yaccarino's work has appeared in periodicals such as Rolling Stone, Playboy and New York magazine. AT&T, Mount Gay Rum, Gardenburger and other companies have used his images and illustrations in their advertising.
In 1993, Yaccarino published his first children's book, Big Brother Mike, and has since written or illustrated almost twenty more children's books.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Yaccarino (I Am a Story) highlights the power of kindness and daring to go against the grain in the story of a small, dapper mole who doesn't fit in with his larger, burlier brothers. Deep underground, a family of blue moles spends its days doing the same thing: "Together they dug. They ate. And they slept." Yaccarino instantly establishes the difference between bookish Morris, who wears a checkered suit and fedora, and his strapping brothers, who are decked out in boots and hard hats. When food becomes scarce, the brothers do what comes naturally ("Dig, dig, down! Deep in the ground!") but Morris summons the courage to follow a hunch, tunneling up to the surface where a bounty of food awaits. So do predators: in another show of bravery and resourcefulness, Morris saves the life of a fox who is about to eat him. The grateful fox enlists its friends to help Morris gather snails, bugs, and worms to bring home to his impressed brothers. Yaccarino's crisp, retro graphics exude energy and humor while emphasizing the rewards that can come with trusting one's instincts. Ages 4-8. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Though Morris, a mole, is much smaller than his brothers, he proves he "can do big things." When the moles run out of food, Morris unconventionally digs up instead of down, like his brothers, and discovers the fruitful surface world. The climax involving aboveground predators resolves neatly, but Yaccarino's eye-catching geometric compositions strikingly contrast the dark underground and the bright, colorful land above. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Morris Mole and his brothers live deep underground. His siblings spend all their time digging, eating, and sleeping, while little Morris expresses his individuality by dressing dapperly, reading books, and enjoying a good meal. When the brothers run out of food, everyone decides to dig deeper, except Morris, who tunnels up instead. There he finds flowers, birds, friendly folk, and delicious foods. Just as he is about to return home with his haul, Morris meets a hungry fox, who is in turn set upon by an angry wolf. Morris hides the fox, mending their relationship in the process, and then the mole surprises his brothers with a delicious feast. Yaccarino's mixed-media illustrations are richly hued; the navy moles wear bright orange and green work clothes, and the aboveground fauna is vividly depicted. The effective use of backgrounds (black for underground; white for aboveground) also helps to signal key setting details for young listeners. A gentle reminder that thinking differently can have its rewards.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2017 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Morris the mole is unique in his family. His brothers spend their days digging, eating, and sleeping. Morris is smaller than his siblings and follows a slightly different routine. One day the moles discover that they have run out of food. Morris has a suggestion that he thinks can save the day. When Morris attempts to inform his brothers about his idea, he is ignored. Morris proceeds to go on an adventure filled with twists and surprises along the way. Vibrant and bold colors contrast with the dark backgrounds. Black space adds depth to the tunnels that the moles continuously dig. White space is used to depict Morris's eventual emergence aboveground. Morris sports a blue checkered suit, which makes him stand out easily from his brothers. His choice in outfit mimics his equally distinctive personality and thoughts. This engaging read-aloud illustrates how an outsider can help solve problems in ways that members of a unified group may not have considered, and encourages children to be open to accepting and exploring different points of view. It also demonstrates how teamwork can benefit everyone. VERDICT Morris may be small, but he can indeed do big things; a must-have for all shelves.-Deanna Smith, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Morris strikes out on his own in this story about an anthropomorphic, iconoclast mole.Smaller than the rest and clad in a dapper suit rather than miners' gear, Morris Mole's suggestion falls on deaf ears when he voices an idea to improve his fellow moles' lot. While his brothers' focus is on digging ever deeper underground to find scarce food, Morris Mole decides to tunnel up through the earth. "I may be small, but I can do big things," he tells himself as he digs deep within himself to find courage. When he emerges aboveground he finds a wonderland of not only food, but bird song, flowers, and friendly passers-by. An encounter with a fox almost dooms Morris, but then he (rather implausibly) saves the fox from a wolf, who, for some odd reason, just lets him be. This plot twist seems rather forced and lacking in logic, but the grateful fox then rallies others to collect a veritable feast for Morris Mole to bring back to his underground family. Yaccarino's digital illustrations are bold and graphic, and they do an excellent job of contrasting the under- and aboveground worlds that Morris Mole traverses in his adventure of individuality and community. Plot holes may mar the story a bit, but there's plenty to dig anyway. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.