YOUNG MOUSE AND ELEPHANT
adapted by Pamela J. Farris & illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev
Farris's first book is an East African tale about a strong young mouse who wants to test his strength on Elephant. While he seeks out the great beast, the mouse frightens a lizard, a zebra, and a giraffe; readers will know that his feats are pure accidents, for his actions coincide with the thunder and lightning of an approaching storm. The ending finds him no wiser and still bragging; he misunderstands the elephant's besting him. This book has no specific flaws, other than its dullness; the text in no way reflects the setting and readers are left with a generic folktale that lacks humor or force. The sketchy pictures are done in ink and unembellished watercolors. (Picture book/folklore. 5-8)