内容简介
Using bold, playful primary colors, Caldecott winner Ed Young creates seven blind mice that will steal the hearts of the very youngest readers. This is a warm and entertaining fable of seven tiny creatures who set out to discover the "Something" by the pond--but who each come back with a different answer. 1993 Caldecott Honor Book. Full color. In this retelling of the Indian fable, seven blind mice discover different parts of an elephant and argue about its appearance.
作者简介
Ed Young (www.edyoungart.com) lives in Hastings-on- Hudson, New York.
精彩书评
Publishers Weekly In a stunning celebration of color Caldecott medalist Young ( Lon Po Po ) offers a vibrant variation on the fable of the blind men trying to identify an elephant. Seven differently-hued blind mice approach the ``strange Something'' in their midst on successive days and report their findings to the group. A large black square provides the background for each painting, a dramatic contrast to the brilliant images ``felt'' by the sightless rodents. Young's textured, cut-paper illustrations allow readers to visualize just how a floppy ear might be mistaken for a fan (``I felt it move!''); the elephant's curving trunk springs to life as both a jewel-green snake and a glowing yellow spear. The spare text permits greater exploration and enjoyment of the artwork--it may be difficult to read the story straight through without stopping to compare the various images. The ``Mouse Moral'' that concludes the tale--``Knowing in part may make a fine tale, but wisdom comes from seeing the whole''--may seem superfluous to those who prefer the imaginative ``vision'' of the mice. Ages 4-up. (Apr.) Children's Literature In this ancient fable seven blind mice find something mysterious by a pond. One by one, they investigate the "thing" and make their own guesses as to its identity. Only the seventh mouse sees the whole truth and solves the big mystery. This animal fable teaches a great lesson about wisdom and the need to look at the whole instead of getting lost in the parts. Young readers will enjoy the stunning paper-collage illustrations that can also be used to help youngsters explore the concepts of color, days of the week and ordinal numbers. Fewer Reviews Children's Literature In Seven Blind Mice, Ed Young offers a fable from India about understanding something only when you know the whole if it. Seven blind mice encounter an elephant by their pond and one by one they explore the beast to find out what it is. Day by day, each mouse goes forth and comes back with an idea as to what it is. On Monday, the red mouse feels the elephant's sturdy leg and surmises that it is a pillar. On Tuesday, the second mouse, the green one, encounters the elephant's trunk and reports that it is a snake. Similarly, the yellow mouse misidentifies the elephant's tusk as a spear. After six mice have gone, the white mouse runs over the entire elephant and realizes by feeling the entire animal that it is an elephant. In this 1993 Caldecott Honor book, Young incorporates colors of the rainbow, counting, and days of the week as well as the moral that the fable provides. Exquisitely done, Young's cut paper illustrations give life to this age-old tale. The scampering mice transfer well to the screen, B.D. Wong's narration is pitch perfect, and the mice are each endowed with their own singular personalities. An interview with author/illustrator Ed Young rounds out this DVD as he discusses how the concept for this book developed. This DVD is ideal for classroom use and for children's literature enthusiasts. Running time: 7 minutes. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. Children's Literature Young is one of the finest Asian artists in the children's book field. He reveals his understanding of children in Seven Blind Mice, a Caldecott runner-up. He provides visual delight with strong watercolors and imaginative collage. As he recreates the classic tale of the seven blind men, he serves younger children with weaving concepts of colors, numbers and days of the week. The truths of the book and its theme of limited vision, speak best to older children. School Library Journal K-Gr 3-- A real winner, on many levels. The first impression is visual delight. Brilliant colors and varied textures of paper collage are placed in striking contrast against velvety black pages. Bold white lettering imposed on the dark background tells of seven blind mice, seen in seven bright colors. Over the course of a week each investigates, in turn, the strange ``Something'' it encounters. To one it is a pillar, to another a snake, to another a cliff. Finally, on the seventh day, the white mouse, running across the thing and remembering what the others found, concludes that it is an elephant. The tale ends with the moral that wisdom comes from seeing ``the whole.'' Adapting the old fable of the blind men and the elephant by weaving in the days of the week, the mice, and the beautiful shapes of the things they see, Young gives children a clever story, wise words, and a truly exciting visual experience.-- Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
前言/序言
《森林里的小小探险家:毛球与迷雾之谜》 图书简介 第一章:初识月光谷 暮色四合,最后一抹夕阳的余晖像融化的金子般洒在“月光谷”的边缘。这个名字听起来宁静而美好,但对于初来乍到的探险小队——由一只名叫“毛球”的棕色小松鼠,以及他的两位挚友组成——来说,这里的一切都充满了未知与挑战。 毛球,一只对新鲜事物有着无穷好奇心的年轻松鼠,他那条蓬松的尾巴总是兴奋地竖立着,仿佛随时准备着迎接一场突如其来的冒险。他的伙伴是“吱吱”,一只精打细算的田鼠,负责绘制所有路线图,并且对任何可能藏有坚果的地点了如指掌;另一位是“呱呱”,一只体型健壮,但心地善良的青蛙,他的强项在于水域穿越和紧急情况下的力量支撑。 他们这次的目的地是月光谷深处那座传说中的“回声石阵”。据说,石阵在特定的月相下会发出一种奇特的低鸣,而石阵的核心区域,埋藏着一种古老的、能够指引方向的“夜光苔藓”。对于正努力为即将到来的寒冬储备过冬物资,并寻找更稳定食物来源的小动物们来说,这苔藓的价值无可估量。 然而,通往石阵的路途并非坦途。月光谷的地形复杂多变,从茂密的蕨类森林到湿滑的泥泞沼泽,每一步都需要极高的专注度和团队协作。 第二章:迷雾中的考验 探险的第三天,他们遭遇了第一个真正的难关——“低语迷雾”。这种迷雾并非寻常的水汽,它带着一种冰冷的、粘稠的质感,能迅速吞噬视野,让人分不清东南西北。更糟的是,迷雾中会传来各种似是而非的声音,时而是同伴的呼唤,时而像是远处的野兽低吼,极易扰乱心神。 吱吱紧张地紧紧抓着他的地图卷轴,冷汗浸湿了羊皮纸。“毛球,我们必须停下来!我看不清任何参照物,而且……我好像听到了狼獾的气息,比我们预估的要近得多!” 毛球深吸一口气,努力让自己冷静下来。他知道,在这迷雾中,依靠视觉是徒劳的。他回忆起族群长老教导的古老生存法则:在迷失方向时,要依靠“风”与“根”。 “呱呱,你负责留意地面的震动,”毛球沉声说道,“青蛙的听觉比我们敏锐得多,你能感觉到地面传来的任何异常脉动。吱吱,把你的地图收好,从现在开始,我们依靠气味和触觉。谷中的风通常会从高处流向低处,我们朝着风阻最小的方向前进,那里或许有开阔地。” 他们放慢了脚步,毛球用他灵敏的鼻子试图分辨空气中是否有松针或湿土的特殊气味。迷雾中,他们的行动变得异常缓慢而谨慎。突然,呱呱猛地停住,他的身体紧绷,眼睛在白茫茫中睁得很大。“左边!有东西在缓慢移动,频率很低,不像野兽,更像……沉重的脚步声,但很规律。” 毛球判断,这可能是迷雾中某种巨大的、缓慢移动的生物,也许是那些被迷雾困住的巨型甲虫,或是正在觅食的鼻涕虫。他们屏息凝神,小心翼翼地绕开那片“沉重”的区域。这次危机,多亏了呱呱对地面细微变化的捕捉,才得以安全度过。 第三章:失落的溪流与智慧的交锋 穿过迷雾,他们发现自己来到了一个与地图上描述完全不符的区域——一片干涸的河床。原本应该潺潺流淌、提供饮水和路线指引的“银光溪”,此刻只剩下布满卵石和干枯水草的沟壑。 “这不可能!”吱吱几乎要哭出来,“地图上说,银光溪是石阵的天然边界,我们应该沿着溪水走!” 毛球也感到困惑。溪水不可能在一夜之间干涸。他仔细观察着河床两侧的岩壁,发现了一些不自然的痕迹——岩石的断裂面异常平滑,仿佛被某种巨大的工具切割过。 “这不是自然干涸,”毛球肯定地说,“有人,或者说,有什么东西,改变了溪水的流向。” 这时,呱呱在河床深处发现了一块被藤蔓缠绕的巨大石板。经过一番努力,他们合力搬开石板。石板下方,露出一个幽深但干燥的洞口,里面散发着微弱的、带着矿物气息的风。 “这是条暗渠,”吱吱兴奋地检查着洞口,“看起来是人工开凿的,通往地下。” 冒险的风险瞬间提高了数倍。进入黑暗的地下通道,意味着放弃所有已知的导航系统。但毛球知道,他们没有回头路了。干燥的溪床意味着水源的危机越来越近,他们必须尽快找到出路。 毛球第一个钻了进去,他发现地道的墙壁上刻着一些模糊的符号,它们不是常见的森林文字,更像是某种几何图形。吱吱利用自己对古老标记的有限知识,辨认出其中几个重复出现的图形,似乎是关于“水流转向”的示意图。 “快看,”吱吱指着一处标记,“这似乎是一个‘引导’的符号,指向下方。我们可能需要爬下去。” 地道向下延伸,变得越来越陡峭。在最后的拐角处,他们发现了一个巨大的地下水库入口。水库被一个由巨大石块堆砌的闸门阻挡着,水流被遏制在后方,发出震耳欲聋的轰鸣。 水库的边缘,坐着一个体型巨大,周身覆盖着厚厚苔藓的“岩龟”。它看起来已经沉睡了很久,但当毛球的脚尖碰到石面时,岩龟缓缓睁开了眼睛,那双眼睛像两潭深不见底的湖水。 第四章:岩龟的考验与夜光苔藓 “陌生的小不点们,”岩龟的声音如同山体摩擦,沉闷而悠远,“你们打扰了我的沉眠。告诉我,你们为何要唤醒沉睡的溪水?” 毛球鼓起勇气,上前一步,用最恭敬的语气解释了他们的困境,以及对夜光苔藓的需求。 岩龟听完,发出低沉的叹息:“月光谷的平衡,并非由你们这些匆忙的生命决定。我在这里,是为了守护水流,确保它流向大地深处,滋养那些看不见的根系。石阵的夜光苔藓,是大地能量的显现,只有真正的‘平衡’者,才能取走。” “平衡?”吱吱嘀咕着,心想他们只是一群找食物的小动物,哪来的什么平衡。 岩龟接着说:“想要通过,你们必须展示你们的‘力量之源’。你们三人,各自代表了速度、智慧与耐力。证明你们的优势,并非仅仅为了自己。如果你们能共同完成一个任务,我便为你们打开闸门。” 任务很简单,却极度考验团队的协作:岩龟的后背上,长着三块被厚重苔藓覆盖的特殊矿石,它们需要同时被取下,并按特定的顺序放置到水库边缘的三个凹槽中。矿石很重,且位置极高。 毛球利用他矫健的身手,攀爬到最高点,他的目标是中间的“速度之石”。吱吱则利用他绘制的岩石裂缝图,找到了一个极小的、能够承载重量的立足点,去触碰左侧的“智慧之石”。而呱呱,则负责最吃力的工作——他利用自己的强健肌肉,顶住右侧那块最沉重的“耐力之石”,并等待时机。 这不是单纯的力量比拼。毛球必须精确计算自己跃起的时机,以确保不会因为自身的移动而晃动到岩龟的身体。吱吱需要计算好自己在立足点上的停留时间,避免岩石滑落。 在毛球一声令下后,三人同时发力。毛球敏捷地取下矿石,吱吱精准地将其抛向指定的凹槽,而呱呱,几乎是在极限的痛苦中,将那块沉重的矿石稳稳地推入了最后一个凹槽。 三声清脆的“咔哒”声响起,水库的闸门缓缓升起,银光溪的水流,带着地下特有的清凉与力量,重新奔涌而出,流向月光谷。 第五章:石阵的低语与归途 水流恢复后,岩龟满意地点了点头:“你们明白了,真正的力量,在于协同。去吧,石阵在等待你们。” 顺着恢复的溪流,他们很快抵达了回声石阵。石阵由巨大的、光滑的玄武岩构成,它们在月光下闪烁着微弱的蓝光。按照岩龟的指引,他们找到了石阵中央,那里覆盖着一层厚厚的、散发着柔和绿光的植物——夜光苔藓。 毛球小心翼翼地收集着苔藓,它散发出的微光,不仅为他们照亮了返回的道路,更带来了一种宁静的力量。他们不再感到疲惫或恐惧。 带着收获的喜悦,他们踏上了归途。在回家的路上,迷雾似乎也变得稀薄了许多,银光溪水声潺潺,一切都恢复了应有的秩序。这次冒险,不仅让他们找到了宝贵的资源,更让他们深刻理解了,在充满挑战的世界里,信任、智慧和协作,才是真正的指南针。他们知道,未来的冬天,他们将更加强大和团结。