Jumping Mouse

You may be able to tell my cover photo is an original Puffin Paperback from 1972-ish which I had to replace with the new hardback from Amazon. You can read this book to your children. You can enjoy it deeply yourself. Brian Patten's retelling is gorgeous, sad and soaringly hopeful. A new mystic. Patten was part of the 1960's Liverpudlian movement: The Merseysound. There were bands, like the Beatles, musicians, artists, actors, comedians, DJs and poets. I heard him reading his poetry in York one summer day in the 70's and I can only hear Jumping Mouse told in his Liverpudlian accent - it is lovely. Jumping Mouse is definitely one of my heros. He wanders far from the nest - like me. He listens to wise animals, old mice who have gone further than any mice before. But Jumping Mouse's sense of adventure is not satiated. He tries everything anew and his world is fresh and vibrant. Full of wonder like we all should be. This book, like the story it tells, has not aged at bit I am so glad it is still available."When they came to the edge of the river the mouse was amazed""And then he leapt up into the sky. He jumped higher than the flowers, and then the trees,nearly scraping his ears on the branches. He went higher and higher, and then across the trees he caught a glimpse of the Sacred Mountains" ... oh, and I'll leave the rest to your imagination ... or you can read the book. Captivatingly illustrated by Mary Moore. "Jumping Mouse felt so happy and free."

I have three different versions of this classic Native American story. Each has its special character to the story telling and this version has tender drawings and a more through read. I am over 50 and enjoy Harry Potter and The Code of Claw series greatly yet such books as Jumping Mouse always have a place in my heart.