The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
A picture book for everyone, whether you are eighty or eight
A book of quiet, contemplative musing. Not a book to be rush when reading. Beautifully handwritten in cursive, giving you the feeling as if you are reading someone’s journal.
An artist’s journal about a boy and his three friends — the mole, the fox, and the horse. The story is set around the wilderness in the early spring. As the pages turn, the backdrop changes from day to night, sunny days to storms, treetops, streams to green pastures.
On each page, the author shares a conversation or a quote, always in the form of questions and answers.
“What do you think is the biggest waste of time,” asked the boy.
“Comparing yourself to others.” said the mole. “
The book can be read in any way, back to front or right in the middle.
Each page is like a chapter itself — making the reader pause and ponder their beliefs of life. Each scene is a self-discovery opportunity for readers to question deeper — Why are we here in this world? How do we want to live? How do we appreciate each other?
“I have realized why we are here.” whispered the boy.
“For cake?” asked the mole.
“To love.” said the boy
“And to be loved.” said the horse.
The conversations provide readers a glimpse of the trust and friendship between the boy and his friends. They are thoughtful and insightful, giving readers the feeling of a curious boy seeking answers to life.
Often the answers are logical, simple yet profound. Stuff that we adults have forgotten or found difficult to say in this hustling world, like kindness, courage, love, honesty. Good old fashion values, which are like lost ancient art in today’s materialistic world.
The pictures in the book are sketches by the author himself. Lines are kept to simple, clean black and white doodles with conversation in between. Occasionally you will see splashes of colors, with side notes of the author’s thoughts.
It’s no surprise that readers will find bits and pieces of themselves on each page. The author has successfully demonstrated that there is a common belief that bonds humans around the world.
It is truly a must read for all ages. The story covers friendship, relationships and life lessons for people of all ages.
Charlie Mackesy, who has been a cartoonist for the Spectator and a book illustrator for Oxford University Press, says the straightforward, heartfelt conversations between the characters in The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse were drawn from “conversations I’ve had with my friends about what life really means, what’s important; it was a way for me to think aloud on paper with words and drawings. All four characters represent different parts of the same person,” he explained further — extracted from The Guardian; A boy, a mole, a fox and a horse: the recipe for a Christmas bestseller.
An editor at Ebury, Laura Higginson mentioned — “No matter who you are, what age you are, what your belief system is, there are universal feelings and experiences which unite us all.”
Thank you for stopping by.
