The Lion and the Mouse and the Invaders from Zurg

Far out Fables

by Benjamin Harper, Pedro Rodríguez (Illustrator)

Can a tiny mouse save a mighty lion... from alien invaders? Thunder the Lion is leading a resistance group to fight the fierce Zurg who occupy Earth. Daisy the Mouse rushes to join the cause only to be laughed out by the lion and his soldiers. But when Thunder is taken prisoner, it's up to Daisy to rescue him. Can Daisy and Thunder team up to drive back the extraterrestrial threat once and for all? In this Far Out Fables adventure, Aesop's The Lion and the Mouse receives a playful, modern twist. Experience a classic fable like never before in this full-color graphic novel retelling for kids!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Fantasy

40 pages, Library Binding

Published August 1, 2017

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many tropes; not the strongest in the Far Out Fables series. Tells the "bossy" moral of the original story well, though. And has the usual excellent back matter to extend the opportunities to learn more.

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's graphic novel loosely based on the fable of the lion and the mouse. Aliens invade Zootopia. The lion leader of the resistance dismisses a mouse fighter as being too small, but she later helps him escape prison and come up with a plan to repel the invaders. The art is good.

[Jaroslav Kacmar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Graphics are nice, the story is OK, given the original story it had to work with, but overall is not something to be remembered or read again.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was a good adaptation of the original fable.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thunder the Lion leads the resistance against the invading Zurg forces and seems to be the unbeatable local hero. Daisy Mouse wants to join the resistance but Thunder just laughs at her and considers even eating her. She pleads with him to let her go for one day she may be able to help him. Though laughing at the idea, Thunder lets her go. Then the Zurg forces capture Thunder and put him in an impenetrable prison. It seems all hope is lost, or is it?

A very imaginative scifi retelling of Aesop's Lion and the Mouse fable that probably will resonate more with modern middle graders than the original. It's a very entertaining read. Highly recommended to those covering fables, scifi fans, and reluctant readers.

Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. There's fighting over the planet, but this is kept non-graphic.