A predictable story with a clear moral lesson. Mouse, hearing rumors that snakes are dangerous, begins to fear his own friend Snake. In fact, he is so busy avoiding Snake that he falls down a hole and injures himself. Although his other friends try to help, in the end, it is only Snake who can rescue him. After he has recuperated, Mouse takes Snake a bouquet of flowers in a gesture of renewed friendship, which Snake graciously accepts. While the story provides opportunities to discuss gossip, friendship and forgiveness, it’s the illustrations that make the book something special. The collograph technique makes each animal character—as well as the leaves, grass and trees that serve to indicate the natural setting—appear to possess its own interesting texture. Set against stark white backgrounds, the animal characters are large and bold, painted in rich and vivid watercolor. Touches like the rosy blush on Mouse’s face when he realizes that Snake has rescued him give the somewhat stylized figures the necessary spark of life. (Picture book. 4-8)
