Synopsis
Little Mole has an enormous question: How big is the world? He knows there’s only one way to find out: leave the molehill and see for himself. And so Little Mole circles the globe, from the frozen north to the vast desert, the tall cities to the huge mountains, the great jungles to the thick forests. Everywhere he goes he meets fascinating animals and discovers new lands. But in the end, as with all little ones, he realizes that no matter how big the world is, there’s no place like home.
Britta Teckentrup’s luminous art captures the beauty of diverse landscapes, the charm of a menagerie of beasts, and the appeal of one very special, childlike mole.
Judith ConstantinidesCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal
PreS-K
Little Mole poses the titular question and his papa suggests that he go find out. His friends answer his question in terms of their own worlds, gradually expanding the perspective from the little spider's answer, "My web is the world," to the great whale's reply, "I have swum in this ocean all my life, and I have never seen the end." Riding on the leviathan's back, Little Mole sees a great deal of the world and returns home to his own molehill, telling his papa that the world is "as big as you want it to be," as he snuggles down to sleep. The oversize pictures display large, bold animals, etc., in the style of Eric Carle or Leo Lionni, set against backgrounds of bright color and textured design. Although the story is slight, the book is handsomely produced and the large format makes it definitely a candidate for storytime.