The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

This is a book you can read in a few minutes, and it’s one to read over and over when you need a dose of sweetness and love. I was immediately besotted when I read the author’s dedication to his “lovely kind mum” and his “wonderful dog Dill,” and I could hear a gentle, accented voice as I read the intro.
On a bad day, the thoughts and philosophy of the boy and his animal friends might not have hit me the same way. Reading it today, sitting outside on a glorious summer Saturday, I just felt like I was being hugged by a book.
The artwork has an intentionally unfinished look to it on a lot of the pages, and on others, it’s so pretty I want a print of it to hang on my wall.
I think this will be an excellent book to give as a show more gift, and I plan to do so many times. show less

Summary: A graphic novel of the friendship of these four creatures who affirm the basic values of friendship, kindness, self-worth, and the love of cake!

I was in a group recently talking about books when someone asked if I had read The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse and I had to admit that I had not heard of it and joked that it sounded like one of those cognitive tests our docs like to give the over-65 crowd to test our short-term memory. Several others in the circle nodded and raved about how good this was for anyone from 8 to 80. I could stop my review right here and say, “what they said.” But I won’t.

What is it that makes so wonderful this roughly sketched (and occasionally painted) book with hand-written text show more supposedly smudged where the dog placed its paws and a tea cup stain left its mark? The boy and the three animals remind us of Christopher Robin and his ensemble.

The story traces the gathering of the four as the boy first meets mole, who lives in search of cake. Then they encounter a fox, caught in a trap, threatening to eat mole if he gets loose. Realizing the plight of the fox, mole gnaws the wire holding the fox. Later, they encounter a wise horse is winged.

But I think there are two things that captivate. One is the simple but profound responses of the creatures to each other, often to questions.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

” ‘Kind,’ said the boy”

” ‘What do you think success is?‘ asked the boy.”

” ‘To love,’ said the mole.”

We learn not to compare oneself to others, of the unique worth of each one, and to listen to dreams more than fears. We learn of the kindness of being kind to and forgiving oneself. The horse tells us the bravest thing he ever said is ‘Help” and that he was strongest in his weakness. He tells the boy he knows all about him and loves him still.

The other thing is that each is on a quest, the boy for home, the mole for cake, the fox in search of prey and the horse to fly without making others jealous. In each other they find what they seek, and yet that which is more–unconditional love.

Perhaps I’ve already said more than enough about a book you may read in 15 minutes but may savor for a lifetime, a contemporary Little Prince. This is a wonderful book to give those who aren’t readers. The author describes himself as such a person and yet has spun a captivating tale that in its simplicity, its quiet, reflective voice reminds us of what matters most, what endures, and is most true of each of us. show less

This book isn’t on my shelves, it was a Christmas gift for a loved one—one that I had read four times before I finally wrapped it. I get many newsletters, reviews, and personal notes from publishers, authors, poets, and bookselling friends from all over. I started hearing about this book long before it was in the form of a book, back when it was scattered sketches and words on Instagram, where it went viral. By the time I bought it as a gift, it had been on one hell of a trip. It had become number one on the bestseller list, was the book of the year for both the Waterstones and Barnes & Noble chains, and acclaimed as one of the premier gift books of the year. The book was up against other finalists like The Nickel Boys and Margaret show more Atwood.
The book is special in many ways. Physically, it a special hardcover, filled with nice quality paper, some very stylized drawings, and a very special hand drawn text. The text is loose, much like a fable, but it’s not limited by its style to any particular age group. It brought tears to the young girl/woman I bought it for, as well as to myself, someone almost five times her age.
I know an area bookseller who I respect, and as we discussed books, he picked this book up and told me that he was sold on it because by about page four, one of the characters spoke of his goal in life was to be considered kind. Being kind is big in my life. I think we all need to work towards making the world a kinder place. It’s that obvious kindness and sensitivity that lead people dealing with patients suffering from PTSD and other like conditions, to start successfully using those Instagram images and words.
Charlie Mackesy, the book’s British author/illustrator has been a cartoonist and graphic novelist, as well as a book illustrator for Oxford University Press. While living in Africa, he helped many low-income people in Zambia become beekeepers and lift themselves up economically. He has also worked with Nelson Mandela and Comic Relief on other projects.
I became rather fixated on the book and its creator, watching a number of different online interviews and stories. The image that sticks in my mind is the man working in his leafy and cluttered backyard at a small table. He was quickly creating those rough and sensitive sketches with black ink, as the leaves fell and blew around his feet. It’s probably not the technical and legal definition of organic, but it was so natural.
I’m not going to tell you the story, as the entire book is only 128 pages, and the word count on most pages is under twenty words. The book is a special experience; one that I wish Vicky could have had before she died. Make the effort, find the book, and check it out. show less

A quick read, and yet one also done slowly. This book, with eloquent inks and watercolors by Charlie Mackesy, is a meditation on friendship, kindness, and fortitude. I've always been something of a cynic, but right now, I'm feeling that way more than ever. (Those "we're all in this together" kinds of ads make me incredibly angry because they are LIES.) For some reason, though, the pithy wisdom and positivity of this book didn't aggravate me. Maybe that's because of the sheer beauty of the illustrations, or that a horse is involved. In any case, the words made me smile rather than scowl. This was a good way to start the first day of 2021.

What a hot piece of garbage! It’s like someone threw up undigested cliché worn out phrases from a low-quality self-help book all over you and the only redeeming quality of this thing is cute illustrations. The book itself must be the answer to the question it asks : What do you think is the biggest waste of time?

What a hot piece of garbage! It’s like someone threw up undigested cliché worn out phrases from a low-quality self-help book all over you and the only redeeming quality of this thing is cute illustrations. The book itself must be the answer to the question it asks : What do you think is the biggest waste of time?

I'm a primary school teacher. This year our school decided that we were going to use this book for world book day as a common theme for each class' work, which was how I came to read it. I'd heard about it previously of course - who hadn't after Christmas 2019 (Waterstones Book of the year, popular stocking filler/go to gift etc.) and had even thought about buying it if a second hand one came about.

I've now read it.

I don't get it.

I don't necessarily mean that I don't understand why people love the book, but more so why people can't see it for what it is - a (in my opinion) publisher influenced money spinning collection of fragmentary and incomplete, tenuously linked platitudes which would be more at home on little pieces of paper show more stuffed in fortune cookies than on the pages of a national book award winner marketed somewhat as a book for children! (Why children? Children are not in need of mawkish platitudes played on heartstrings of mistakes, regrets and sentimentality)

The mystery continued and became rather more complicated however, when I downloaded the audiobook version. I began to notice that Charlie Mackesey's reading (which was well done, he has a very engaging voice by the way) contained a considerably more rounded story. By all accounts, he had used the instagram snapshots which made his book so widely loved, and filled out the twee philosophical musings of a boy and three animals into a coherent and - get this - enjoyable story!

So I ask you.

WHY WASN'T THIS THE BLOOMIN' BOOK VERSION TOO?!?!

It was infinitely better, infinitely more accomplished and everything the book should have been.

Which leads me to this dual frustration.

1. Why is the audiobook, which is so much better, not the book?

2. Why don't/can't people discern that the actual book is severely lacking 'stuff'.

I mean, it's so obvious isn't it? Is it an 'ignorance is bliss' scenario? - that without hearing the better version the existing one maintains some sort of illusory greatness? Yet to me, the book was so evidently weak, how could this be true?

I don't know. I feel like the guy who is well aware that the proverbial emperor's marching about in his underpants.

Suffice to say, all the school loved it, as did the children. Ultimately, I am not one to ignore the greater value held in inspiring young readers to love books and any book that does so is incredibly valuable. So, take my criticism with a pinch of salt, I'll just avert my eyes!

p.s. My ire isn't toward Charlie Mackesy since he's respectfully made accomplished segements/pages of art (not to mention a commendable audiobook story - ha!) He seems like a good guy. My ire is rather aimed at the publishing world and how they and the reading public create a reading climate that heralds such works. Let's have higher expectations, greater discernment and, as a result, a greater quality of book winning national awards. show less