The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

This hardback is a work of art with writing rather than a book in the usual sense. It came into our house as a present from one son to another recently (2020). There was great disappointment on the part of my dyslexic son that he had been given a book but once he sat down he had it read in no time. (It only took me 15 or 20 minutes I would guess - it is there to be savoured). One has mixed feelings about it. On its own terms it is lovely and kind but maybe God (the creator of all boys, moles, foxes and horses) is conspicuous by his absence and there is a certain starkness, even loneliness that stalks the book, despite its positivity. A little research reveals, however, that Charles Mackesy is an atheist turned evangelical so perhaps show more this is just overhang from his past rather than anything else or perhaps I am just far too harsh on people, always expecting too much. show less

Well, this is exactly what it purports to be...a gentle incentive to love yourself, be kind always, and eat cake whenever possible. The drawings are exceptionally appealing; they have a not-quite-final look to them that goes well with the message that we are all works in progress, and it's OK if some of the rough edges still show. The book is simplistic in style and philosophy, but sometimes that's what's needed, like cake.

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

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Charlie Mackesy, 2019. What a beautiful book! My brother sent this to me last week when I was reading Voices from Chernobyl, and just looking at the cover was a soothing antidote for pain of that book. Mackesy has written and illustrated a charming, little book that is similar to The Little Prince, “But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart.” The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse share their secrets to love and life in simple prose. The whimsical illustrations fit the message perfectly. The font is thick cursive that I had a little deciphering at times. A lovely gift book for all, except the most jaded.

I received this book for free as part of an Instagram tour (TLC Book Tours specifically) I did to promote the book.

This book was absolutely amazing! I loved everything about it.

The story is very simple but very profound. There are lots of little pieces of wisdom sprinkled throughout that really hit me hard. For example, this was one of my favorite passages:

“Sometimes I feel lost,” said the boy.
“Me too,” said the mole, “but we love you and love brings you home.”

It reminded me a lot of Winnie the Pooh in the best possible way. It had the same innocence and spirit.

Even though this is such a short book, I fell in love with all 4 of the characters. I particularly loved the fox because even though he was very silent, I still show more felt his impact.

The illustrations in this are gorgeous. They’re whimsy and magical and just perfect, especially when accompanied with the handwritten text. The text was stylized so beautifully, they almost become part of the pictures.

Honestly, I think everyone should read this book. It’s such a comforting little book that everyone can benefit from reading. Young or old, everyone at every age can enjoy this.

Also, since the holiday season is approaching, this would make the perfect gift.

Overall, if you couldn’t tell, I LOVED this book and recommend it to readers of all ages. 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?