We all know the story: Three bind mice...See how they run. They all ran after the farmer's wife who cut off their tails with a carving knife...Now, in this tidy little book, first published over a hundred years ago, are all the gruesome and surprising details. The mice have names - Frisky, Graysey, and Longtail. And they are 'very dutiful and loving little mice who seldom did anything very naughty to make their mother scold them.' But Mrs. Grumpy will leave out mince pies and slabs of cheese, and that's too tempting for even the best of little mice. Their exploits become bolder and bolder, yet they escape cat and kittens with ease. They'd probably still be at it but for a large basin of vinegar and the terrible carving knife of Mrs. Grumpy. This version of the familiar story is happily graced with illustrations by Winslow Homer, one of the greatest 19th century painters. These little treasures, originally published with the text as part of the Good Child's Library in 1858, have been lost to the world for many years. Their rediscovery and the publication of this new edition by Oxford brings them to a contemporary audience as exceptional examples of Homer's skill as an illustrator.
In his introduction, Maurice Sendak writes of his long-time interest in Homer and how he has fallen in love with this story that 'literally gets away with murder.' The afterword by Joseph W. Reed discusses Homer's work and the significance of these illustrations. But the pictures themselves are the true stars here. In every aspect, this small book - almost forgotten - is a gem for children and adults, and a significant addition to Winslow Homer's body of work.
This is Book 1 in the Iona & Peter Opie Library of Children's Literature Series. See all Iona & Peter Opie Library of Children's Literature books here.
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