A mouse called Julian by Joe Todd Stanton

Julian had lived on his own in his little underground house for as long as he could remember, and being a mouse, it meant he kept himself safe from all the above-ground animals like Fox and Owl who wanted to eat him, and the underground animals like the rabbits, moles and badgers who just got in his way. He led a peaceful, trouble-free life and that was just the way he liked it. Until... one day Fox smashed himself through Julian's window, determined to make a meal of him! Except Fox got stuck and instead of having a meal of Julian, he had a meal with him!

How the story unfolds from there is a little reminiscent of both the Greek legend of Androcles and the Lion, and Aesop's fable of The Lion and the Mouse in which unlikely creatures become friends through helping each other out.

A charming story to share with young readers which may lead them on to those two classics and into the world of legends, fables and fairytales.

Themes: Mice, Foxes, Friendship.

Barbara Braxton