The Lion & the Mouse

Featuring an African-styled percussive soundtrack by Sazi Dlamini, this nonverbal iconographic adaptation of the classic Aesop's fable is based on the 2009 Caldecott Medal-winning book by author and illustrator Jerry Pinkney. Set in the Serengeti, the story finds poachers laying a trap for the King of the Jungle, who is later freed by an ingenious mouse. A fine retelling, with realistically-drawn animals and a winning theme of compassion, DVD extras include an interview with Pinkney and a behind-the-scenes segment on the soundtrack (with definitions of Zulu words correlated to the pictures). Recommended. Aud: K, P. (J. Williams-Wood)