[Review] A Very Special Mouse and Mole by Joyce Dunbar; illustrated by James Mayhew

First, let me say that the art in this book is beautiful.

Now for the stories, of which there are three:

Half a Banana and Preposterous Puddle: Mole is portrayed as a bit of a selfish, whiny twat. Mouse is constantly trying to appease him, but the relationship is obviously one-sided. This is not a healthy representation of what a friendship should be. Disappointing and very outdated social mores.

Pebbles: Despite my dislike of the first two stories, the third, while a bit depressing, did ultimately have an uplifting message about self-worth and individuality.

Note: I received this book as an ARC. It is scheduled to be released Nov 1, 2023. However, from what I can see, this book appears to be a reprinting of a book from 2019.

3 stars