The Lion and the Mouse by Aesop retold by Mark White

Genre: Fable/Picture Book
Age range: 4-9
Summary: This book is in no way offensive to any age group. It is the perfect example of how flattery will get you everywhere. While the lion is taking his nap, a little mouse crosses his path perfectly aware that if the lion wakes up he will surely be eaten. Inevitably, the lion awakes to find the little snack. But the mouse pleads with the lion. He says, "Have mercy, for you are king of the forest, and I am just a humble little creature." The replies that he is indeed king of the forest and sets the mouse free. Therefore, because of the mouse's art of flattery, he was able to live. To finish the story, the mouse feels indebted to the lion and says that if there is ever anything he can do for the lion that he more than happy to help. The lion looks at the mouse's small stature and feels that he could never need the assistance of such a small creature. The mouse's offer still stands and scurries off. Later, the mouse begins to hear something weird. He then finds the lion up in a tree, caught in a hunter's trap. The little mouse is small, but regardless, he begins to chew through the tough ropes of the hunter's rig. Eventually, the lion is set free and gives the mouse his due. Perhaps the moral flattery will get you everywhere is not the only moral of this story, for it has many. One of which is even if you are the smallest creature, you can do big things. Secondly, if you do a nice thing for someone it will come back to you when you need it most.