Mabel and the Big Wide World

Mabel the mouse lives in a barn with her brothers and sisters and outside is the big, wide world. The other mice love exploring and playing outside but Mabel is afraid... of great big HAIRY things and teeny weeny scary things. In fact she’s afraid of everything outside. ＂I’ll just stay in here＂ says Mabel. ＂For ever!＂

But when a dazzlingly beautiful rainbow appears outside in the sky, will Mabel dare to brave the outside world to get a better look? The prize-winning duo of Paul Stewart and Jane Porter make ingenious use of the smallest member of a mouse family to tell a heart-warming story about conquering fear of the Big Outside, but also about helping others.

They beautifully portray that satisfying moment in every child’s life when they can say to a younger sibling, ＂That’s what I used to say ...＂ Going out and experiencing new things can seem scary to start with, but missing out is worse. Jane Porter’s brilliant and lively illustrations perfectly capture how feelings of anxiety and uncertainty can change into delight, confidence and freedom.

Jane Porter is a past winner of the London Book Fair Illustration Prize. When not busy illustrating, she works with the National Literacy Trust, English Heritage and other organizations, in art sessions with children. She uses pen and inks and collage techniques to make images that reflect her love of animals and the country-side. Paul Stewart is an internationally bestselling children’s author. With Chris Riddell he is co-creator of The Edge Chronicles, published in over 30 languages. His picture book stories, with Jane Porter, for Otter-Barry Books are Wings!, Brian the Brave, and A Little Bit of Hush.