Mabel and the Big Wide World

Delightful, reassuring picture book about conquering fears and anxieties.

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 prizewinning 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.

"A heart-warming picture book aimed at younger children who are feeling anxious and scared. This book shows them that things are not always as scary as they seem; they just need to have a bit of courage and channel their inner Mabel! The images in this book are stunning, with detailed collages of landscapes, flowers, and life in and out of the barn. Not only is this book about overcoming anxieties but it can also be used as a reference book for exploring the seasons. Mabel and the Big Wide World is a truly wonderful book that any child below the age of 7 would be delighted to read."

"Jane Porter’s distinctive richly coloured, collage style illustrations together with Paul Stewart’s storytelling written from Mabel’s viewpoint make for a reassuring book to share with young children at home and in an educational setting."

"Crisp and appealing collage by Jane Porter, making patterned compositions and telling the story of Paul Stewart's Mabel and the Big Wide World, out 6 June. About a mouse who overcomes her reluctance to go outdoors."

"..This story should help alleviate the fears young children might have about stepping outside their comfort zone. Jane Porter’s collage style scenes showing Mabel’s journey towards self-confidence are a great complement to the author’s telling."

"The prizewinning duo of Paul Stewart and Jane Porter make ingenious use of the smallest member of a mouse family to tell a heart-warming story... Jane Porter's brilliant and lively illustrations perfectly capture how feelings of anxiety and uncertainty can change into delight, confidence and freedom.  A lovely positive story for sharing."

The illustrations are colourful, collage-style pictures. Mabel and her siblings, Martin, Marcel, Millicent, Max and Marjorie are all identified on the inside of the front cover, allowing children to spot them through the story and build an idea of their character. Children might enjoy creating their own mouse sibling - or a new family of mice using their own name and others starting with the same initial letter to draw pictures and create stories about.   A lovely positive story for sharing

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, described by Red Reading Hub as books that celebrate “courage, self-belief, acceptance, difference and friendship”. He lives in Brighton, England.

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 organisations, 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. She is the illustrator of three books for Otter-Barry Books, all with Paul Stewart - Wings!, Brian the Brave and A Little Bit of Hush. Jane lives in London.

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