• Age: 4 to 8
• Grade: p to 3

A field mouse summons its inner strength in The Walk of the Field Mouse, a timeless picture book about taking on life’s many obstacles by award-winning creators Nadine Robert and Valerio Vidali.

One morning, out for one of its usual walks, a field mouse discovers something rather unusual: a mysterious blue object sitting at the foot of a big rock. As a group of animals gather to carefully inspect the object, they realize that a robin’s egg has rolled down from its nest all the way at the top.
Wondering who will roll it back up, the field mouse quickly volunteers, only to be met with laughter and mockery from its fellow animals. The field mouse, spurred on by a determination to prove them wrong, musters all of its strength to take on the Sisyphean task—but will it succeed?

Nadine Robert is a Canadian author and publisher. She began her career as a video game designer and director of animated films. Her first picture book, "Joseph Fipps" (Enchanted Lion) received a STARRED review from Publishers Weekly. Cofounder of publishing house Comme des geants, she has always had a strong passion for children’s illustrated books. She holds degrees in Education and Literature and she has translated a few picture books to French. She lives in Montreal Canada with her family.

Nadine Robert's profile page

Valerio Vidali is an Italian illustrator and picture book author, whose work has received numerous recognitions. His book The Forest (Enchanted Lion, 2018) was a New York Time’s Best Illustrated book of 2018, as was his book Jemmy Button, in 2013. His work has also received the Grand Prix of ILUSTRARTE, the International Biennal of Illustration; the CJ Picture Book Award; as well as honors from the American Society of Illustrators and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.His latest book Hundred (Kein & Aber 2018) is currently nominated for the German Children's Literature Award. Valerio currently lives and works in Porto, Portugal.

Valerio Vidali's profile page

"What looks like frustration and futility—the Sisyphean struggle—can be recast as an exercise in grit and optimism... In the determination of the little field mouse, 4- to 8-year-olds will find a worthy role model well-suited to the active, purposeful nature of springtime.”

The Wall Street Journal

"“Readers will take delight in the field mouse’s success and mentally put it in their storehouse of resources."

Canadian Review of Materials

"Any picture book that opens with words from Albert Camus has great ambitions . . . recalling Leo Leonni’s Frederick . . . One illustration makes quite an impact, with the tiny brown mouse somersaulting down the hill against wordless, double-page spread of sky blue."

Youth Services Reviews

"An epigraph quoting Camus (“One must imagine Sisyphus happy”) helps position the story, which champions persistence, even in the face of scorn, and highlights the quiet pride that can be part of doing something difficult."

Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Vidali’s digital art uses perspective beautifully to convey the massive effort undertaken by the field mouse as it struggles mightily to achieve its objective . . .
A powerful, folkloric tale of persistence and quiet dignity."

Kirkus, starred review