"One day, a hungry fox
chased the mouse
past a forest
and in and out of a valley."
This tiny mouse is a traveler. It isn't until she finds herself in a wild asparagus patch that she stops and finds something 'warm and welcoming' and quite 'remarkable'. Because it is an open flame, the mouse builds a stove around it. It marks a special spot of warmth with its tall chimney.
An inquisitive and hungry fox sees the mouse, chases her and is suddenly stopped by the sight of the hot stove. The mouse follows up by creating a floor to surround the stove. She manages to keep it within the border of the fox's footprints. While on further travels, she is caught in a rainstorm, and notes that her floor is dry when she gets back. She builds a roof to mark the spot where the rain did not fall. Now, she has shelter, asparagus for soup, and her days are good.
An unexplained knocking sound has her looking for its source. Nothing! A door seems the solution and goes in where the knocking was heard. Opening the door, she makes welcome two new travelers carrying vegetables to add to her asparagus soup pot. Better than that, she now has friends, and would love to open her door to others.
Imagination and industriousness are wonderful things. Using her skills at both, this tiny mouse creates a place of comfort that begins with an asparagus patch and a single flame. Michael Hall's incredible talent for creating wonderful art from geometric forms is evident in this gentle and thoughtful story.
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