A review by leahthebooklover
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This is a profound philosophy book masquerading as a children's book. It's a deceptively simple story about a boy trying to find his way home. He encounters a mole and they become friends, even though the mole is a little fixated on cake. Then they meet a fox, who is at first angry and frightening, but only because he is hurt and frightened. Eventually he becomes a quiet and thoughtful new friend. The last character to enter the story is the horse, who is big, and gentle, and has a wonderful secret. Each of these four friends has wisdom to share with each other, about kindness, love, courage, freedom, worthiness, friendship, perseverance, and more. The illustrations are mainly black and white (looks like ink) drawings, slightly messy in style. Occasionally a page has a more detailed drawing, colored with a muted watercolor wash. The text is also a slightly messy pen and ink cursive, so this is not a book that can easily be read by a young reader, but rather one that a parent or trusted adult will read to them, and it can hopefully open a door to some beautiful, heartfelt conversations between the reader and the read to. I highly recommend this "new classic". It would make a great gift.