The prolific and distinguished children's-book artist Ed Young often celebrates his Chinese heritage in his award-winning works. Seven Blind Mice, based on the old tale of the blind men and the elephant, is a blend of brilliant North American colors, Asian artistic simplicity, and universal fable. Set vividly against a solid black background, a rainbow of bright-colored mice, crafted with cut paper, contemplates the mysterious large object on the facing page. To the first mouse, a red one who ventures out on Monday, the elephant's foot is a huge red pillar. To the second mouse, a green one who goes on Tuesday, the trunk is a hissing green serpent.
Get it? As the prolonged riddle unfolds, young readers will be absorbing colors, days of the week, and ordinal numbers — as well as Young's characteristically subtle visual elegance. A+
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