Only Almond could so clearly show mystical and imaginative acts as physical, and in a story-telling voice that's musical, forward-moving and perfect in its surprises. Make sure to look into the author and subject of this one because it isn't for the average reader/family. He is known worldwide as the multi- award-winning author of Skellig , Clay , and many other novels, stories, and plays, including two previous titles illustrated by Dave McKean. Along the way, they'll be dazzled by the lush lyricism of the tale and the wild emotional swings from page to page, as well as McKean's creative use of mixed materials and compositional space. There is the fable like quality to Mouse Bird Snake Wolf which can be found in many of Almond’s works – in particular I found it interesting that the last thing that the children create given that they were free to make anything they wanted was a monstrous wolf.

In the end, the Gods decide to make Mice, Birds and snakes but they think Wolves should not be made. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Mouse Bird Snake Wolf is one of the most beautifully constructed graphic novels I have ever had the opportunity to read. David Almond's mythological story about children pitching in when the gods got lazy after creation, offers plenty for everyone, youngest to oldest, to discuss. The gods have created a world – they’ve built mountains, a sea and a sky – and now their days are filled with long naps in the clouds (and tea and cake).

His first book, Sleepless Nights, a collection of short stories for adults, was published in 1985 and was followed in 1997 by a second volume, A Kind of Heaven. Even I struggled to understand the story that was intentionally 'written on many levels' as described by CLPE. David Almond was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1951 and grew up in the small mining town of Felling.

From the stunning cover art hinted at by the faux-die-cut jacket to a last glimpse of the louche and negligent gods and the wolf lurking in the darkness deep underground, a fascinating, provocative collaboration. Dave McKean is a world-renowned artist, designer, and film director who has illustrated several books for children, including Coraline , The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish , and The Wolves in the Walls , all by Neil Gaiman, and two prior titles by David Almond. That's until Harry, Sue and Little Ben begin to fill the gaps of the world: with a mousy thing, a chirpy thing and a twisty legless thing. A powerful and thought-provoking text, illustrated in graphic novel-style, which will enable children to explore the beauty and dangers of nature as well as the importance of boundaries and self-restraint. While I'm not much of an artist or illustration enthusiast, I found myself staring endlessly into Dave Mckean's art while possible class discussion points kept tumbling out of my head.

As the children's ideas take shape, the power of their visions proves to be greater than they, or the gods, could ever have imagined.

The Gods are happy with their creation, they’ve built the sea, sky, mountains and many other magnificent things to fill the earth…but now they are tired and require sleep.You could say that this is Almond and McKean's most beautiful effort yet, but just know that beautiful has its own dark and wondrous meaning in their hands. In 2010 he received the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the world's most prestigious prize for children's authors. David Almond is the winner of the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award, the most prestigious award in international children's literature. His children’s novel My Name is Mina (2010), a prequel to Skellig, was nominated for a 2012 Carnegie Medal.

David Almond is the author of Skellig, Bone Music, Island, The Savage, The Tightrope Walkers, A Song for Ella Grey, The Dam, The Colour of the Sun, and many other novels, stories, picture books, opera librettos, songs and plays. I would recommend this book because it has good pictures to go along with the story and really let's you see what is going on in the story.In my opinion Mouse Bird Snake Wolf is a precious gift to the world – a quick read but one you will never forget. McKean’s illustrations appear in books by authors such as Neil Gaiman, David Almond, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King to name a few. The contorted beauty of McKean's figures and Almond's intense, twisty narrative will keep readers right on the edge of comfort before the clouds clear. As the children’s ideas take shape, the power of their visions proves to be greater than they, or the gods, could ever have imagined. Mouse Bird Snake Wolf is a 2013 graphic novel, written by David Almond and illustrated by David McKean.