An adaptation of the Indian fable "The Blind Men and the Elephant" cleverly uses paper collage set on a black background. The men are recast here as seven brightly colored mice who argue about what the Something is after each one comes in contact with a different part of the elephant. Young has created the elephant out of seven separate pieces of paper which correspond to each mouse's part. Viewers only see the elephant as a whole once the mice have put their heads together to figure out what the Something is. The well-paced text and large, clear illustrations will make this a good choice for reading aloud to groups of preschoolers. (Ages 3-6)

"It's a pillar," says one. "It's a fan," says another. One by one, the seven blind mice investigate the strange Something by the pond. And one by one, they come back with a different theory. It's only when the seventh mouse goes out-and explores the whole Something-that the mice see the whole truth. Based on a classic Indian tale, Ed Young's beautifully rendered version is a treasure to enjoy again and again.

"Immensely appealing."(The Horn Book, starred review)