We were thrilled to greet another children's picture book by the talented French author and illustrator Jean-Francois Dumont. We recommended three of his previous works: The Chickens Build a Wall, The Geese March in Step, and The Sheep Go On Strike. His parabolic creations usually have something meaningful to say about individuality and community life.
Edgar lives alone in a nest in an abandoned crate. His bad temper has turned off most of the other animals in the area. Then one day, he is irritated by a worm that seems to be following him. In order to escape him, he runs around a barn and then swims in a pond. When that doesn't work, Edgar tries to convince a mole, a woodpecker, and a pig to catch the earthworm and get it off his back.
Edgar's discovery is quite a realization leaving us with the moral that sometimes we are our own worst enemies in a world we perceive as dark and dangerous. The animals that this egocentric rat has alienated have the last laugh.
This morality tale is designed for children ages 4 to 8 years of age. As usual, it is well worth pondering after reading it through.
