The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Book Review

‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ is a 2019 bestselling illustrated book by Charlie Mackesy about the developing friendship between the four protagonists in the title. Originally published on the 10^th of October, the book is 128 pages of the most fascinating illustrations and story that will have you picking the book up again and again every time you want to relive the relationship between the boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse. Read on for a full review and more details about the book!

A piece by James Lovegrove in the Financial Times named ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ as one of his best 2019 pictures books; it is a bestseller, was shortlisted for the 2020 British Book Awards Non-fiction Lifestyle Book of the Year, is the 2019 Barnes & Noble Book of the Year, and it won the 2019 Waterstone Book of the Year.

Purchase your own copy HERE from Amazon!

According to Penguin, “‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse’ isn’t a conventional picture book. Rather than a linear narrative, it’s a collection of quiet musings and conversations. The four titular characters meet one another and share each other’s confidence. It’s not aimed at any clear audience, and works as well for eight-year-olds as it does octogenarians…”

Read on to see how Charlie Mackesy ended up getting published by the team at Ebury in Penguin!

Book description of ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse’:

“Enter the world of Charlie’s four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most important life lessons. The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse have been shared millions of times online – perhaps you’ve seen them? They’ve also been recreated by children in schools and hung on hospital walls. They sometimes even appear on lamp posts and on cafe and bookshop windows. Perhaps you saw the boy and mole on the Comic Relief T-shirt, Love Wins? Here, you will find them together in this book of Charlie’s most-loved drawings, adventuring into the Wild and exploring the thoughts and feelings that unite us all.”

The best part about this book is that there is no specific age group recommended, because anyone can read this; from 7-year-olds to 30-year-olds, there is wisdom to be taken and messages to be understood or remembered for everyone. With its charming illustrations and great handwritten sentences, there is no way you cannot love this book.

I would personally give this book a five out of five because not only did I love reading it the first time, but I have already finished looking through it on my second round and will probably come back again for more! The illustrations are capturing, and the words are beautiful, I would recommend everyone to purchase this if you have not already.

If you would like to see more on Charlie Mackesy, then click HERE. For the best quotes from ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse’, click HERE.