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The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse Hardcover – 10 Oct. 2019
Charlie Mackesy (Author) See search results for this author |
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Discover the very special book that has captured the hearts of millions of readers all over the world.
'A wonderful work of art and a wonderful window into the human heart' Richard Curtis
A book of hope for uncertain times.
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.
- Print length128 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions17.4 x 2.3 x 22.4 cm
- PublisherEbury Press
- Publication date10 Oct. 2019
- ISBN-101529105102
- ISBN-13978-1529105100
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Product description
Review
Charlie Mackesy's mesmerizing debut combines the simplicity of 'The Giving Tree', magic of 'The Velveteen Rabbit' and the curiosity of 'Paddington' -- Elisabeth Egan ― The New York Times
Simply, the world needs Charlie's work right now.
-- Miranda HartLove, friendship and kindness - this book speaks a universal language. -- Bear Grylls
A wonderful work of art and a wonderful window into the human heart. -- Richard Curtis
Pure Joy ― London Evening Standard
The world that I am required to inhabit is this one. But the world that I long to inhabit is the one that Charlie Mackesy has created. -- Elizabeth Gilbert
Those in need of peace will find it between the covers of this elegant picture book
for adults and children
You will not be able to buy a more beautiful book for Christmas for somebody you love -- Chris Evans
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Charlie began sharing conversations between the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse on his social media channels in early 2018. He published The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse in late 2019 and the book has since brought comfort and joy to over seven million readers worldwide.
Charlie collaborates with a number of charities, including Comic Relief - he created the iconic 'Love Wins' t-shirt - as well as the NHS, Choose Love, WWF and The Samaritans. During the pandemic he donated prints, books, drew on hospital walls and posted messages of support to NHS workers, which he continues.
Charlie began his career as a cartoonist for The Spectator and a book illustrator for Oxford University Press. He spent time in America as a portrait painter and ran art therapy workshops for Alzheimer's sufferers and Holocaust survivors. He lived and painted in South Africa, and collaborated with Nelson Mandela on a lithograph project, 'The Unity Series'. And worked with Richard Curtis on the set of Love Actually to create a set of drawings to be auctioned for Comic Relief. Away from art, Charlie co-runs a social enterprise, Mama Buci in Zambia. His work features in books, private collections and public spaces, including Highgate Cemetery in London, in hospitals, prisons, churches and university colleges around the UK, and in women's safe houses around the world.
He lives in Suffolk with his dog Barney.
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Product details
- Publisher : Ebury Press; 1st edition (10 Oct. 2019)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 128 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1529105102
- ISBN-13 : 978-1529105100
- Reading age : 11+ years, from customers
- Dimensions : 17.4 x 2.3 x 22.4 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 44 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 1 in Friendship (Books)
- 2 in Fantagraphics
- 2 in Image Comics
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Charlie Mackesy was born during a snowy winter in Northumberland. He has been a cartoonist for The Spectator and a book illustrator for Oxford University Press. He has collaborated with Richard Curtis for Comic Relief, and Nelson Mandela on a lithograph project, “The Unity Series.” He has lived and painted in South Africa, Southern Africa and New Orleans, and co-runs a social enterprise, Mama Buci, in Zambia, which helps families of low and no income to become beekeepers. He lives in London but is often in Suffolk.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2019
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On a practical note, the text of the book is written in the authors own handwriting, which is nice but some people with additional needs might struggle to read it.
What really disappointed me is the content, which in my view is vacuous weak sentiment with no actual substance behind it. Reading it feels like scrolling through the 'inspirational quote' tag on Pinterest, it's a collection of tid-bits that sound meaningful at first glance plastered across an attractive picture. But then when you stop to think about it for a second there isn't actually much of value there.
For example 'Sometimes I feel lost' said the boy. 'Me too,' said the Mole 'But we love you and love brings you home'.
What does that actually mean?
I do see what they are getting at, and the idea of 'home' being a feeling rather then an actual place is explored later in the book - but only in a series of glib sounding platitudes.
It's the sort of thing that if you were actually in a low place emotionally could make you feel worse - like being told 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' by a stranger when you've just had the most soul crushingly awful day of your life.
How do you feel when reading the above if you are one of those unfortunate children or adults who doesn't have a person in their life who loves them who can bring them 'home'? Even if you do, is it emotionally healthy to depend on the love of others to centre you if you feel 'lost'? How many people have ruined their lives pursuing relationships to fill the void of loneliness or their 'lost' feeling without addressing their own issues?
I think that's my main problem with this book, on the surface it all sounds lovely, short and pithy messages and ideas for living your life that you would want your child to absorb - but when you stop to think about the ideas it's actually presenting for a moment they are confused and unhelpful in some cases.

By Mango on 14 October 2019

Also, while I recognise the mole saying "eat cake" is only meant as a joke and isn't to be taken seriously, this is the only real practical advice in the book and seriously trivialises the mental health issues the book aims to draw attention to. These issues are serious and advice more meaningful than "eat cake" would have been appreciated.
Thank you Charlie for this gift you have given us all...
Just to add that the corner of the book arrived damaged (photo) which was an initial disappointment until I realised the book needed cherishing more because of that!
(But dont like to think of this having happened on a wider scale...

By Chris on 10 October 2019
Thank you Charlie for this gift you have given us all...
Just to add that the corner of the book arrived damaged (photo) which was an initial disappointment until I realised the book needed cherishing more because of that!
(But dont like to think of this having happened on a wider scale...
