The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

I love this book for its gentle, minimalist drawings reminding us to be present, to be brave, and to be compassionate.

It isn't a standard picture book, but a collection of vignettes that began as Charlie’s most popular Instagram posts. You can start on any page, but I read it straight through and loved the overall narrative as well.

This book is something that kids and adults can treasure for its beautiful ink drawings and timeless simplicity.

If there were one book I had to take to a desert island, this would be it. Every word and image is so poignant and touching that I want to frame every page and hang them all around the house. As Mackesy said, “All four characters represent different parts of the same person,” and it’s interesting to relate to different characters according to your mood. Not only has the talented Mackesy drawn beautiful illustrations of his four characters (he was a cartoonist for the Spectator and a book illustrator), his words are the perfect complement to inspire on days… show more.

I bought this book after seeing it recommended many times in a children's literature group, assuring that it was a perfect book for any age, and it certainly is. As a child, I think there are invaluable lessons to be learned from it. Having discovered it as an adult has seemed very interesting to me because, despite the fact that it has some common places, many other phrases are surprising. What I liked the most is that it forces you to stop and think about what is really important, something that sometimes we forget with the frenetic life that we… show more.

This is a refreshing quick read that reminds you about the importance of kindness and being a good person. This is one of my go-to gifts for family members and friends. The art is incredible in the book, but also the messaging just hits so close to home. You can easily relate to all of the characters. You can finish the book in 20 minutes, and it gives you a jolt of positivity.

I continue to be inspired by a vast array of new books on the market. This is for sure one of them. It’s the type of book you don’t need to read in any specific order. Instead, just open up to any page and be inspired by words and watercolors. An example from one page of the book,

“Sometimes I think you believe in me more than I do,” said the boy. “You’ll catch up,” said the horse.”

Wow! Giddy-up!! A fascinating book.

Shortly after we became friends, I received this book as a gift from the man who is now my husband and the father of my son. At the crossroads of poetry, art, and life wisdom, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is beyond categorization, combining depth, beauty, and simplicity.  That’s why it is, to me, such a powerful and moving book. The four unlikely friends are on a journey, like the prince, the pilot, and Santiago. They share with minimal words about the language of the heart: love and self-love, forgiveness, and the courage to ask for… show more.

This book is so gentle and lovely and simply a wonderful representation of the best of friendship and support. When we doubt ourselves, we should be so lucky to have Horse and Fox and Mole, even if they eat our cake. While this isn’t a story in a traditional sense, it feels genuine to me as a quiet moment between friends. “Asking for help isn’t giving up,” said the horse. “It’s refusing to give up.” Sometimes the best way you can help a friend is simply to be there and listen. 

Sometimes the simplest messages are the ones that hit home the hardest. This book won’t give you a step-by-step guide to tackling your anxiety but it will make you think and reflect. It will show you how you should treat yourself and encourage you to be more compassionate towards yourself. Along with the beautiful illustrations which help soothe you, the words seem to stick because there are fewer of them and therefore have more impact. It’s a beautiful, hopeful, inspiring book complete with a mole who likes to eat cake, and frankly, you can’t go wrong with that.