The Story of the Jumping Mouse

Steptoe, John (1972). The Story of the Jumping Mouse. New York, New York: Scholastic.
This book is based on a Native American American legend. Mouse dreams of reaching the far off land that he has heard about in the stories. A magic frog names him Jumping Mouse and gives him the gift of powerful legs. When the mouse encounters a blinded bison he tries to use magic. He names the bison Eyes-of-a- Mouse. The bison regains his sight, but the mouse realizes that he is blind. The bison guided the mouse to the mountains but needed to leave him there. He used his magic again to give the gift of scent to the wolf, but he lost his own sense in the process. Mouse made it to the far off land, but despaired because he did not have all of his senses, but he still had hope. The magic frog returned and gave mouse a gift for his beautiful spirit. Mouse was turned into an eagle.
This book is illustrated in a monochromatic way. The illustrations are all in gray tones and white. This goes along with the simplicity of the tale. However the color scheme is contrasted by the amazing details of the pictures. The reader can see every blade of grass.