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The Story Of Jumping Mouse, written and illustrated by John Steptoe is a 1953 picture book published by HarperCollins. The Story Of Jumping Mouse was a Caldecott honor book in 1985 and was Steptoe's first Caldecott Honor Medal a total of two during his career. John Steptoe first Caldecott Honor Medal was in 1988 for Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale, which he both authored and illustrated. John Steptoe won the Coretta Scott King book Awards in 1982 for Mothers Crocodile:An Uncle Amadous Tale and Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale in 1988. There are at least three other extent versions of the tale in native american mythology.

Description
The story, written by Steptoe, is told in narrative point of view and is a story of a young mouse adventure to seek the far off land, a desert beyond the river. Being aware of the dangers that live in the sky the young mouse begins to seek the far off land.

Synopsis
An young mouse is determined after hearing stories of the far off land. Being more than a question of need the mouse felt like it was something he had to do. As the mouse explores to discover the new land the mouse encounters with a frog allowing him magically gain a special ability of jumping high to help the mouse reach the far off land. As the journey continues the jumping mouse loses his body senses after selflessly helping other animals such as a bison and a wolf. Losing his ability to see and smell he is concerned how he will manage to live in the far off land. He then encounters with the frog he met in the beginning of his journey and after being given the queue to jump the mouse gains a special ability to fly and transform into an eagle in the far off land.

Critical Reception
Critics of Kirkus Reviews think of it perhaps as a demonstration of art's transforming power, the weaknesses of the tale (and the telling) not-withstanding. The editorial review for barnes and noble describes that, The detailed pencil illustration truly make this magical story "jump" off the page. School library journal ( starred review ) describes it beautifully written and illustrated.3^ Review quote.