While on a dangerous quest which requires her to take the form of different wild animals, a selfish young girl learns about compassion and generosity.

After choosing a husband for his sweet singing voice, a beautiful butterfly mourns the fact that he is swallowed by a fish, until a king in his underwear reunites the two.

In this version of the Spanish folktale, Medio Pollito, the half-chick, ventures from his safe barnyard home all the way to Madrid, aided by the friends that he helped along the way. Includes author's note about the tale.

"Folklorist Ana Cristina Herreros and visionary illustrator Violeta Lópiz spin a deeply feminist retelling of an old Spanish folktale in The True Story of a Mouse Who Never Asked for It. Through rhythmic text, highly conceptual illustrations, and a final visual narrative that is silent but revelatory, this YA picture book builds from deceptive simplicity to an explosive end. The story begins with a mouse, very neat and hard-working, who makes herself...