Orris is an enterprising rat. He has made himself a cosy nest in a hole in a wall of an old barn. He has one comfortable slipper which he uses as a bed. The walls are covered with paper from old books and he has a yellow marble and a sardine can.
On the label there is a picture of a king, and it seems as though he is looking straight into the eyes of Orris.
Orris hears the cries of a young owl who has become trapped in a rat trap in the barn. What should Orris do? Owls, even young ones like Timble, eat rats like Orris but then again, the king on his sardine tin keeps saying:
"Make the good and noble choice"
Can a small rat set an owl free? What might happen next? How does the telling of stories help these two find a way to solve their dilemma?
The last page of this book made my heart sing!
Oh, and find some butterscotch sweets to enjoy after you close the cover on this truly special book about friendship, kindness and courage.
On Instagram Carmen Mok wrote about Orris and Timble and she said the highlights of reading this book in her family are:
- The charming and relatable character Orris the rat has a curmudgeonly exterior but a good heart.
- The lesson about choosing kindness, even when it’s hard or potentially dangerous.
- Beautiful watercolor illustrations by Carmen Mok bring the characters and setting to life.
- The book subtly highlights the power of storytelling in forming friendships.
- DiCamillo’s trademark ability to create heartwarming stories filled with real emotion makes it a perfect read for children and adults alike.
You probably already know I am a huge fan of ALL books by Kate DiCamillo. I have read her two new books just this week. Along with loving her work I am also always on the hunt for books like Orris and Timble - junior or easy chapter books, with illustrations, short chapters and most importantly of all - a very satisfying story. Orris and Timble ticks all these boxes and it should be added to your library NOW so it can sit alongside these books about other unlikely friends. I do recommend shopping around for a good price here in Australia. I have seen this book listed between AUS$20 and AUS$35.
Here is the website for the illustrator Carmen Mok. You can see inside Orris and Timble here. Watch a five minute video with Kate DiCamillo and Carmen Mok.
Blurb from Candlewick: Orris the rat lives alone in an old barn surrounded by his treasures, until the day his solitude is disrupted by a sudden flutter of wings and a loud screech. A small owl has gotten caught in a trap in the barn. Can Orris “make the good and noble choice” (as the king on his prized sardine can might recommend) and rescue the owl, despite the fact that owls and rats are natural enemies? And if he does, will he be ready for the consequences?
On each page of this book Carmen Mok adds a hand drawn frame with some delicate flowers beside the page number. It is a tiny detail, but it added to my delight over the design of this book. Here are some other books illustrated by Canadian illustrator Carmen Mok:
The second book from this series will be published in May 2025.
We sell a brand of sardines here in Australia which also features a king. This image could be a way to introduce this book to your library group.
After reading Orris and Timble try to find a copy of The Lion and the Mouse - either a picture book edition or from an Aesop anthology.
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