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  • Published: 10 October 2019
  • ISBN: 9781529105100
  • Imprint: Ebury Press
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 128
  • RRP: $45.00

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse




THE UK'S BEST SELLING ADULT NON-FICTION BOOK OF ALL TIME. The book that inspired the BAFTA and Oscar-award-winning short animated film available on BBC and Apple+.

A book for all ages, a book for all times, treasured by millions.

Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse was adapted into the BAFTA and Academy Award® winning animated short film.

#1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER · #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" asked the mole.
"Kind," said the boy.

In this beautiful book, follow the tale of a curious boy, a greedy mole, a wary fox and a wise horse who find themselves together in sometimes difficult terrain, sharing their greatest fears and biggest discoveries about vulnerability, kindness, hope, friendship and love.

"A wonderful work of art and a wonderful window into the human heart." Richard Curtis

  • Published: 10 October 2019
  • ISBN: 9781529105100
  • Imprint: Ebury Press
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 128
  • RRP: $45.00

About the author

Charlie Mackesy

British artist, illustrator and author Charlie Mackesy began his career as a cartoonist for The Spectator, before becoming a book illustrator for Oxford University Press. His award-winning work has featured in books, private collections, galleries and public spaces around the world. He worked with Richard Curtis on the set of Love Actually to create a set of drawings to be auctioned for Comic Relief, and with Nelson Mandela on a lithograph project, The Unity Series. His internationally bestselling book, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, was published in October 2019.

Charlie's words and illustrations have brought comfort to many and have been shared online around the world as well as on t-shirts for Comic Relief, magazine covers, street lamp posts, school classrooms, cafés, women's safe houses, prisons, hospital wards and as NHS hospital computer screensavers.

Away from art Charlie co-runs Mama Buci, a honey social enterprise in Zambia. He lives in London with his dog Barney.

Also by Charlie Mackesy

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Praise for The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse

Pure Joy

London Evening Standard

You will not be able to buy a more beautiful book for Christmas for somebody you love

Chris Evans

Those in need of peace will find it between the covers of this elegant picture book for adults and children

The New York Times

Charlie Mackesy's mesmerizing debut combines the simplicity of 'The Giving Tree', magic of 'The Velveteen Rabbit' and the curiosity of 'Paddington'

Elisabeth Egan, The New York Times

The world that I am required to inhabit is this one. But the world that I long to inhabit is the one that Charlie Mackesy has created.

Elizabeth Gilbert

Love, friendship and kindness - this book speaks a universal language.

Bear Grylls

A wonderful work of art and a wonderful window into the human heart.

Richard Curtis

Simply, the world needs Charlie's work right now.

Miranda Hart

Wise words

James Corden

Simply, the world needs Charlie's work right now.

Miranda Hart

The world that I am required to inhabit is this one, but the world that I long to inhabit is the one that Charlie Mackesy has created.

Elizabeth Gilbert

Love, friendship and kindness - this book speaks a universal language of the heart.

Bear Grylls

Discover more

Article
Charlie Mackesy Q&A

The artist on his inspiration for The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse​.