Quite a Mountain: A Fable for All Ages

by Jim Benton

Award-winning cartoonist Jim Benton presents an all-ages book about following your dreams and the ups and downs of friendship.

A bear and a frog decide to climb a mountain. The bear is determined to reach the top, but the frog isn’t so sure. When everyone says you’ve gone far enough, how do you decide to keep going? A whimsical journey of self-discovery, as well as a gentle look at the ups and downs of friendship, this inspirational book features the elegant art and gentle humor of cartoonist’s cartoonist Jim Benton.

Genres: Childrens, Graphic Novels, Picture Books

64 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2017

About the author

Benton began his career in a custom design t-shirt shop where he started designing his own characters. At the same time, Jim did illustrations and artwork for magazines and newspapers. People magazine named him "the most visible cartoonist in America" .

Benton also created greeting cards and worked in the magazine and publishing industry. In 1998, his SpyDogs characters became an animated series, The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs, that aired on Fox Kids. Licensing his own creations brought them widespread attention on products, such as It's Happy Bunny, The Misters, Just Jimmy and more.

Benton currently lives in Michigan, where he operates out of his own studio.

Reviews

[Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a Mountain is a very quick read, basically a graphic novel with minimal text and simple black and white line drawings.

The message conveyed is very clear and not new by any means, but I think it would make a nice gift to anyone of any age to encourage them to reach for their dreams. Just like how rabbit's you-can-do-it note to bear gave bear the impetus to push for the peak of the mountain. Let us encourage one another! :D

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest review.

[Rachel McKenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for graduations, friends going through hard times, or a pick me up for yourself. Adorable, funny, and positive. While I might want to just settle down and have a single-serve cup of coffee most days, this bear is for the me that wants to keep climbing.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review... and I'm going to go pay for it anyway now :)

[Shashank Kamdar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely graphic book for all ages about discovering oneself. In a symbolic way, it talks about different walks of life and the people you'll meet along your way. The beauty of the book lies in the different interpretations it can provide.

And if you happen to like it, do read The Story of Ferdinand by Munro leaf.

[SerialReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Quite a Mountain" makes you believe that you have the full right to go after your dreams, no matter what the rest of the world thinks. An extremely valuable lesson that we should never forget.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a Mountain: A Fable for All Ages

I Picked Up This Book Because: I’ve liked other works by this author.

Media Type: eBook
Source: Hoopla via HCPL
Dates Read: 3/11/26
Rating: 4 Stars

The Story:

A cute short about how you never know what is going to happen if you keep going and the choice to stop.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting fable. Although the book said it's A Fable for All Ages, but I found it more suitable for younger audience. The illustrations are cute and nice. I love it!
Thank you Netgalley for this book.

[Fi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is self-explanatory and the illustrations are super cute.

[Shaima]

It has powerful message hidden behind it

[Elizabeth Van Straaten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A recommendation by my therapist. Quite a Mountain is a short, sweet, and universally appealing tale urging readers to press on and climb despite uncertainty. Its minimalism is its strength—simple enough to read in minutes, yet heartening enough to linger.

[Arsnoctis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Regala un sorriso un po'a tutti, ma è tanto breve e "minimale" da non permettermi di dire molto di più.

[Sherlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came across this while I was walking along the library aisle, it was a short read but I was expecting the ending to be something more meaningful, like the epiphany of goal achieved.

[Paul Franco · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bear and a frog are on a walk—I imagine the bear is walking slow and the frog is jumping fast to keep up—when they’re stopped by a mountain. Now what?
Bear thinks he can climb it. Frog is skeptical. “I’m not going to tell you that you can’t do this, because that would be discouraging.” Most people—or animals—would end there, but not Frog. “But I’m thinking it. I’m thinking it pretty hard.” Probably the funniest moment in the book.
They come across a goat—like Pearls Before Swine, they don’t seem to have names other than their species—who not only has a microwave, but somewhere to plug it in. I can accept talking animals, but this is too much! Especially when they have such a tough climb but end up living in a cave with all the amenities; how did they bring them up?
Done in very simple sketches; some pages are completely blank except for one line of text, which shows how this made it to 68 pages. Then there’s “The end. Kind of.”
He is not like any other fictional bear you’ve ever seen.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Quite a Mountain: A Fable for All Ages' by Jim Benton is a light picture book that packs a good message about persevering to get what you want.

A bear and a frog come to a mountain. The bear wants to see what is at the top of the mountain. The frog isn't so sure. The frog tries to talk the bear out of it, but the bear starts climbing the mountain. As the bear climbs, the bear runs into other creatures with messages. The bear also finds difficulties and tears in the climb, but the bear persists. Where will the bear end up?

It's certainly a picture book with cute illustrations for kids. It's also a clever fable for finding a goal and sticking with it. It is perfect for all ages. I'm going to try to be more like bear and less like frog after reading this story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read to pick yourself up.

A reminder to reach for your dreams, even though the climb can be long and hard, and no one understands why you are doing what you are doing.

It is also alright to take a break and rest and even cry a little, but pick yourself up and keep going after that for when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

As Thomas the train said, "I know I can." Persevere.

Friends may not always understand one another, but as friends we can still support one another.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book with humor and a good message. Although the book's tag line is "A Fable for All Ages," older audiences may find the message too simplistic or without enough nuance. It does not reach the same inspirational heights of Seuss's standard graduation fare, "Oh the Places You'll Go"; but it is a solid, thought-provoking book nonetheless.

[Cariadne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was ok, but blah. Short, though the point was stretched out. The drawings were simple. Unlike other illustrated fables for all ages, this one didn't inspire or move me. As a keeper that I'd want to re-read or give as a gift, it would want something uplifting, such as Oh, The Places You'll Go!

[Helen Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUNNY!

[Jasleen Kaur · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ohhkkkk. What that was exactly. 😑

[Yukai Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this short graphic book about a bear who keeps climbing the mountain despite others who do not understand why he wants to climb it. Keep striving for higher accomplishments. A book for all ages.

[Fedeffi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great tale, for who is looking everyday for new challenge...despite the loneliness

[M.A.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m gonna keep climbing my mountain.

[Isabella Doucette · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a cheerful little book. this is such a good book about cheering yourself on.

[Nicole Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a little book, but it says so much.

[Abhidev H M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go to book when you need to pick yourself up.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A positive and uplifting story.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went in blind and thought it was written by a British author, what with its brand of humour. The overall message is wonderful, but most of all I do love this type of interspersed, understated wit.

[Safia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it says it is for all ages, I felt like the story would resonate more with younger readers.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This is a very, very short but interesting self-help book you can finish within minutes. The story follows Bear, who decides to climb a high mountain despite his friends' advice. Written like a fable, the story is easy to read and comprehend. However, the message Benton is trying to convey has been told many times before, which makes the story very predictable. I also think it would be more enjoyable for young readers than adults because of the simple illustrations and storytelling.

Quite a Mountain is a feel-good story and a reminder for us to persevere and chase our dreams. It won't hurt to read if you have a minute or two.