Mole's Spectacles: A Lift-the-flap Story (Tales From Acorn Wood, 7)

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The research – a three year project which is part of a 25 year study of moles in Granada – looked at Iberian and European moles. Acanthoma fissuratum presents as a firm flesh-coloured papule, nodule or plaque that has a central furrow dividing the lesion in half (a 'coffee bean' appearance). It is often painful, particularly if ulcerated. Acanthoma fissuratum is a benign lesion that spontaneously resolves if the source of skin irritation is removed and the skin is allowed to heal. Ongoing Covid restrictions, reduced air and freight capacity, high volumes and winter weather conditions are all impacting transportation and local delivery across the globe. It also highlights the fact that among the animal kingdom there are thousands of species that have not been studied but which may hold important clues for our understanding of human pathology.

With sturdy flaps on every spread and rhyming stories that are a joy to read aloud, Mole’s Spectacles joins the bestselling Tales from Acorn Wood which have been delighting parents and children for over twenty years.Dr Collinson, based at the University’s Institute of Medical Sciences, said: “In the case of the Iberian mole we found that even though their eyes are permanently shut, they can see and run away from bright light, which we assume means they use their eyes to detect holes in the roof of their tunnel networks. Dr Collinson added: “The eye is a battleground for anti-evolutionary argument, because it is difficult to understand how it can evolve in incremental stages if a partially formed eye is no use. Lift the flaps and join in the fun with Mole’s Spectacles, a brilliant story in the bestselling Tales from Acorn Wood preschool series by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.

Mole has lost his spectacles. He searches all around his house, in the garden and even in Weasel’s sweetshop, but he can’t find them anywhere! Where could they be? Lift the flaps to help him find them. The lesions are located where the glasses rest on the individual’s skin, most commonly, the lateral bridge of the nose or the retroauricular or superior auricular sulcus (behind the ear). How is acanthoma fissuratum diagnosed? We also discovered that the structure of the light receptive cells in their retinas is typical of animals who live in daylight and those that we humans have.” However we found that they have fully developed retinas that have all the right cell types for detecting light and which also make all the right connections with their brains.The scientists hope their work could eventually lead to greater understanding of human eye diseases. Sales are not confident in having a weasel character so we would look to change this to another woodland creature,’ warned my editor. Our work has shown that in fact a partially formed eye can be very important for the ecology and survival of the animal, and that there is nothing inherently impossible about the evolution of the eye. When allowed to heal without irritation from spectacles, acanthoma fissuratum will resolve without long-term scarring. It has also been assumed that animals that live in the dark will gradually lose their eyes through evolution, like cavefish which have no functional eyes.

Dr Martin Collinson from the University of Aberdeen is among the international team whose findings are published today (Wednesday, December 9) in the Royal Society journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Intralesional corticosteroid injection into the lesion can relieve symptoms. What is the outcome for acanthoma fissuratum?

Today I want to share some more about my book, A Little Bit Worried by Ciara Gavin (Little Tiger Press 2020) In this story, Mole has lost his spectacles. He searches in his house, in his garden and even in Weasel’s sweetshop – but they are nowhere to be seen! The brilliant lift-the-flap format allows toddlers to join in the search for Mole’s Spectacles, which, whilst being exciting for them, also helps to develop crucial fine motor skills. As always with Julia Donaldson, this book has a funny and bouncing rhyming text, making it great to read aloud at home. A fitting title and story, A Little Bit Worried speaks to what everyone around the world is going through. It's layered with so many important messages, we really fell in love with it!