Tag Archives: Mice

Elem. – The Ship in the Window

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Jonker, Travis. The Ship in the Window. Viking, 2024. 978-0-593-35057-7.  Unpaged. $18.99.  Grades K-2.

An adorable mouse named Mabel lives in a cabin near a lake with an unnamed man and boy. The father has built a model ship, complete with sails and rigging, as his son and Mabel look on. All three admire the vessel as it sits in the front window, but no one is permitted to touch it. Mabel longs to examine the ship and take it out for a sail on the lake, picturing herself as the captain. One night, the mouse removes the ship from the cabin and places it in the water. As wind fills the sails, little Mabel navigates the vessel on the lake, using the stars for guidance. She faces some rough seas, but all is calm as the sun rises. On awakening, the man is alarmed to find the model is missing, but he and his son are overjoyed when they see that the craft is seaworthy. Their happiness is short-lived when the ship strikes a big rock. Will the trio find a different way to put the pieces together? Cordell uses a limited color palette of blue, gray and brown for his charming vintage looking illustrations. The muted colors create a cozy and calming atmosphere. The author’s message is about the joy of curiosity and the thrill of adventure.

THOUGHTS: This sweet story works well as a read aloud and is a good choice for nautical storytimes. Recommended for elementary collections.

Picture Book

Elem. – Shared Space

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Frost, Maddie. Shared Space. Harper. 2024. 978-0-063-24609-6. Unpaged. $19.99. Grades K-2.

Mouse lives in Apartment 2B, inside a tree stump. He loves having his own yard, which he keeps perfectly landscaped and tidy, with not a leaf out of place. When Pak-Rat moves into Apartment 2A, things change. Pak-Rat has a penchant for “lawn flair” and covers the lawn with pinwheels, windchimes, pink flamingos, garden gnomes, and more. Mouse tries to “squeak up” but Pak-Rat can’t hear him over all the twirling, chiming, and spinning. At his wit’s end, Mouse waits until nighttime, digs a deep hole, and buries all of Pak-Rat’s lawn décor. But after Mole discovers the buried treasure while digging a tunnel and puts it all back above-ground, it’s time for Mouse to tell Pak-Rat the truth about how he feels. With communication – and a little compromise – Mouse discovers that having a friend to share his space with is actually a wonderful thing. Maddie Frost’s digital illustrations feature sunny, cheerful colors in a woodsy setting. With a variety of page layouts and panel sizes, Shared Space is an appealing stepping stone into graphic novels for early readers. It’s also a great selection for fans of opposites-attract friendship stories such as Cornbread & Poppy by Matthew Cordell.

THOUGHTS: Author and illustrator Maddie Frost delivers valuable lessons about the benefits of honesty and flexibility embedded within a humorous storyline.

Picture Book

YA – Scurry

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Smith, Mac. Scurry. Skybound Comet. 2023. 978-1-534-32436-7. 333 p. $14.99. Grades 7-12.

Scurry is a tale of tiny critters and high stakes with jaw-dropping artwork by author and illustrator Mac Smith. In a world without humans, a colony of mice led by an Elder Council must learn to survive despite scarce food and seemingly endless winter. Wix is a skilled and savvy scavenger, while Pict has been raised by her father Orim to one day lead the colony. Meanwhile a duplicitous mouse named Resher has concocted a scheme to eliminate his rivals and seize power. Threats outside the colony also abound: vengeful cats, vigilant hawks, and mysterious wolves. When Wix and a team of mice venture out to scout a new location for the colony, Resher sets his plan in motion with disastrous consequences. Wix and Pict are swept up in an epic journey to return home and reunite the colony as new friendships and alliances are forged with creatures both large and small. Debut graphic novelist Mac Smith excels at illustrating motion, which adds drama to Scurry’s many close calls. Mice escape extended cat claws by a fraction of an inch, a hawk swoops down with deadly talons, and a thumbtack doubles as a deadly weapon in page after exciting page.

THOUGHTS: Mac Smith’s webcomic has transitioned beautifully to the graphic novel format. Readers will be overjoyed to see “to be continued” on the final page of this fantastic volume!

Graphic Novel

Elem. – A Delicious Story

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Saltzberg, Barney. A Delicious Story. Hippo Park. 2023. 978-1-662-64016-2. $18.99. Grades K-2.

Little Mouse wants a story. After all, they are in a book and that’s where stories are found. Big Mouse, who is also in the story, has a confession to make… the story is gone because he ate it! Little Mouse really wants a story, so together, Big Mouse and Little mouse write their own story on the spot!

THOUGHTS: This dialogue-based story of two mice has a fun back-and-forth banter that will make readers laugh! When reading a book, we want a story, even if the story has been eaten by a big mouse! Together these two show creativity as they decide to create their own story with their own imagination.

Picture Book

Elem. – Figgy & Boone: The Big Cheese

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Transler, Janee. Figgy & Boone: The Big Cheese. Simon Spotlight. 2023. 978-1-665-91452-9. $17.99. Grades PreK-1.

Figgy and Boone are at it again! First, they ran out of cheese, which they love! Thankfully, they found a big wheel of cheese for them to eat. The only problem is the wheel is too big for them to move. Boone thinks of several ways to move the cheese, but all of his plans fail. Figgy figures out a way to move the cheese and, with lots of sharing, everyone is happy.

THOUGHTS: Another great Figgy & Boone beginner graphic novel! As with the previous story, the beginning of the book informs young readers how to read graphic novels, which is incredibly helpful for someone who may not know the correct way to read this specific genre. Add in some fun rodent characters, and this book is a delight!

Graphic Novel

MG – The Lost Library

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Stead, Rebecca, and Wendy Mass. The Lost Library. Macmillan, 2023. 978-1-250-83881-0. 224 p. $18.99. Grades 4-7.

This well-narrated audiobook centers on Evan, an inquisitive boy who loves to read, as he approaches fifth-grade graduation. He lives in the sleepy town of Martinville, which lacks a library since the fire that burned down the old one twenty-five years ago. Two authors penned this delightful tale, ideal for any bibliophile to peruse. Multiple narrators flesh out the story: Mortimer the gold striped cat; AL, the assistant librarian who lives with the other library ghosts; and Evan. The town has just started a Little Library, and Evan nabbed some of the books from the box–all of them due the same day as the fire. As he gets deeper into one of his selections, How to Write a Mystery, checked out by M.C. Higgins, he tries to figure out who started the fire back in the 1980’s. He wonders if his father’s reticence and lack of communication has anything to do with the tragedy. With his best friend Rafe at his side, Evan follows the possible clues. In alternating chapters, AL reflects on her past, coming from the orphanage to serve as a fledgling librarian under the firm but kind head librarian, Ms. Skoggins, and conducting the book club for the local school children. The wise and attentive Mortimer, dear cat, provides the feline perspective on what it surveys: both the routine at History House where the ghosts reside and the movements of Evan as he puts together the puzzle pieces that point to his own dad. This book is a cozy homage to books, readers, libraries, and librarians.

THOUGHTS: A great read aloud. I hope this book can work its magic to entice listeners that libraries, books, and librarians are important. These two authors are some of the best, and this book will not disappoint. Pair it with the fine picture book about the beginnings of the Little Library or, if there are no Little Libraries in your neck of the woods, start a project to place them around town. If that isn’t possible, connect this book with a book drive for shelters. I just found out about a church food pantry that offers a book room for families. Or build a list of books where animals are key characters. At the very least, reading this book students will learn what a pseudonym is.

Fantasy (Magical Realism)

Elem. – Mina

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Forsythe, Matthew. Mina. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. Unpaged. 978-1-481-48041-3. $17.99. Grades K-2.

Mina is a young mouse who loves solitary pursuits like reading and drawing. She and her father live in a comfortable mouse hole in a “piece of wood.” He likes to surprise her by bringing home guests, which causes Mina some anxiety. After all, the last visitors were stick insects who stole all her books. This time her dad brings home an unusual looking squirrel, and his daughter has her own idea about the identity of the animal. He tells her not to worry, but does become concerned when the creature stops eating. His solution is to bring home two more “squirrels” to keep it company. When this does not help, they call the doctor who quickly figures out that the problem is that “…these squirrels are definitely cats.” This diagnosis leads to panic and a chase. Will the assistance from a surprising source be enough to allow the trio to survive? The author also has created the whimsical drawings done in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. Mina is simply adorable, and the illustrations are a joy to see. 

THOUGHTS: Children will enjoy this story, which is a perfect read aloud. There surely will be a lot of laughs and a chorus of “Oh, no’s” as young readers listen to this tale of a smart little mouse and her hapless father. Elementary librarians will not want to miss this one.

Picture Book          Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member

Elem. – Cornbread & Poppy

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Cordell, Matthew. Cornbread & Poppy. Little, Brown and Company, 2022. 978-0-759-55486-3. 80 p. $6.99. Grades K-2.

Two mice who are the very best of friends have a real adventure in this charming chapter book! Cornbread is a planner. He is ready for the first snowfall, and his well-stocked larder is full of delicious fruit preserves, grains, and cheeses. Poppy is more carefree. She loves to hike, ride bikes, and go on adventures. Despite Cornbread’s reminders, she has put off foraging until it is all but too late. Cornbread can’t let his best friend go hungry, so he agrees to accompany Poppy up Holler Mountain in search of food for the long winter. But Holler Mountain is a scary place, with steep hills, snow, and predatory owls! Matthew Cordell’s irresistible illustrations, in pen and ink with cool watercolors, bring humor and gentle thrills to the little friends’ big excursion.

THOUGHTS: Both a friendship tale and a mild adventure story, Cornbread & Poppy is a book to read over and over again for the sweet scenes and special details. 

Chapter Book          Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD

Elem. – Mistletoe

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Hills, Tad. Mistletoe. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2020. 978-0-593-17442-5. $17.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-1. 

“Mistletoe” falls in with my favorite themes for holiday stories: friendship, homemade gifts, and kindness. Mistletoe the mouse loves chilly mornings, knitting, and her pal Norwell. Norwell the elephant loves cozy fires, decorating for Christmas, and his pal Mistletoe. Mistletoe tries to convince Norwell that strolling through the snow and catching snowflakes on your tongue is a delightful way to spend the day, but Norwell seems cold just looking outside.  The solution for these friends? A thoughtful friend, some quick knitting needles, and an extra-extra-extra large elephant sized snowsuit. In typical Tad Hills fashion, the story is warm and enjoyable just like the illustrations.

THOUGHTS: Fans of Hills’s Rocket or Duck and Goose will love Mistletoe the mouse, but any young reader with a dash of Christmas spirit will enjoy this sweet story.

Picture Book          Lindsey Long, Lower Dauphin SD