Snoring Beauty

SNORING BEAUTY by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen with illustrations by Jane Manning. Harper, 2014.

Will the prince rescue
A snoring beauty? Maybe
With a mouse's help.

Mice Mischief

MICE MISCHIEF: MATH FACTS IN ACTION by Caroline Stills with illustrations by Judith Rossell. Holiday House, 2014.

Ten little mice can
Do lots of things. Watch them
As they add to ten.

Any questions?

THE NOUSE WITH THE QUESTION MARK TAIL by Richard Peck with illustrations by Kelly Murphy. Dial, July 2013.

He is a small mouse, a mouse without any memory of his birth, his mother. He lives with his Aunt Marigold who is the head mouse seamstress. Called Mouse Minor because of his size, his entire life has centered around the question of his parentage. Now, he is being packed off to the Royal Mews Mouse Academy. Unfortunately, his term at school does not last long. And thus begins a series of adventures, near disasters, and hair-raising escapes. Mouse Minor hopes that perhaps Queen Victoria might be of help. This is her jubilee so perhaps he can find his way into her presence? Peck has fashioned a warmly funny mystery/adventure populated by a few humans and a large cast of mice, the ones who keep Buckingham Palace running. Clever, fast-paced, and engaging: middle grade kids will love this book. Short chapters make it perfect for reading aloud as well.

Mousetronaut

MOUSETRONAUT by Astronaut Mark Kelly. Illustrations by C.F. Payne. Simon & Schuster. 2012.

Six mice are selected to go on a shuttle mission. Of course, the smallest mouse does not expect to be selected. However, one of the astronauts has his eye on the small mouse who gets the chance to go on the mission. Unlike his companions, he enjoys floating around weightless. And his tiny frame might just come in handy on the flight. Based on the astronaut's observation of a young mouse who appeared to enjoy weightlessness, this should appeal to kids as a read aloud. Dreams can come true, even if you are a tiny mouse.

Eek! Mice!

LIBRARY MOUSE: A MUSEUM, ADVENTURE by Daniel Kirk. Abrams, 2012.

Sam and his friend Sarah leave their home and travel to the incredible world of the museum that connects to their library dwelling place. Sam takes along his journal to record his exploits. While visiting the museum, Sam and Sarah make some new (and unexpected) friends and uncover a world of art. <363>





LOVE, MOUSERELLA by David Ezra Stein. Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin 2012.

Mouserella writes a lengthy letter to her grandmother letting her GrandMouse know how much she misses her in the three days since she has been gone. Ingenious aspects of the book (it opens vertically and not horizontally for starters) will make this one emerging readers and writers will enjoy. <364>

The incomparable Richard Peck

Richard Peck continues to write books. That is not a surprise at all. What is surprising is that he continues to try his hand at different kinds of stories. I first met Peck when reading his YA books: ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE ALONE?, FATHER FIGURE, DON'T LOOK AND IT WON'T HURT for which YALSA presented him with the Margaret Edwards Award. Then, Richard wrote poetry and edited collections; he penned short stories such as "Shotgun Cheatham's Last Night Above Ground" and "Priscilla and the Wimps." He wrote historical fiction and won a Newbery and a Newbery Honor Medal. Last year he ventured back to the paranormal (he had done it before with Blossom Culp) in THREE QUARTERS DEAD. And now we come to SECRETS AT SEA. The amazing Richard Peck has penned an animal tale that is a combinations British drawing room tale, comedy of manners, and romance with MICE. Yes, mice. The words that come to mind immediately are enchanting, spell binding, funny, cunning, droll, and engaging. The satire works wonderfully in the skilled hands of Peck. While the story is a terrific selection for reading aloud to a younger audience, there are plenty of barbs here to keep the adult reader not only entertained but enthralled. The illustrations are absolutely the icing on the cupcake (ask Helena about icing on the cupcake while you are at it. Bravo for SECRETS AT SEA! <550>