LIBRARY MOUSE

A writing rodent inspires young library patrons. Sam the mouse has a cozy home behind a wall in the children’s reference section, and every night he sneaks outside to read, feeling that the library belongs to him. His head full of information, he decides it’s time to write a book of his own. Squeak!, his memoir, becomes an instant success when it’s found stuck in a shelf by a young student. Sam follows up his debut with The Lonely Cheese and The Mystery of Mouse Mansion. Mrs. Forrester, the head librarian, leaves Sam a letter suggesting a “Meet the Author Day.” Industrious Sam (who sharpens pencils with his teeth) turns this into a writer’s workshop, with all the attendees turning out books of their own. Though the substantial text skews to older readership, the earth tones in Kirk’s gouache illustrations lend warmth to his tale, which should encourage young would-be writers. (Picture book. 4-8)