From Hendry (Kid Kibble, 1994, etc.) comes a sweetly beguiling tale of two mice. Fretful Little Mouse shares a room with Big Mouse. During the wee hours, Little Mouse listens to the night sounds—the howling of wind, hooting of an owl, tapping of branches—fearfully imagining intruders, ghosts, and others. Each time, the long-suffering Big Mouse climbs out of his comfortable bed to show Little Mouse the mundane source of the alarming sound. He draws the line at letting his timid friend into bed for a variety of reasons: wiggling, cold paws, etc. However, when confronted with Little Mouse’s loneliness, Big Mouse readily allows him to hop into bed. Hendry’s depiction of a young child’s fears ring true while Big Mouse’s patient explanations assuage anxieties, providing a forum through which children can safely explore their nighttime jitters. Chapman’s gaily colored illustrations set imaginations soaring as readers discover the myriad uses a mouse has for household scraps. (Picture book. 3-7)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-525-46261-9
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Baker (Big Fat Hen, 1994, etc.) engages in more number play, posing ducklings in every combination of groups, e.g., “Splashing as they leap and dive/7 ducklings, 2 plus 5.” Using a great array of streaked and dappled papers, Baker creates a series of leafy collage scenes for the noisy, exuberant ducklings to fill, tucking in an occasional ladybug or other small creature for sharp-eyed pre-readers to spot. Children will regretfully wave goodbye as the ducks fly off in neat formation at the end of this brief, painless introduction to several basic math concepts. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-292858-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
Big Brown Bear, with a natty bowler hat, is all set to paint the house in this cheerful Level 1 reader. Every page presents a full-color scene and a few words of easily predicted, often rhyming text: “Bear is big. Bear is brown. Bear goes up. He comes down.” Big Bear climbs a ladder with a pail of blue paint, while nearby, Little Bear plays with a ball and bat—“Oh no! Little Bear! Do not do that!” These are simple words, but sometimes challenging ones, e.g., there are two uses of up, as in climbing the ladder and washing up. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations provide nearly ideal context, while also amplifying the story. The format is attractive and practical, featuring large type on a white background that is placed for easy reading. Beginning readers will be amused by the gentle humor in the book, and feel accomplished to have tackled it themselves. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201999-5
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Green Light/Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1999
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