CAT AND MOUSE IN THE NIGHT

Bogacki (Cat and Mouse in the Night, 1997, etc.) continues the adventures of cats and mice, here taking on the specter of the night. One cat and one mouse of many are so caught up in their play that they discover themselves marooned in a pasture after dark. It’s a little scary, but a friendly owl advises them to climb a tree and drink in the pleasures of the evening, the beauty of the shining moon, and the sparkling stars. The next day, the cat and the mouse invite their friends into the dark, a place that on the surface is frightening, but which holds hidden treasures worth experiencing. Bogacki keeps the text simple and his artwork inviting; the ideas expressed, and the simplicity employed, recall Leo Lionni’s best work. This book is a good first step in taking the gloom out of night. (Picture book. 3-5)