MO AND BEAU 2

Mo the mouse takes lessons from his friend Beau the bear on how to be scary.

When Mo asks Beau to teach him how to be “very very scary,” Beau is skeptical. After all, Mo is a little mouse; how can he scare the other animals? Beau tries showing Mo how to be scary by “mak[ing his] eyes and eyebrows like this,” making his “ears like that,” and “roar[ing] like this!!!” Alas, each time, Beau says Mo is doing it wrong. Beau goes off to rest, and Mo goes off “to practice what he ha[s] learnt.” After hours of practice, the friends learn that not only can a little mouse be scary, but a big bear can be scared. The text design uses several colors, typefaces, and sizes to distinguish the voices of the two characters, presenting early readers with both a challenge and a pattern to discern and learn from. The textured illustrations enhance the differences between the two characters as well, with Beau’s shaded presence extending effectively beyond the page and Mo’s expressions more cute than scary. Mo and Beau have a sweet relationship that is delightful in its uniqueness. The simple storyline makes for a satisfying read-aloud—or read-along.

This duo has staying power.