SHY VI

Little Violet, a quiet mouse among eight lively sibs, is too shy to raise her voice or to complain when her brother stands on her tail or her sister snores in her ear. Her parents send her to classes for self-confidence and then for voice training, but Violet still doesn't learn to speak up. Acting lessons, however, culminate in a successful stage appearance—as a silent violet; and Violet surprises everyone, including herself, by uttering a loud ``THANK YOU'' for a standing ovation. Though Shy Vi doesn't have the humor or subtlety of Wells's Shy Charles (1988), it's amiable and straightforward, with good pacing and dialogue that reads well aloud. In a promising debut, Smith depicts appealing brown mice—as smoothly rounded as rubber toys, and clothed as people—and fills his illustrations with amusing homey details. A good additional purchase. (Picture book. 4-8)