MISTY MOLE GETS NEW GLASSES

Misty Mole realizes that her eyesight needs correcting.

Misty’s friend Sunny Squirrel says that Misty’s painting of the Woodlands is all wrong. Walking to school, Misty trips over obstacles in her path. When Mrs. Owly asks students to read from the board, Misty squints and must stand close. Farley Fox taunts Misty, launching a paper airplane her way; she sees only a blur. Misty imagines she’s Super Mole, with the power to see far-off objects. Then Mrs. Owly announces a schoolwide art competition. Farley is convinced that Misty’s “weird” paintings will lose; Misty, who loves art, sadly wonders if that’s what others think of her work. Mrs. Owly tells Misty she’s noticed her vision difficulties and says the school nurse might be able to help. Misty eventually sees an eye doctor, is diagnosed with myopia (she’s near-sighted, or, as this U.K. import puts it, “short-sighted”), and selects a pair of “sparkly, rosy” glasses. Thereafter, exuding Super Mole’s confidence and strength, Misty doesn’t stumble, sees friends from afar, dodges paper planes—and, oh, wins the art contest with her “blurry,” Monet-like painting. Youngsters who’ve acquired new glasses themselves will be uplifted by this reassuring tale, written by an optometrist. It’s also an important wake-up call for adults to have their children’s vision corrected. Walter’s muted illustrations are lively; snub-nosed Misty and the other animal characters are endearing.

An upbeat and eye-opening primer on dealing with myopia.