Submitted by Ms. Carol!
Little Nelly’s Big Book by Pippa Goddhart is a story about an elephant named Little Nelly. Little Nelly looked in a book and read about mice and thought she was a mouse. After all, she was gray and she did have big ears and a skinny tail, so she must be a mouse. Little Nelly looked in the book to see where mice sleep, and then she found a hole in the wall and tried to creep in. The mice were very surprised of course, and they thought Little Nelly was an awful big mouse, but they accepted her and were very nice to her. Little Nelly liked the mice, but she just felt like she didn’t really fit in. She was always hungry after her little bit of cheese, and she was so much bigger than the other mice. One day Granny Mouse said she knew where there were other mice like Little Nelly at a place called the zoo, so they went there. All the “zoo mice” were very nice, and Little Nelly got big helpings of food. The zoo mice invited Little Nelly to live there at the zoo with them, and so she did. Little Nelly’s friend Micky mouse came running, and told Little Nelly that he had been reading a book and discovered that he was not a mouse after all, but an elephant. He said, “I am gray and I have big ears and a skinny tail so I must be an elephant” but he told Little Nelly that they could still be friends. This a funny story about friendship and acceptance. See this book listed in our catalog
Mice
More
Submitted by Ms. Tess!
More by I.C. Springman, illustrated by Brian Lies, is a wonderful book, offering many opportunities to have meaningful conversations with the child you care for. I’m partial to it mainly because it features a beautiful bird called a magpie. Magpies are fascinating creatures. They are thought to be one of the most intelligent species of all animals. Many superstitions surround magpies. In the U.K., for example, to see a lone magpie is considered bad luck, and one ought to salute the magpie, as a sign of respect. However, they are probably best known for their propensity to collect things, particularly shiny objects. In More, we meet a magpie who has nothing. Soon though, he has something! And soon after that he has several things. Lots of things. Plenty of things! Perhaps he has too many things, his mouse friend tries to relay, as our magpie fills not only his nest, but every nest in a tree with his treasures! The mouse finally convinces the magpie he doesn’t need everything, he only needs enough. This book is filled with fantastic vocabulary. It’s also quite thought provoking–in a materialistic society, let’s teach our children that friends are more important than things, and we don’t always need more, we just need enough. The illustrations are to-die-for. Who knew a bird could be so expressive? And our magpie friend sports a noticeable ring around his leg, which can lead you into a discussion about people who study birds, and why they might do that. More is a fabulously layered story, and I sincerely hope that you give it a try! See this book listed in our catalog
Penny and Her Song
Submitted by Ms. Janis!
In Penny and Her Song Kevin Henkes introduces us to a new character. A character just as interesting and unique as Owen or Lily. A character who loves to sing. This is a fun story of self-confidence, and finding joy in the simple things. Penny arrives home from school wanting to sing her song for her family. After both mom and dad interrupt her performance to remind her that the babies are sleeping and she needs to be quiet, Penny determines to sing her song for herself. But she discovers that singing to herself is just not the same as singing for someone else. She searches her room for someone to perform for without success. Finally, her parents come to her rescue, and Penny gets to sing her song. This book just might inspire readers to create their own songs. In fact that would be a fun activity to do with this book! See this book listed in our catalog
Hide and Squeak
Submitted by Ms. Tammy!
Hide And Squeak by Heather Vogel Frederick. This rhyming picture book is perfect for getting your toddlers ready for naptime or bedtime. A very mischievous baby mouse leads his father on an hide and squeak adventure after he is told it’s time for bed. Mouse begins outdoors, hiding under plants, then slipping through the mouse-door of a large house. The baby mouse has a great time sliding down a leaf, sitting on the minute hand of a large clock, and doing a cannon ball into a bubble bath. His father eventually catches him by his tail, then lifts his child up for a kiss and hug before tucking him in bed for the night. Now it’s daddy’s turn to relax in his chair with a wedge of cheese and the newspaper. See this book listed in our catalog
Cinco de Mouse-O!
Submitted by Ms. Amanda!
Cinco de Mouse-o! by Judy Cox is an adventurous tale of a mouse and his first Cinco de Mayo. There are excellent descriptions of Cinco de Mayo traditions through the eyes of a mouse. It begins one morning when Mouse wakes up to a fantastic smell, a beany, cheesy, ricey smell! He follows the smell out of his hidey hole and down to the plaza, but what he doesn’t know is while he is following the smell a cat is following him! Mouse finds that in the plaza is an amazing fiesta! He sees an enticing piñata full of candy, and people all around him eating tacos, tamales, chorizos, and flan! He samples some of all the yummy foods and then dozes off to sleep, until the cat begins to chase him! Mouse runs through dancers’ stomping, tapping, pounding feet to avoid the cat. While mariachis play, and fireworks boom, Mouse hides from the cat, until he sees that it is time for the piñata! He comes out of hiding to the piñata in search of sweets for his own Cinco de Mouse-o celebration, while the cat waits below for the mouse to drop like a piece of candy from the piñata! Finally Mouse escapes the cat and find his very own candy to take back to his hidey hole! Mouse then has his own Cinco de Mouse-o celebration! See this book listed in our catalog
Pip & Squeak
Submitted by Ms. Carol!
Pip & Squeak by Ian Schoenherr is a cute winter story about two mice named Pip and Squeak. Their friend Gus is having a birthday party and they are running late. In all the rush they forget Gus’s birthday gift of cheese! Now they have to find Gus a present on their way to the party. They find flamingos, and a bird house, but decide that neither one would be good gifts for Gus since, of course, they are not cheese. Then they spot something big and orange right in the middle of a snowman face. They think it is cheese, so they scramble to get it, only to discover it is not cheese at all! They are out of time so they decide to give it to Gus anyway, even though he probably won’t like it. But Gus, being a rabbit, thinks their carrot present is just perfect! See this book listed in our catalog