Library Mouse

by Daniel Kirk

Overview

Sam is a mouse who lives in a library and loves to make up and write his own stories. When he leaves his stories in different parts of the library, humans find the stories and want to know who the writer is. Full color.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810993464
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/01/2007
Series:	Library Mouse Series , #1
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.37(d)
Lexile:	NC760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Daniel Kirk has written and illustrated a number of popular and bestselling books for children, including Library Mouse, which Booklist praised as a “show-stopper.” He is also the author and illustrator of Library Mouse: A Friend’s Tale and the novels ElfRealm: The Low Road and Elf Realm: The High Road. He lives in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, with his family.

Editorial Reviews

Mouse becomes muse. Late at night when the library is closed, Sam the mouse, an enthusiastic reader and writer, sneaks out of his comfy hole to take advantage of the library's resources, leaving the books he writes behind. One morning, Sam works all night and falls asleep at a table, waking up just in time to avoid an elementary-school writing club. In his haste to escape, however, he leaves behind his notebook. Young Tom discovers it and takes it to the librarian, who suggests he leave it for Sam to find later. Tom has another idea, deciding to find Sam. He leaves cheese and a story he's written called "The Shy One" by Sam's mousehole. In no time flat, the duo is collaborating, with Sam doing the illustrations. And Tom's text gives Sam an idea for another book. Kirk's substantial text suits early grades. While his illustrations hold little artistic nuance, they do incorporate well-known titles by other author-illustrator duos, and children will enjoy spotting such favorites as Goodnight Moon and Miss Nelson Is Back. In all, a solid nudge to budding writers. (Picture book. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews

Chris Sorenson's well-timed pauses and gentle cadences give an understated sense of drama to the quiet story of a library mouse who reads and writes. Through his soft tones, Sorenson gives listeners a tender feeling for Sam, the shy mouse with big thoughts and a desire to write books. Sorenson then builds the image of a librarian who is full of curiosity and admiration for Sam's books, which appear each morning in her library. Sorenson voices the reactions of the library's young patrons with punchy lines of dialogue that note their surprise and pleasure at Sam's delightful nocturnal creations. Sam has few speaking lines, so Sorenson must characterize him with subtlety. His approach puts the emphasis on the mouse's joy at invention rather than a wish for acclaim. S.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2009 - AudioFile